Royston Cave: Templar chapel or Home to a Hermit?

On a dark cold night in the very distant past, an old man is hunched over a very important carving in the wall of a cave. It’s late and he’s tired, but the blank canvas of the cave wall is calling to him and, with nothing but candle-light to work by, and filled with divine inspiration, he slaves away carefully, eager to finish the unmistakable figure of a man hanging on a cross. We don’t know who the artist is, or why he’s carving the scene of the crucifixion into the wall of a man-made cave. We don’t even know if anyone other than the artist saw it before the cave was filled up, closed off, and forgotten.

For a mere couple of decades or maybe even hundreds of years, there’s no way to tell, the cave is lost, the artwork unseen and unappreciated. The mysterious cave and its secrets lie buried beneath the bustling market of Royston. But, the market is successful, drawing more and more people, and the town is growing fast.

Then, one morning, a couple of workmen arrive with pickaxes and good intentions. The market is expanding. They need to build a bench for traders from here, there, and Elsweyr. They start digging a foundation – this bench was being built to last.

They never finished it though. Instead of a bench, the townspeople of Royston got something completely unexpected. Underneath their feet was a man-made cave filled with carvings. It was a mystery then, and it’s a mystery now.

In the 250 years since discovering Royston cave, we haven’t made much progress in learning anything about this peculiar find. So, what’s the story behind Royston Cave?

Discovery of the Cave

Like so many of the best mysteries out there, Royston cave was discovered by accident in August of 1742. Workmen came across a millstone, around 30cm or 11 inches deep while digging a foundation for that bench. The millstone had a hole in the centre, so the curious workmen lowered a plumb line, a device used back then to determine the depth of water; the line descended down around 5m or 16 feet.

By now thoroughly curious, the workmen lifted the millstone to find a vertical, well-like shaft around 60cm, or 23 inches, in diameter. Toeholds had been cut into the chalk on opposite sides of the shaft forming a ladder. A small boy was the first to be sent down the hole though how voluntary that was is up for debate. Health and Safety regulations just weren’t the same back then.

When the boy returned alive and unharmed, a thin man with a candle was sent down. Not sure if he volunteered either. The first two brave explorers discovered that the shaft was around 1.2m (4 feet), in length and opened up in what appeared to be an underground cave filled with loose earth and other debris.

The first thought on everyone’s mind was buried treasure, so they enthusiastically set about the task of enlarging the shaft and emptying the debris and soil from the cave. They hauled around 200 bucket loads of earth to the surface. We don’t know the exact size of the buckets, but that’s a lot of earth.

Of course, rumours of possible treasure spread like an August wildfire in South Africa and the workmen doing the digging had to work at night because of the daily growing crowd of spectators. The debris hauled out of the cave included a skull, decayed bones, a fragment of a small, brown, drinking vessel marked with yellow spots and an unmarked piece of brass. All of this, except the skull, was considered useless trash and promptly chucked away sending any chance of finding out who made the cave or why to the nearest trash heap never to be seen again.

The find was of great interest to antiquarians of the time and the Society of Antiquaries sent Reverend George North to inspect. North was a bit early to the party as the cave was still in the process of being cleared when he arrived, so his report is incomplete. However, he did note that the ceiling dome had either been repaired or strengthened at some point before the rediscovery and was about 30cm (23 inches) from the street above. He also noted the top of an arch, opposite the shaft the workmen discovered, and concluded that it was probably an air vent or chimney to remove the smoke from candles and lamps since it was simply too narrow to be anything else.

Today, this is known as the Eastern Shaft. Rev. North came to the conclusion that the cave had been built probably right around the time the town itself was founded.

The next antiquarian to visit was Dr. William Stukeley who arrived in Royston on October 19th, 1742. He was one of England’s first field archaeologists, but this was way before archaeology was considered an actual field of science. By this time, the cave had been cleared and the carvings in the lower part of the cave revealed. Stukeley believed that the cave had most certainly been built as a place of worship in the earliest times of Christianity. He made sketches of the cave and carvings which he published in a 1743 book, Palaeographica Britannica: or, Discourses on Antiquities in Britain. No. I. Being more of a scientist, his drawings of the carvings, while not exact, are still fairly good compared with what we have today. He also discovered a seal made of pipe-clay and marked with a fleur de lis, and described the skull as female.

