Royston Cave

General information

HISTORY OF THE CAVE

Hidden beneath Melbourn Street, Royston, the cave was discovered by accident in 1742 when a millstone was unearthed during building work. The millstone was removed to reveal a vertical shaft that led down into a man-made cave hewn out of the solid chalk.

The walls of the cave are decorated with religious and secular carvings on almost every wall. Some of the carvings are easily recognised as the Crucifixion, St Catherine, St Christopher and St Lawrence, but others still defy positive identification. Most do however appear to be medieval in style.

There are numerous theories as to the origin and use of the cave although none are conclusive owing to a lack of hard historical evidence. The theories include the cave having been a hermitage, an early Masonic lodge, a gaol and a secret meeting place for the Knights Templar. Interestingly, the latest research carried out by the curator at the Royal Armouries Museum indicates that the carvings are unlikely to have been made before 1350.

In recent years, English Heritage has recognised the cave as being unique and has helped fund a number of conservation projects. They have worked in partnership with the Cave Trust, the Town Council and the Royston History Society in order to ensure the continued preservation of the cave for future generations to come.

VISTING THE CAVE

The Cave is open Easter Saturday to the last Sunday in September. Entry is by guided tour only. Each tour lasts around 30-40 minutes.

The opening times are as follows:
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays: 2.30pm – 5.00 pm.
Wednesday (August only): 2.30pm – 5.00 pm.
Last admission: 4.30pm.

Tickets are available from the guide at the entrance to the cave on the day. Tickets cannot be pre-booked.

Admission prices:
Adults (16+) - £5
Senior Citizens (60+) - £4
Children* - FREE
*Children must be accompanied by an adult

The maximum number of people on any one tour is 18 and during busy times, visitors may have to wait until the next tour starts. We regret that groups cannot be accommodated during normal opening hours but special openings for groups can be arranged outside normal hours.

Access to the cave is via steps and a sloping tunnel so we regret that there is no disabled access to the Cave.

No pets except assistance dogs are allowed inside.

Photography for personal use is allowed in the Cave but filming or videoing of any kind is strictly prohibited. Photography for commercial use requires prior permission.

A ten minute walk from the railway station, Royston Cave is situated near the town centre in Melbourn Street behind the ‘Cave’ shop. If arriving by car, there are plenty of spaces at the nearest car park at the Town Hall. Nearby, there is a public toilet and the town centre has many restaurants and cafes.

For more information visit our website at www.roystoncave.co.uk.