One of the joys of moving somewhere completely different, is the fun of visiting all the must-see places. We are in the wonderful space of being part tourist, part local resident and we are relishing in it.
Today's outing was to the Hell-fire caves. The Hell-fire caves, excavated between 1748-1752, were an addition to an existing chalk quarry in West Wycombe. The brain child of Sir Francis Dashwood, they were originally created to provide employment for local men, after 3 successive crop failures, and to provide material for a new main road between West Wycombe and High Wycombe. Obviously, Dashwood could simply have further dug out the existing quarry, but it is assumed that the idea of a cave was planted on his travels to Italy, Greece and the Ottoman Empire.
The notorious Hell-fire Club was founded by Sir Francis Dashwood and the members of the club, at some time during its existence, met at the Hell-fire caves. Another well-known visitor to the Hell-fire caves was Sir Benjamin Franklin.
The Dashwood Masouleum, which sits above the Hell-fire caves, was built a few years after the caves and stands alongside the Church of St Lawrence.
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| The views from the top of the hill are spectacular |
