Wookey Hole Cave

Wookey Hole is a cave system where there is a series of caves running deep into the earth. Many chambers exist though how many is unknown. Most of these are flooded or at least contain some water.The entrance area regularly contains some water or moisture but these get more abundant the deeper one goes. Stalagites & stalalgmites are common, and are regularly found with areas of hard ground around them.

Little life exists in the caves, with primarily nesting burds, insects & the odd small mammal using it as home. Most of these are found near the entrances. A number of plants are found where the sunlight can get in.

Life itself is mainly geared to the ecosystem on the outside of the cave system. Life ebbs & flows with whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter.

Many locals, and the odd outsider who visits the caves, all speak of seeing the spirits of the dead in the system, Bones and offerings dating back centuries or longer have been found in the caves, and stories dating back to Celtic times have stated that the caves are a doorway to the Underworld. Strange lights are sometimes seen floating around inside, and the whispers of the long departed can be heard.   They also state that many of the local south western wtch covens that exist have to take a pilgrimage to here to commune with the spirits here with their would be coven members. They have to get the blessings of those long dead to form the coven or join one. They are meant to be taught magic by those long dead too, and many a witch will return to gather further information.   Nothing is to be removed from the caves unless allowed to, for those that do without the spirits blessing will be cursed and/or haunted until they set things right. This involves returning or replacing what has been taken. In many cases it seems to be grave goods, and bones of the long dead. Many a local will happily warn people about this just so they are not bothered themselves.

Cool to cold, and oh so damp is the regular description given by those who have ever entered. The caves are known to be flooded at times and never fully drains, sucking away any possible warmth.

Situated by the village of Wookey Hole in the Mendip Hills near Wells in Surrey, the cave system forms part of the River Axe system which flows through it. It is a natural cavern system being eroded away by acidic compunds naturally found in the local water though not at levels dangerous to life. It has sen human use for at least 45,000 years, and maybe longer with other older species. Dolomite and Limestone are the most commonly found rocks within the system.   Originally, at least with humanity, it was used as a form of shelter for Stone Age and very early Iron Age peoples in one form or another. They had used it as much for burial practises even then, followed by being used more for entombment when the Celts established the village of Wookey Hole. After the Romans arrived it still fulfilled this purpose, even with the new lords of the land. Even today it is rumoured to still bve used for this at times.   With the caves being used for a form of graveyard, witches who wanted to learn aabout local magic going back thousands of years, would visit to commune with these ancestor spirits and learn from them. Many formed into covens of at least three, or multiples thereof. Every time this happened they would visit to get the blessing of the dead. A few would leave having no blessing due to some slight or difference of opinion with these ancestor spirits. Seen as a gateway to the Underworld, the caves are thought off to have auspicious & powerful magical energy flowing from the land of the dead.   Many locals now rarely go there frightened as to who or what lies down there, or what is taking place. Most avoid any witches that they encounter but both treat each other with some degree of courtesy, and most will help out if needed. Usually this is in the form of help with farming, cures for injury or disease, and midwifery. Saying this it is generally kept quiet and away from the ears of any Christian clergy for fear of being prosecuted has heretics. Surprisingly most of the local clergy know about such practises but avoid getting involved pitting t down to local folklore, superstition, and the locals unable to pay for the 'correct' medicinal & vetinarial skills.