This underground cave was uncovered in the 19th century, yet its origins remain one of the biggest mysteries in the UK.
The location in Margate, Kent, is a stunning underground passageway that was stumbled upon by chance in 1835. Its chalk walls are decorated with 4.6 million shells, carefully arranged into mesmerising mosaics, patterns, and symbols.
For years, people have debated where the Grotto came from and what it was used for, with theories dating it anywhere within the past 3,000 years.
Some believe it was an 18th or 19th-century folly, built by a wealthy landowner, while others think it could have been a secret meeting place for sea witchcraft. There are also suggestions it may have links to the Knights Templar or Freemasonry.
However, the discovery of a domed cave in Palatine Hill, Rome, featuring similar shell mosaics and marble, has led some experts to wonder if the Phoenicians may have built it in the second half of the first millennium BCE.
The walls of the Grotto are decorated with a variety of shells, including cockles, whelks, mussels, and oysters, forming intricate patterns and designs.
Even its discovery is surrounded by mystery. Most records agree it was found in 1835, but the details of how remain unclear. The first written mention of the Grotto appeared in the Kentish Gazette in May 1838, when it was announced as a public attraction.
According to the article, a gentleman had recently bought Belle Vue Cottage and was making alterations when the hidden passageway was revealed.
The Shell Grotto is open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Adult tickets cost £4.50, family tickets are £10, and children’s tickets (ages 4-16) are £2. Entry is free for children under four.
As it is a small underground space, visitor numbers are limited, so you may need to wait before entering.
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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