In 1790, during a particularly harsh winter when work was scarce, a local building contractor, Thomas Watson, employed his men to cut a 22m (70 foot) passage into the cave, through the only place on the wall where there were no carvings, to make it easier for visitors. Up to that point, the only way to enter had been via the opening at the top using either a rope ladder or by being lowered into the cave on a rope. Finally, the original entrance found in 1742 was sealed.

Description of Royston Cave

Circular and bell-shaped, Royston cave is relatively small, only about 8 m (26 feet) high and 5 m (16 feet) in diameter. One study suggests that the cave might’ve been divided into two levels with a wooden frame that supported a raised platform. There’s also some speculation that there might’ve been walkways from the cave leading to a church but nothing like that has ever been found.

At the base of the cave is a raised octagonal step. Those leaning towards the idea that the space had some religious significance believe the step was possibly used for kneeling and prayer. Several large niches have also been carved into the chalk and probably held some kind of light source, like lamps or candles, and perhaps even relics.

When the cave was initially discovered, the domed ceiling was partly tiled. At some point, the original dome ceiling was destroyed and replaced by brick. Sadly, whatever was left of the tiles was also chucked into the same landfill as the bones and the cup fragment.

What makes Royston cave so extraordinary is not the fact that it’s a man-made cave beneath a road. It’s the carvings. The walls of the cave are covered with unusual carvings.

The carvings were most likely coloured at some point as one visitor in the mid-19th century reported St Catherine wearing a yellow dress and some red on the carvings depicting the Holy family. However, due to the age and damage over the years, only small traces of colour remain. The carvings have been described as detailed, but I think that’s being a bit generous.

It’s unlikely that they were made by just one person, and whoever made them probably didn’t have any training in carving or sculpting, so we’re not looking for an artisan or artist. That doesn’t make them any less interesting or valuable though. The biggest mystery, however, is what these carvings are meant to represent.

There are quite a few interpretations.

Many of the carvings appear to be Christian in nature; there are some crucifixion scenes and enough crosses to make a vampire very nervous. One panel seems to focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. There appears to be a resurrection scene with Mary Magdalene, or an angel, sitting on a stone rolled away from the entrance of what is presumably the grave of Jesus. Above that is the hand of God releasing a dove which many interpret as the Holy Spirit.

Beneath the dove was the body of a shrouded figure, however, only the head remains today. Some theorize this might represent the body of Jesus within the Holy Sepulcher prior to resurrection.

There are also a whole lot of saints including St Catherine holding a representation of the spiked wheel associated with her martyrdom, St Lawrence who is also referred to as the Grail Saint and martyred on a gridiron holding said gridiron, and St. Christopher considered to be the patron saint of travellers with the child Jesus on his shoulders and a staff in his hand. Finally, we have a figure with a sword. This could be either St.

Michael or St. George, the patron saint of England. The sword of the saint that could be either Michael or George points to 13 figures which might be the apostles. 12 of the figures are about the same size while a 13th is smaller and appears at the back towards the right-hand end of the carving; this is apparently Judas. Three figures that appear to be two adults and a child are considered to be the holy family – Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus.

Some pagan carvings have also been identified, one being the earth goddess known as Sheela-na-gig, a symbol of fertility, and the other a large figure of a horse. However, there is some debate around this figure as it doesn’t really resemble other depictions of the Sheela-na-gig found at other sites. The Sheela figure, if that’s what it is, can be found between a carving of a horse and a carving of a sword, and according to those in the know, the figure is also cruder than some of the other carvings in the cave. However, while the Sheela is a pagan figure, it does show up in ecclesiastical contexts and have been found in medieval churches across Britain and Europe, so it’s not entirely out of place.

There are more figures that can’t be identified. Some are marked with crosses which could suggest saints while some are marked with hearts which could indicate martyrs. Two small figures below St.

