Paranormal Investigations Ltd
" seek and ye shall find "
The HellFire Caves - A Brief History
" SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND "
The hill known as Church Hill in West Wycombe is said to have been home to a settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. The remains of this fortified settlement can be seen at the boundary of the Church grounds. Research suggests that there was a Pagan Temple in this settlement built in the style of Stonehenge. Stones from this temple could still be found in the nineteenth Century on top of the hill.
There is rumoured to have been a Roman Villa at the foot of the hill but the actual site is unknown. However it is known that the Romans commonly used existing religious sites adapted for their own purposes and so it is not unreasonable to assume that there would have been a Roman prescence at this site.
The next major influence were the Saxons under Haefer. The settlement had grown in size so that it spread beyond the boundaries of the fortified circle. At this time it was known as Haeferingdune but eventually evolved into the more commonly used Haveringdon. The site retained its religious importance as the first church here was said to have been constructed by St. Birinus who later became the Bishop of the West Saxons in 635 AD.
There is a suggestion that a watchtower was built close to the church by the Normans sometime after 1066. There is a possibility that the well was situated between the Church and this tower.
Haveringdon's population allegedly became greatly reduced during the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) and by the Eighteenth Century the village had re situated in the Valley along the Oxford to London Road. According to local records there were just two rate payers left living in Haveringdon up to the nineteenth century.
During the mid eighteenth Century Sir Francis Dashwood undertook an ambitious project, allegedly to supply chalk for the London to Oxford road by expanding an existing cave into an elaborate system of tunnels and at the same time undertaking exensive work on his private house and grounds. Top names of the time in Architecture, Painting and Landscaping were employed in the renovation and construction of the Church,Mausoleum, tunnels, Manor House and estate. The local workforce were also employed at a shilling a day in a new Government scheme to help combat uneployment due to a bad Harvest.
Although Haveringdon had all but dissappeared by this time, the Church and tower remained and Sir Francis Dashwood built a centre section to join the two becoming the church that stands today possibly covering the old well. It was renamed St Lawrence as it was quite common for churches built on Pagan sites to have this name.Whilst all of the work was being carried out, Sir Francis and high powered politicians and members of Society formed a club known then as the Knights of St. Francis but would later be named the 'Hellfire Club' by a London Paper. This club also known as the Medmenham Monks first met at Medmenham Abbey, a few miles down the road but later met inside the tunnels that had now been dug and had a reputation for wild parties and orgies. According to church records, the club disbanded in 1763 and the tunnels fell into disrepair but leaving a legacy of mystery and intrigue surrounding this period.
The caves were reopened in the 1950's to the public and extensive repair work was carried out. Nowadays the Caves are a popular tourist attraction and also a site of interest for many paranormal Investigations. They remain the property of the Dashwood family as does the Church and the Mausoleum but the Dashwood House,Estate and West Wycombe Village are now the property of the National Trust. The present Dashwood family still reside at the their family home.
Above the entrance to the Hellfire Caves and St Lawrence.
A view of the Mausoleum from across the graveyard of St Lawrence.
A stunning view from the Mausoleum towards Wycome and right a beautiful view down the old village road in the ramparts of the ancient Iron Age hill fort.
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