Natural underground caves of Roundhay Park?
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Hi, just got to say this is a great idea for a site!I've heard stories since I was a kid, that there is some underground caves at the back of Roundhay Park, just near the novelty castle. Iv explored all this area, but I cant find anything, but I dont want to dismiss the idea that they dont exist due to being told by differnet people at differnt times in my life. I guess the idea is plausable, due to there being a large "quarry" at the very back of Roundhay Park, which connects with Roundhay golf course, and from what I gather, the stone in this area is limestone, so Im guessing caves could be present... ?? Has anyone ever heard about these natural caves before?Thanks,Phaze.
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- Joined: Tue 20 Feb, 2007 2:18 pm
Nope, never heard of this, sorry. But these things pop up having been undiscovered for millenia. The largest underground caves in Europe (I believe) were discovered in Slough of all places a couple of years ago, so there may be hope yet.
www.jameslesterphotography.co.uk - Photography of hidden cities.
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Hi phaze. Not heard of these caves before, though that's not to say there isn't something there. I think the area is sandstone though, as maps mark the old quarries there as being sandstone rather than limestone.The whole area that is now Waterloo Lake used to be a quarry, which is why it is so deep (70+ft). As there were extensive quarry workings in the whole area it's possible that there could have been underground workings as well.
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Hi Phaze. Apparently Roundhay was heavily quarried & the land was badly scarred with pits & spoil heaps by the Kirkstall monks in the 11th centuary. It was mainly South Seacroft & the Roundhay area near Braimwood school & the lake. It was mined for iron,coal & clay were the pits became so vast they had to use pumps to extract the water. Quite what technology they had for water extraction in those days is a bit puzzling. There is a book available if you have a look in any library & ask.
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/
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The same msg appeared twice for some reason. OOPS!!! I may as well add something interesting here then. Why can't we have that little miniture train back? Anybody remember it used to run through the woods?
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/
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- Location: Leeds
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I think the old man died who ran it for years & his son's got sick of it been vandalised so they closed it down. I don't think the Kirkstall one is the same but thats another attraction you don't see advertised. I don't think Leeds sells itself very well sometimes!!
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/