CAVE GUIDES WANTED Are you interested in local history and able to give up the occasional Saturday or Sunday afternoon?
You won´t need to learn the entire history of the Cave because we have a fully explanatory audio visual presentation for visitors. All you need is a healthy interest and lots of enthusiasm. If you are interested in helping us keep Royston Cave open, please email from this site or telephone the Town Hall on 01763 245484 to leave your name and contact details.
Welcome to Royston Cave
360° panoramic view of the inside of the Cave. To explore the Cave, left click on the picture and move up, down, left or right!
ENLARGE IMAGE
Royston Cave is unique in Europe. Believed to date from the 14th Century, it is a man-made cavern
in the shape of a beehive, with a small aperture at the top for ventilation. Its most remarkable
feature is an extensive range of wall carvings representing the Crucifixion,
the Holy Family and several saints, among them St Katherine, St Laurence and St Christopher. Others are
less easily identified and some have been interpreted as possible pagan symbols.
The carvings are medieval in appearance and some studies of the Cave have drawn comparisons from the wall carvings and other sources to indicate that it may have been used by the Knights Templar. Other studies point to the existence of Masonic symbols within the Cave that could link the Cave to James I who was himself a Freemason and who maintained a hunting lodge at Royston.
Others believe the Cave is a spiritual centre where two significant ley-lines cross and other studies indicate that the Cave may simply have been a hermitage or a prison or oubliette.
What is certain though is that there is very little hard evidence to support the various theories as no records exist as to its use or purpose and dating is very difficult for a number of reasons including the lack of organic material and contamination since the Cave was re-discovered.
The Cave is a mystery and a visit to see for yourself and make up your own mind is a must.
Further reading
Royston Cave is managed by the Royston & District History Society on behalf of Royston Town Council.
The Cave is open Easter Saturday to the last Sunday in September.
Please note that there will be no special openings from 3 July to 27 July 2010.
Entry is by guided tour only (which lasts around 30 to 40 minutes) and only 18 people are allowed down at any one time. During busy times, visitors may have to wait till the next tour starts.
NO FILMING OR VIDEO IS ALLOWED IN THE CAVE.
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays: 2.30 to 5 pm.
Wednesday (August only): 2.30 to 5 pm.
Last admission: 4.30 pm.
The Cave is situated in Melbourn Street, Royston. Royston is 42 miles north of London at the
junction of the A10 and A505. The Cave is three minutes' walk from the Town Hall's car park and ten
minutes from Royston rail station. The entrance is just inside the passageway of a double-fronted
building on the north side of Melbourn Street, close to the traffic lights at the junction with
Lower King Street.
Please remember that the Cave is prone to flooding and is liable to be closed without warning if
there has been heavy rain. The Cave can be slippery underfoot; visitors should use the handrail and take every care when entering or leaving the Cave. No pets are
allowed in the Cave, except for Guide and Hearing dogs.
ROYSTON CAVE