Catherine could possibly be Richard I or Richard the Lion Heart and his wife, Queen Berengaria. The queen’s crown is floating above her head, unlike the other figures whose crowns are on their heads, which might refer to the fact that she was never actually crowned as Queen. Beneath St Lawrence is a figure with raised arms that has been interpreted as either King William of Scotland or King David of the Bible.

A similar figure can be found on a 13th century illuminated manuscript of Psalm 69, currently held in Trinity College Library, Cambridge, showing King David rising from the water. Apparently Psalm 69 is a plea for help and a lament about being misunderstood. I’m sure Royston cave can relate.

Some of the carvings also depict what might be the Calvary scenes with Mary and John. To the left of King David, or King William depending on your school of thought, is a carving some interpret to be a memorial to Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar.

However, there are some alternative interpretations. One author, Nigel Pennick, argues that while most scholars interpret these carvings as Christian iconography, we tend to forget the origin of many Christian saints and symbols. One example would be the depiction of St Catherine.

According to legend, Catherine was tied to a wheel and tortured, and in Christian tradition, saints are depicted with the instrument of their martyrdom which, in her case, happened to be a wheel. However, the figure of a woman holding a wheel can also be found on pre-Christian vases depicting Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld. I couldn’t find examples of this; in most images of Persephone that I found she’s holding a sheaf of grain or a torch but I don’t have access to a whole lot of pre-Christian vases.

Pennick also mentions Fortuna, a Roman goddess who is often depicted holding a wheel symbolizing the wheel of fortune. Apparently, there are a few sun wheels in the cave which could be Wheels of Fortune and this takes us back to the Roman occupation. Another saint depicted in the carvings that has pagan roots is St Christopher, the patron saint of travellers.

The Greek god Hermes and the Roman god Mercury were also the protectors of travellers, among other things. Greek and Roman gods had a diverse portfolio.

Yet another interesting interpretation suggests that in one image, a long sword appears to have a three lobed pommel which would possibly make it a Viking sword. The carvings next to the sword could be the lineage of the Normans who occupied Britain and France. What some interpret as the holy family could be a reference to William Longsword, the second ruler of Normandy, who reigned from 927 until 942, his Viking father Rollo, and his French mother, Poppa of Bayeux - all that from one carving of a very long sword.

Many articles insist that this cave and its carvings are completely unique and the only other example of anything like this is in Eastern Europe. While this is certainly the only cave of its kind found in England to date, according to one archaeologist, the carvings themselves aren’t that unique. They share similarities to graffiti found all over medieval churches and holy places, mostly likely made by your average medieval citizen. However, this is a bit of a boring explanation, so let’s consider more interesting theories.

Who Built Royston Cave and Why?

Who exactly built the cave and for what purpose is very much a mystery. Without any written records about the cave before it was found in 1742, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever know what the carvings mean or who carved them in the first place. Of course, uncertainty tends to give rise to conspiracy theories so there’s a whole lot of theories ranging from slightly possible to downright ridiculous. Now, I’ve decided not to bother with the ‘Freemasons did it’ or go into the significance of the cave being on important Ley Lines.

Rather, we’ll be considering a few theories I find interesting and at least somewhat plausible. So, let’s kick this off with everyone’s favorite: the Knights Templar.

The Templars Built It

The Knights Templar was a religious order initially founded in 1118 with the aim to protect pilgrims on the road to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The order was persecuted in France by King Philip IV around 1307 and finally disbanded by Pope Clement in 1312.

As we know, the Templars was a wealthy order, and they had strongholds all over Europe and England. One of these strongholds was in nearby Baldock, a town apparently founded by the Templars in the 1140s, around 8 miles from Royston.

Many proponents of the Templar theory believe that the carvings alone prove a Templar connection. One carving looks like it could be two riders on a single horse which was the symbol of the Templars. Despite the order being wealthy, individual knights were not so they had to fit two knights per horse.

However, this has been greatly disputed. All that you can really see are two figures close together on a damaged section of the wall. The carving was also altered during some mid-20th century attempts at renovation, so really, it could be anything.

