2005
SK3327 : Anchor Church Cave
taken 21 years ago, near to Foremark, Derbyshire, England
This is 1 of 6 images, with title starting with Anchor Church in this square

Anchor Church Cave
Anchor Church Caves are beside the Old River Trent near Ingleby just south of Derby. There is a public footpath at the bottom of the crag - or at the top when the river floods in winter. The crag is over 100m long and up to 12m high and in a very attractive setting. The main feature is not the crag at all, but the Hermit's Cave (an anchorite is a hermit). This cave has been cut from the rock (Triassic conglomerate) and is complete with door openings and window holes, it is very unusual. The cave is very old, being mentioned first in 1648. The Old River Trent has an interesting history. The course of the river was altered artificially so that 300 acres changed sides. This is commented on in Shakespeare's play Henry IV, Pt 1. See quote below:
(Shakespeare, Henry IV, Pt.I., Act III, Sc. I ).
"Methinks my moiety, north from Burton here,
In quantity equals not one of yours:
See how this river comes me cranking in,
And cuts me from the best of all my land
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out.
I'll have the current in this place damm'd up;
And here the smug and silver Trent shall run
In a new channel, fair and evenly;
It shall not wind with such a deep indent,
To rob me of so rich a bottom here."
(Shakespeare, Henry IV, Pt.I., Act III, Sc. I ).
"Methinks my moiety, north from Burton here,
In quantity equals not one of yours:
See how this river comes me cranking in,
And cuts me from the best of all my land
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out.
I'll have the current in this place damm'd up;
And here the smug and silver Trent shall run
In a new channel, fair and evenly;
It shall not wind with such a deep indent,
To rob me of so rich a bottom here."
