Margate Caves, also known as Vortigern's Cavern, are a set of galleries radiating out from a rectangular shaft. The chalk mine was probably worked between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In 1798 the caves were found by a gardener. The house owner, Forster, had the caves opened and employed a local artist, Brazier, to create carvings and paint scenes on the walls. The caves were used for storage, a wine cellar and as a grotto. A number of modifications were made to the caves during this period, with new features and passages being cut. From 1835 until 1863 the caves went unused. They were then rented by a shopkeeper, John Norwood, who opened them to the public under the name of Vortigern's Cavern. This enterprise was successful for some time but eventually closed, parts of the system being backfilled at this time. The caves were next opened in 1907 by Dr Prior, the vicar, who cleared and cut new shafts, eventually opening the caves to the public again after 1910. A new entrance was cut in 1914 for use of the caves as an air raid shelter. The caves reopened to the public after the war until 1938 when they were closed. The vicarage above the caves was destroyed in June 1941 and afterwards the entrance to the caves was bricked up. In 1958 James Geary Gardner again reopened the caves. They were again closed in 2004. (1)

<1> R F LeGear, 2008, Brief Archaeological Assessment of Margate Caves, Cliftonville (Unpublished document). SKE18091.