There’s also a carving that Templar groupies firmly insist is none other than the last Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay, who met his maker via burning stake. Three small figures huddling together are the three main engineers of the downfall of the Templars: King Philip IV of France, Pope Clement V, and the Grand Master of the Hospitallers. I’ve got no idea how the Hospitallers fit into the picture, but I’m no Templar expert.

A smaller figure holding a skull in its right hand and a candle in its left represents a candidate for initiation into the order. A number, presumed to be a date, 1347, has also been uncovered. Most scholars agree that the carving seems genuine which suggests that someone was in the cave in 1347.

According to the Templar theory, the Templars used the cave to meet in secret after their order was disbanded, back in 1312, and only stopped using the cave in 1347 after which they filled it up and moved to Scotland or Nova Scotia or wherever homeless Templars go.

A firm believer in the theory that the Templars were connected to the cave was local archaeologist Sylvia Beamon, who spent decades researching the cave. Beamon believed that the Templars stationed in Baldock, close to Royston, weren’t fighting knights. They were administrators, artisans, and farmers looking after the local Templar estates.

Around the 12th century, a market sprang up in Royston, and the Templars sold their produce at the Royston Cheese and Butter Market between 1149 and 1254. In 1199, the Templars had a dispute with the local Priory as they claimed to be exempt from tolls in English markets, so we have documented proof that the Templars most certainly were in Royston.

Beamon believed that the cave was a pre-existing structure that the Knights just repurposed and it had a dual function. A wooden platform divided the space and the upper part was used as storage for their butter and cheese and may also have been where they stayed over for the night before returning home. They weren’t welcome at the Priory anymore but a brother needs to sleep.

The lower part of the cave was possibly used as a chapel for their daily prayers and maybe even for initiations. She argued that the carvings in the cave are similar to ones found at other Templar sites across Europe, such as the Tour de Coudray in the Chateau de Chinon, France, where a number of Templars, including the last grandmaster, were imprisoned before they met their maker in 1308. The circular design she interprets as a reference to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

The small step that might’ve been used for prayer or contemplating the carvings was also a common feature in round churches and can be seen in the Temple Church in London and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Cambridge.

I’m a bit skeptical about the Templar cave theory, but, for the most part, Beamon’s work is fairly solid. However, when there are Templars involved, the theories will become more elaborate. One theory states that the cave had an entirely ritualistic purpose.

It was a meeting place where the Templars assembled to pledge their loyalty to one another and be initiated into a secret, underground order because the Templars are apparently not mysterious enough as is. A reception was possibly held on the upper level where the initiates were prepared before being allowed to access the lower chamber by ladder, similar to how candidates are prepared for degrees in Masonry. On the floor of the cave, after descending a very short ladder, the initiate probably underwent some kind of ceremony which required him to pass through the structural ‘grave’ of the cave to signify death and spiritual rebirth.

Of course, some of us are a little skeptical about this Templar theory. A stylistic examination of the carvings was done in 2012 by the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. According to this analysis, the male costumes and headdresses, as well as the hairstyles of the women, suggest the carvings were made between 1360 and 1390, by which time the Templars had already been disbanded.

Other reports have also pointed out that the plate armour worn by some of the figures wasn’t commonly used in the 11th and 12th centuries, but rather show up in the 15th and 16th centuries. The report also concluded that it was highly unlikely that any of the carvings were made before 1350 – a century after the Templars were visiting the market in Royston, and a few decades after they were persecuted and disbanded.

It’s also worth noting that while the carvings appear to be religious in nature, they don’t depict some of the symbolism mostly associated with the Templars such as two knights on a horse. The carvings found at Templar sites across Europe, including hearts, stars of David, and geometrical patterns, were images that were common at the time and thus not unique to the Templar order meaning the carvings in the cave is not uniquely Templar either. The floor plan of the cave is round, and the Templars liked to build round churches; however, much like the carvings, they weren’t the only ones doing it.

Finally, the Templars weren’t a subterranean order – sure, tunnels have been found under Templar strongholds but, once again, this isn’t a practice limited to the Templars. In a time when your stronghold could end up besieged for months, it was useful to have a backdoor.

