The rock houses of England's last cave people

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It was the middle of the 20th century when England's last cave dwellers abandoned their homes in a rural area located near Birmingham.

For centuries, many families made their home in a cluster of sandstone caves situated in the scenic Kinver Edge, a high heath offering breathtaking views for miles.

Over the years, the caves were expanded into a series of rock houses, situated in the countryside of Staffordshire, which became a popular destination for tourists.

At the peak of their popularity, hundreds of people from across the West Midlands and beyond came to see these modern "cave people" before the number of residents decreased and their rock homes were left abandoned.

"They had a much better quality of life in the rock houses," said Claire Hale from the National Trust, which takes care of the attraction.

If you were alive during the Industrial Revolution, people were regularly exposed to pollution and disease, and being able to reach the age of 50 was considered a significant achievement.

People in those rock houses were living well into their eighties.

The earliest known record of people living in the caves dates back to 1617, but Ms. Hale believes they may have been inhabited even before that.

She said that people may have been taking shelter in the Iron Age hill fort for thousands of years, even dating back to a time long before that.

Because of the red sandstone's softness, they were easily stretched out and some of them grew significantly.

The furniture and stoves were installed and, according to those who visited, they were warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Many had bathtubs and dining areas, but residents were not eager to brag about their homes.

"There was a feeling of shame that lingered there," Ms. Hale said.

The families had employment. Kids attended school. However, it wasn't something they boasted about. Yet, despite these circumstances, people resided there for a considerable amount of time.

The rock houses were mentioned again in 1777 when Joseph Heeley, a traveler who wrote a book, took refuge in them during a storm.

By the 1861 census, 11 households were recorded as residing there.

Many worked as laborers on farms or at the local iron works, while others had jobs such as laundry women, boatmen, and one person was a local postal worker.

Rose Novak lived in one until 1956 and said before she died: "Once you got there, it really was nice."

They were three separate small houses, each with two rooms.

The floor was covered in quarry tiles, and the sitting room had carpet laid down. The walls were made of sandstone, which had been plastered over.

We used to cultivate a garden where we grew a variety of things. We planted fruit trees, like apples, plums, and pears. We grew all kinds of vegetables.

By the late 19th century and into the 20th, these rock houses and the surrounding landscape became a well-known tourist destination.

"People didn't use to take vacations like we do today. They'd often take a day trip to a nearby spot, and Kinver Edge was one of those places they'd come to," explained Ms. Hale.

A tramway operated by the Kinver Light Railway began in 1901, carrying passengers from Amblecote, Dudley, to Kinver.

Those who lived in the rock houses took the opportunity to set up refreshments.

Margaret Handley, who was born in Kinver in 1911, talked to the National Trust before her passing, recalling how she assisted her aunt and uncle with the teas in the 1920s.

"We'd see the first people get off the trams, and this was when they would start getting the kettles ready to make tea," she said.

Bill Reeves lived in one of the rock houses and also recalled, "I used to make all the cakes when I was around 10 or 11 years old."

I used to drop by on Friday evening after school, come home and that was my special night during the summer, when I'd prepare cakes for the weekend.

As cars became more popular, the tramway service stopped operating.

There was no access to running water or electricity, so people started to move out of the rock houses in search of something more modern.

By the 1930s, most of the families had moved out, but the last residents didn't leave until the 1960s, allowing the rock houses to fall into disrepair.

The National Trust was involved starting in 1917 when a family of landowners donated Kinver Edge to them.

Rock surveys needed

In the 1980s, a committee was established to advocate for the preservation of the houses.

By 1993, the initial ones were restored, and more followed in 2010.

Ms. Hale stated that they require additional funding to keep them operational, including for rock surveys.

She stated that visitors were still impressed by the Kinver Rock Houses.

They're like homes, but people call them caves," she said. "When you go inside, they feel like a home.

They have a variety of appliances to cook with, beds, furniture, windows, and doors inside.

Related internet links

• Rare beetle sightings surge at wildlife conservation area
• Photos help restore old houses.
• A rock house built inside caves is exposed.

Related internet links

• The National Trust: Kinver Edge & the Rock Houses