Royston Cave

Royston Cave is an ancient artificial cave with an entrance in Katherine's Yard, Melbourn Street, Royston, England. Rediscovered in 1742, it is located in the town centre at the crossroads of two ancient routes: Ermine Street and the Icknield Way. It is protected as both a scheduled ancient monument and a Grade I listed building. The origin and purpose is unknown. It has been speculated that it was used by the Knights Templar, who founded the nearby town of Baldock, but this is an unlikely explanation despite its popular appeal. There are numerous other theories about the cave, covering Freemasons as well as a prison, a storage place or an anchorite cell. However, none of these theories has enough evidence to warrant being favoured by the Cave Trust, which runs the site. It is open to the public on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons between April and September. The Cave is a circular, bell-shaped chamber cut into the chalk bedrock. It is 8 metres (26 feet) high and 5 metres (17 feet) in diameter, with a circumferential octagonal podium. This cave is unique in western Europe for the numerous medieval carvings on the walls; comparable examples exist only in the former Czechoslovakia and in Palestine. Some of the figures are thought to be those of St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Lawrence and St. Christopher.