Perched on the border of Worcester and Staffordshire are the incredible remnants of Britain’s last cave-dwelling people – and they’re much more comfortable than you might think. On Kinver Edge, there are several homes built straight into the surrounding soft limestone of the cliffs that date back as early as the 16th century.
According to the National Trust, which manages the site, the earliest record of people living in these cave homes is 1777 when a man called Joseph Heely took refuge from a storm and was given shelter by a “clean and decent family”. He describes how the rock houses made good homes “warm in winter, cool in summer”. The houses were as large as could be carved from the sandstone in the cliff, and had well water and later, gas but no electricity. Rooms could be divided as families grew, and often lodgers were taken in. The 1861 census listed 11 families living within the cliffs.
The BBC reports that living conditions in the cliffs were significantly better than those in the neighbouring villages.
Claire Hale from the National Trust told the BBC that the people living on Kniver Edge were exposed to less pollution and disease. Where life expectancy in the Industrial Revolution was around the early 50s – but the rock-dwellers had it much better.
Claire said: “They [in the rock houses] were living into their 80s.”
By the turn of the 20th century the community was already becoming a tourist attraction where residents would serve curious visitors tea from their homes.
Most families were gone by the 1930s but the last residents left in the 1960s, leaving the rock houses to decay.
By the 80s a committee had formed to try and save the houses, and by 1993 the first property was restored and then the others followed from 2010.
Today, Kinver Edge is a fabulous place to visit for a day out. If you’re a national Trust member, it’s free but for other visitors it costs £15.
One Mum, who posts on TikTok with the username ‘Bored with Kids’ described it as “brilliant”.
She said: “Attention to detail is great and the staff are super knowledgeable and more than happy to tell you about the history”
She also added the property has a fabulous tea room with stunning views over the countryside.
“This is by no means a hidden gem but it is a brilliant place to go on a family walk”.
