Beer Quarry Caves
2,000 years of history brought vividly to life, a visit to Beer Quarry Caves is an exciting and fascinating experience not to be missed. The workings are cool and even on a warm day a jumper is advisable.
The underground quarry first worked by the Romans,supplied stone for 24 cathedrals including Exeter and St.Pauls, parts of Westminster Abbey,the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle. Quarried by hand, the smallest blocks weighing 4 tons, the stone was carted on horse-drawn wagons and by barges from Beer beach to its destination, sometimes involving journeys of several hundreds of miles.
Beer stone was much prized by the masons, as freshly quarried it is ideal for fine detail carvings but hardens on exposure to the air, turning a beautiful creamy white colour. Although seen today by the thousands of people who visit these famous buildings, sadly few stop to wonder where the stone came from, or give even a passing thought to the generations of local families who worked here under appalling conditions by the light of tallow candles.
The entrance leads directly into the Roman section, which now houses a small museum containing pieces of Beer stone carved centuries ago by skilled masons, the tools used by the Quarrymen, copies of ancient documents and photographs. From this very chamber the Romans quarried the first blocks of Beer Stone to build their villas, leaving typical
Roman arches and even their tool-marks are still visible on the walls. On through the Saxon part of the workings to where the Normans quarried stone for cathedrals, castles and Manor houses.
The sheer grandeur of the mighty halls, vaulted roofs and massive supporting pillars of natural stone are awe- inspiring and have often been likened to a vast underground cathedral. A refuge and place of worship for Catholics during times of persecution, hiding place for contraband in the days when Beer was home to the infamous smuggler Jack Rattenbury, legend and human interest stories abound. The quarry was worked from Roman times until the beginning of
the 20th. century and the entire complex is a vast memorial to those from the village some as young as eight years old who worked here over the centuries providing the stone we see today in some of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in England.
See for yourself the methods used to quarry and deliver the huge blocks of stone, the working conditions, the hardships endured and the dangers faced daily by the work-force and you may never again see a famous building with the same eyes.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Address:
QUARRY LANE,
BEER,
DEVON.
EX12 3AT
Light refreshments and souvenirs. Ample free parking.
Level walking below ground.
Whilst no problem for pushchairs,Regrettably, steep approach path to
entrance impractical for wheelchairs.
2010 ADMISSION:
Open daily.
Monday March 29th to end September 10.00AM. Last tour 5.00PM.
October daily 11.00 AM. Last tour 4.00PM
Tour times may vary
ADULTS £6.25:
SENIOR CITIZENS and CHILDREN 6-16 years £4.50
FAMILY(2 ADULTS+2 CHILDREN) £19.00
CHILDREN UNDER 6 yrs. free