The Templar theory is still the most popular theory and, unfortunately, many people seem to accept this as fact. There’s no way to prove whether the Templars used the cave or not but if we immediately accept this as the only truth, we lose out on so many other interesting possibilities. What are these other possibilities?

Home to a Hermit

The Templar theory might be the most popular, but to me, the hermit theory seems more plausible. In the Saxon period, it was common practice for a hermitage to be by the side of a road. A hermitage is basically a place where a person would live in religious seclusion. Some research suggests that travellers would pay the hermit to pray for a safe journey, and since Royston is at the crossroads of two important roads, it would be a good place for a hermit to spend their days hermiting.

In 1742, William Stukeley observed that crosses and hermitages were common in a time when people were more religious than literate. The cross would remind the faithful to pray while the hermit could tell them which road would take them to their final destination. The image of Saint Christopher, Hermes or Mercury, the protector of travellers, depending on your religion, certainly supports this theory.

Some of the less notable, and unidentified, figures among the carvings in Royston cave could represent some of the hermit’s more generous benefactors. According to a medieval rule for hermits, the crucifixion scene was considered the only essential piece of furniture for a hermit which would greatly simplify interior decorating and could be one explanation for the crucifixion scene and crosses carved into the walls.

In 1184, an Augustinian priory was built in Royston and quarrying for stone could be a plausible reason for the creation of Royston cave. Once the priory had the cave, it’s within the realm of possibility that they decided to use the cave as either a storeroom or a hermitage, depending on whether they had a hermit on staff. As we’ve already stated, the carvings were not made by a skilled artist and probably by more than one person which would explain the occasional repetition and why there doesn’t seem to be any particular order to the carvings.

If the cave was indeed a hermitage, the carvings were possibly inspired by visions the inhabitants had while spending their days in darkness. I like isolation sometimes, but I’ll take a cabin in the woods over a hole in the ground any time.

In 2020, Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews, archaeologist and curator of the local museum, provided more proof to back up this theory. Fitzpatrick-Matthews dated the carvings in the cave to the late 15th century based on similarities between the carvings in the cave and carvings and paintings in churches of this period. If you accept this date, we have a possible candidate for who made the cave or, in the very least, lived in the cave at some point and made the carvings on the wall.

In 1506, a Royston hermit died, unfortunately, we have no name, and in 1540, a hermitage in the parish was sold. The documentation doesn’t specify what or where this hermitage was, but Royston cave certainly is a strong contender.

The hermitage was bought by Robert Chester, the same person who built a prison house on Icknield Street around 1550. The cave would’ve made for an ideal prison cell – no-one is going to be escaping from a man-made cave with only one entrance. If the carvings weren’t the work of a bored, yet determined, hermit, they might’ve been drawn by bored prisoners.

Fitzpatrick-Matthews also pointed out that the fragments of the brown cup that was thrown away when the cave was rediscovered doesn’t match any known style from the medieval period. However, it does match the description of slipware; earthenware used in the 16th and 17th century. The pipe-clay seal found later in the cave is also unlikely to have been made before the late 16th century. This suggests that the cave was probably filled in during the late 16th or early 17th century, possibly because the carvings were considered Catholic, and the country was now Protestant.

While this theory seems more likely, it’s still speculation. In 1536-1541, Henry VIII closed monasteries, priories and convents in England, Ireland and Wales, and the priory of Royston was one of many to fall. With the dissolution of the priory, any records of a connection between the priory and the cave were destroyed or lost. Thanks a lot Henry.

A Noble Chapel

To understand where this theory comes from, we first need to look at the history of Royston; specifically, how it got its name. Today, Royston cave is located beneath Melbourne Street, but hundreds of years ago, the town looked slightly different. Melbourne Street was Ickneild Way, an Iron Age track running all the way from East Anglia to the Salisbury plain. Then, around 2000 years ago, the Romans built Ermine Street that ran from York, or Eboracum, in the North to London, or Londinium, in the South.

These two prehistoric roads crossed in Royston.

In Roman times, it was common practice to erect shrines at important crossroads. Later, Christians would replace these shrines with Christian shrines or, more commonly, crosses. In 1184, we find the first mention of a cross at these crossroads called the Crux Roaisie.

