Reigate Caves Heritage Open Day

[ttxela]

Something a bit different on Saturday, although I've been a WCMS member for a while I'd never seen the Reigate Caves so as the club was opening them up to the public I went along to help and have a bit of a look round myself. The sites are actually sand mines (Tunnel Road) and what is possibly the old castle wine cellar (Barons Cave).

When I arrived the open day was already underway, Tunnel Road is split into two sites, I went in the west side first having been given a flourescent jacket and tasked to wander about making sure everyone was OK as the tour was effectively self guided. I spent a while chatting to various visitors and shining my light into corners for them then headed across to the east side and spent some time there doing much the same, everyone seemed genuinely interested and well behaved, even the adults. The temptation was for people to touch the walls but very few did.

Later in the afternoon I was relieved of my post and walked up to Barons Cave. Several people spotted my helmet and light and asked for directions, never having been there myself before I just followed the signs and led them to the entrance. Inside guided tours were being given and I was given the job of being backmarker, as such I was able to listen to Peter's excellent talk on the history of the cave and the castle.

After the various sites closed we retired to the nearest pub before a rather nice curry.

Interesting sites well worth a look I thought 

Tunnel Road West

Tunnel Road West

Displays in Tunnel Road East

Visitors explore Tunnel Road East

Tunnel Road East

A mysterious shadowy figure on the steps of Tunnel Road East

The steps down to Barons Cave from the castle

 

[Peter Burgess]

Thanks for coming to help ! I imagine other groups were doing similar things last weekend, like Redcliffe Caves and Magpie Mine.

 

[ttxela]

I very much enjoyed it, as you say the only downside was missing out on some of the other things that were open.