Crank Caverns
Caves seem to have both fascinated and repelled humans for generations. It is no surprise that folklore and caves are so closely tied. And the stories of the creatures that live within the darkest depths never disappoint. Tonight, join us in Merseyside, England as we head to the Crank Caverns and learn more about the luscious lore that lies inside.
The Crank Caverns are, at the most basic, a network of tunnels and caverns surrounded by lush woodlands. It’s beauty isn’t the only thing it provides - it has been a quarry as early, some guess, as 1730. Mining would continue into the late 1930s, with some changes here and there (like becoming a game reserve for the Earl of Derby). But, in 1939 the tunnels became an anti-aircraft ammunition storage facility. Then, it was abandoned.
One of the most tenacious stories of the caverns are of the vicious dwarves that call its network of tunnels homes. For decades, rumors of the dwarves have permeated the surrounding area. One story tells the tale of children who wandered into the caverns and vanished. The four children had heard about the dwarves and were eager to see these strange beings. However, only one child would make it out alive. He told a terrifying tale that little, old men with beards overtook their group and killed the others. As he was running, he said he slipped over human bones before finally scrambling out an exit. Surprisingly, as the story goes, the authorities took this claim very seriously as a higher than average number had gone missing in the caves.
It is said that two soldiers went into the section the child described and saw some shocking things, including a fully built cathedral (complete with gargoyles and lit candles), evidence of cannibalism, and a child’s skull.
However, none of this can be confirmed. Why? Shortly after this exploration, that length of the tunnels had collapsed. While some believe it simply collapsed, some rumors suggest that the men were so shocked and disgusted by what they found that they blew it up themselves.
Of course, other rumors swirl of witches and more...but the strange subterranean church and its constituents seems to be the most popular, although each story contains slight changes here and there.
Hundreds, if not thousands, have explored the caves and it appears that the church has never been re-discovered, not have the dwarves been found.
Please do not go traveling into the Crank Caverns. Every year, their instability increases and the threat to life is very real.
Thanks to BrethertonJames for this suggestion!
The blog image is Andy Gibson Crank Caverns The well hidden Crank Caverns entrance and licensed CC BY-SA 2.0.