So, according to legend, the cross was placed by a Lady Roisia or Rohesia. The base of the cross can still be seen in the town square today since leaving it in the middle of the crossroad would’ve caused some minor traffic delays. Eventually, it became Roisia’s Cross and then Rosia’s Town and finally Royston.

It’s theorized that this same Lady Roisia used Royston cave as a private chapel during her lifetime and finally as a crypt. William Stukeley even thought that the skull found in the cave belonged to this mysterious Lady Roisia. So, who was this important lady of the cave?

As with most aspects of this mystery, we don’t know, but there are a few contenders for the title.

One possibility is that she was the wife of William the Conqueror’s steward, Eudo Dapifer. He was a very important man who owned land in Royston around 1066. Another possibility is Rohese de Vere, the wife of Geoffrey de Mandeville, the first Earl of Essex, who passed away in 1170. A third lady this could be referring to is Rohese de Mowbray, daughter of Richard de Clare, a man with a long list of titles, among them 5th Earl of Hertford. She was also known as Rohesia and died in 1299.

So, to recap, one of these fair ladies, or possibly none of them, put up a cross at a crossroad, used the cave as a chapel and a final resting place, and eventually gave the town its name. If only someone had thought to make a note of the exact lineage of our lady of the cave.

A Temple to Mithras

One of the many things the Roman soldiers brought with them to Britain was their worship of Mithras. The origins of this mystery cult are a bit complex but suffice it to say that he was one of many Roman gods. Honestly, I don’t know that much about the Romans in Britain other than they managed to lose a legion in Scotland, so I found this theory particularly interesting.

We do know that Roman legionnaires were more than just fighting men; they were competent engineers and could construct roads and forts. The legionnaires building the road from London to York certainly would’ve had the skill and time to excavate the cave from the soft chalk bedrock and use it as a temple to Mithras. It also wouldn’t be the only Mithraeum in England – another important Mithraeum was discovered in London in 1954.

According to legend, Mithras killed a bull in a cave, so a Mithraeum is usually an adapted or natural cave or cavern, or a building imitating a cave, and was mostly built underneath existing buildings. Most temples to Mithras had a vent in the ceiling to create a source of light, much like the Eastern Shaft at Royston cave. In 1852, Joseph Beldam, an English historian and writer, noted that the niches carved into the walls, assumed to be made to hold lamps or candles, resemble similar features seen in Roman, Etruscan and Phoenician tombs. It was also common practice to decorate a Mithraeum with carvings and painted scenes and we know that the carvings in Royston cave was coloured at some point in time.

One thing that puzzled me about this cave is the fact that the cave is full of carvings except for one section where the new entrance was dug. That seemed mightily convenient to me. However, a Mithraeum would explain this. The central mystery of the Mithras celebration was a seven-stage initiation.

These stages would sometimes be marked on the floor in mosaic or in relief on the walls. An eight-sided cave would allow room for the seven stages and a blank side meant for the altar piece. The cave was probably looted at some point and any loose relics and altar pieces were stolen or, perhaps, the Roman soldiers took it with them when they left Britain.

The carvings in Royston cave are mostly interpreted as Christian but the religion of Mithras and Christianity were contemporaries, so they shared symbolism. Also, these carvings are not exactly that detailed so what some consider to be the dove of Christ could be the raven of Mithras and, like Jesus, Mithras had 12 companions. The gridiron held by St Lawrence could indicate the stages of initiation. However, some of the most prominent symbolism of Mithras is missing.

A depiction of Mithras slaying the bull is very important but nowhere to be found in Royston cave.

The worship of Mithras was considered a rival to Christianity and practitioners of this faith were persecuted until the practice was eliminated in Rome. So, it’s possible that the cave started out as a temple to Mithras but once the Romans left, the original carvings were altered by Christians leaving us with a puzzle on our hands.

