does anyone know if wormhome cave in New Brighton is ever opened to the public ? and if so any idea as to when ?

Thread:

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/384701/1.html

thx for the link

I was cycling along the prom more than 10 or 15 years ago and saw a hand-painted sign on one of the garden walls that overlook the prom (opposite the old baths site) - it said 'Caves Open today' and was next to a door in the garden wall. I went up and entered the garden and the house owner had opened an entrance in the middle of the lawn which gave access to caves. There was a token charitable entry fee( towards the Scouts Assoc) of about 50p. there were steps down and we were taken down by someone who acted as a guide. We were told that the caves had been used by Smugglers many years ago to hide themselves and store any contraband hidden from the customs/authorities.The caves were long and increasingly narrow and went (I think) in the direction of Moreton.At the point it became too narrow to carry on, we were told the story that, in the 1800's a young boy had been given a candle/light source and sent to see how far he could get. Apparently he is supposed to have emerged in the region of Flaybrick cemetry! Have never seen any other reference to these caves or this story.

quite a few references to them in various books in wallasey central library, just ask the staff to point you to the local history section.

this is a pretty recent book collaborating loads of old info/lore about the area. Excellent read you may have to order it at the library as its rarely in stock since they got a copy


Wirral Smugglers, Wreckers and Pirates - Gavin Chappel

Unfortunately there is a load of innacurate information in that book.
Did have a read of a book called "underground Liverpool" today which was an amazing read and very well researched,it answers some of the myths floating around the internet about some of the Liverpool tunnels.

thats why i said lore

whos the author of that one pls DD

Jim Moore ... the book is in the book clearance shop on the corner of the square by Beatties in Birkenhead, I think it was knocked down to £6.49 but also available on Amazon for under £8 inclusive p&p

http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/wallasey/yellownosemap.jpg

When I was twelve with another friend I attempted to access the cave at the back of the putting green by the steps leading down from a house. We had candles funny enough, we got maybe thirty feet in before it became very tight. We were skinny kids too. but by the light of the candle we could see it opening wider further along. This was the cave referred to as the 'Lady's Cave' because some woman got stuck in it and the only way to get her out was to strip her naked and grease her body. As least that's what her boyfriend told her.

That's about as true as the one about it connecting to Mother Redcaps. Do you realise just how far this is and there was a river (Wallasey Pool) to cross?

worm hole is not long at sll mate!
well not that long lol!

Fascinating stuff, reading the History. Do these wormholes REALLY go back to the time of the Smugglers?

Thanks DD! Checked out the Library Database and there is a copy available with my name on it!!!

Fantastic book i emailed gavin,i was that impressed. He's a wiki member yanno!

When I was was kid we were told the caves went from St Hilary's church to New Brighton to Mother Redcaps. Don't know about that.
I know that they found some caves late 19th century under the Palace. As kids I saw a friend of mine trying to hacksaw the lock off the Wellington Road garden entrance to the Wormhole and being chased by the owners ( early UE people we were) and later we tried to access Mother Redcaps when the original house was there but didn't get far before a local bobby thwarted us. Also tried to get into the old tower at St Hilarys but got chased by a vicar in a frock. didn't know if he was after getting us arrested - or after us so ran fast.

I remember my Grandad telling me about these tunnels years ago.

I've done loads of reasearch on this recently. I'm in no doubt they exsist as there are one or two maps of the main cavern floating around the internet. I believe in the 90's the owner would open the caves publicly once or twice a year in aid of Claire house etc.. I know someone local to the area who has confirmed this but there seems to have been nothing in recent years.

Does anyone know wether the public viewings still happen. I believe the only remaing access is through a manhole in the garden of Rock Villa. The house is situated just in front of a crazy golf green and there is a visble archway that has been blocked up with sandstone. Any leads or further info would be a great help.

Theres a good book on this by Gavin chappell a chap called Mike Kemble put me onto it last September and it has fuelled my curiosity and i'm determined to have a snoop.

Thanks in advance

Might have been used to store smuggled goods but doubt it actually went anywhere.

Oh, brill-a map-thankyou

we didnt need a map rude

Thanks for the thts peeps, seems to be loads of urban myth around the wormholes. Hard to know what's fact and what's distorted. It's all sandstone so caves would make sense with all the wind and water erosion etc. Doesn't seem to far fetched that smugglers could have extended or linked naturally formed caves and tunnels etc. Just a thought ? Maybe it's the 10year old in me I secretly want it to be like the goonies

Hay you guys lol

Ps thanks to TC for sticking the post into the right thread top man.

Can you tell I'm a noob haha

nope,

Well, nooo. Correct!- thou u.e Master

Inside the caves you can see most of it is a natural inlet/cave. Other parts it have been built up with bricks with a tunnel section added towards the shore. There is a bit in the middle that looks like it used to be a way up to the house or the site of a previous house/building.

My u.e inspiration came from reading the 'famous five' and the 'secret seven' books, as a child. Good old Enid!!

Wow-The Goonies-lol!
imagine a u.e like that, peeps!!!?
(dont put me on 'bone piano'.
apologies......

Hahah quality rude box, Enid blyton, that brings back memories of being a young grasshopper heheh I think there is a bit of Indiana jones in all of us

Cheers Kev

Thanks for that mate, learnt a lot by coming on here. You all seem like a good lot. Sounds like your speaking from first hand experience mate. Thanks for the info. Planning on making a trip up there as soon as with one of your fellow UE's

Hi Les, good to chat to you last night mate. Remember do drop us a shout sometime soon

Likewise dude thanks for bothing coming to the enagement do was good to see you both, Tash was made up, will defo give you a shout on the next outing lid