Happy Valley Caves

Another morning spent meandering around Rusthall Common and in particular the Happy Valley area. Happy Valley was a prime tourist spot for the Victorians and Edwardians which has sadly been long forgotten and become overgrown. Interesting there would appear to be much activity currently to restore it at least partially to its former glory.

The picture shows what were described as Sweeps’ Caves because they were once used as a dump for soot. Colbran's town guide of 1839 describes them as ‘dormitories for gipsies etc.’. They were probably intended originally to shelter wooden seats and excavated at the time of development of the Cold Bath to provide viewpoints over the valley.

Whilst it was still grey overhead we were accompanied by the soothing drilling of a woodpecker and a pair of extremely tame goldcrests