Conclusion

So, we know someone was in the cave in 1347 if the date found is not a forgery. At some point after that, the cave was probably filled in when it was abandoned, either to hide it or simply because it was no longer being used. Of course, considering the skull and bone fragments, it could’ve been a crypt that was sealed up and forgotten. I don’t think we’ll ever know who built it, but as for who used it, I have a little theory of my own based on the most likely theories: Why not all of them?

A cave is a pretty permanent structure – it won’t rot away like wood or get razed to the ground in a siege. The Romans left England in 383 CE. If they were the ones who built it, they most certainly wouldn’t have needed it anymore.

I don’t see why a lady Roisia couldn’t have used it as a chapel. There’s no tunnel linking the cave to the priory, so I find it unlikely that the priory used it as a storeroom – it would just be impractical. However, I can see the Templars using it when visiting the market and a hermit moving in after the Templars stopped coming around.

If every group that used it, and perhaps the odd peasant taking shelter while on their way to a market or visiting relatives, added their own little bit of graffiti, that would explain the mash up of symbolism and religions and the fact that there doesn’t seem to be any particular rhyme or reason to the carvings themselves.

At the end of the day, we all want to be remembered; we all want to mark our time spent on this earth in one way or another and since not all of us will have successful YouTube channels, sometimes the only way to do that is to carve a crude picture on a cave wall or quote Shakespeare on the door of bathroom stall.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and how was Royston Cave discovered?

Royston Cave was discovered by accident in August 1742. Workmen digging a foundation for a bench in the market of Royston found a millstone with a hole in the center. They lowered a plumb line and discovered a vertical shaft leading to an underground cave filled with carvings.

What was the initial reaction to the discovery of Royston Cave?

The initial reaction was one of excitement and curiosity, with the workmen hoping to find buried treasure. They enthusiastically cleared the cave of debris, and rumors of possible treasure spread quickly, attracting a growing crowd of spectators.

What significant artifacts were found during the initial clearing of Royston Cave?

During the initial clearing, a skull, decayed bones, a fragment of a small, brown drinking vessel marked with yellow spots, and an unmarked piece of brass were found. Unfortunately, most of these items were discarded, except for the skull.

What did Reverend George North observe during his inspection of Royston Cave?

Reverend George North noted that the ceiling dome had been repaired or strengthened and was about 30cm from the street above. He also observed the top of an arch, which he concluded was likely an air vent or chimney to remove smoke from candles and lamps.

What did Dr. William Stukeley believe about the purpose of Royston Cave?

Dr. William Stukeley believed that the cave had been built as a place of worship in the earliest times of Christianity. He made sketches of the cave and carvings, which he published in his 1743 book, Palaeographica Britannica.

What is the size and shape of Royston Cave?

Royston Cave is circular and bell-shaped, approximately 8 meters high and 5 meters in diameter. It is relatively small and has a raised octagonal step at the base, which some believe was used for kneeling and prayer.

What are some of the prominent carvings found in Royston Cave?

The cave features carvings of Christian figures such as crucifixion scenes, St. Catherine, St. Lawrence, St. Christopher, and possibly St. Michael or St. George. There are also pagan carvings, including a figure of the earth goddess Sheela-na-gig and a large figure of a horse.

What are some of the theories about who built Royston Cave and its purpose?

Several theories exist, including that the cave was built by the Knights Templar as a secret meeting place, used by a hermit for religious seclusion, served as a private chapel for a noblewoman named Lady Roisia, or was a temple to the Roman god Mithras.

What evidence supports the theory that Royston Cave was used by a hermit?

The hermit theory is supported by the presence of carvings related to travel and protection, such as St. Christopher, and the historical practice of hermits living by the side of roads. Additionally, documentation from 1506 mentions a Royston hermit, and the cave’s carvings could have been inspired by visions experienced in isolation.

What is the significance of the date 1347 found in Royston Cave?

The date 1347, found in the cave, suggests that someone was present in the cave during that year. This date is often cited in the context of the Templar theory, which proposes that the Templars used the cave after their order was disbanded in 1312 and stopped using it by 1347.

Sources

• Original Decoding the Unknown video: Royston Cave: Templar chapel or Home to a Hermit?
• Hero image source by Llywelyn2000 / openverse, by-sa.