Inside terrifying network of pre-historic caves once occupied by cavemen & Ice Age beasts & it’s new lease on life

A TERRIFYING network of pre-historic caves where cavemen and Ice Age beasts once lived has been given a new lease of life.

The tourist attraction Kents Cavern, in Devon, which had a guide price between £2million and £2.5m, went up for sale in May last year.

The exact figure paid by The Tudor Hotel Collection in August has not been disclosed.

Former owners said the caves were one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe and were formed more than 2.5million years ago.

The caves first opened to the public in the 19th Century and had been owned by the same family since 1903.

Prehistoric humans and Ice Age animals once lived in the extensive cave system.

Since the caves were discovered, the former owners said more than 80,000 Stone Age artefacts had been found, including a prehistoric upper jawbone fragment.

As well as the underground caverns, a visitor centre, a woodland trail, restaurant, car park, surrounding land and a three-bedroom holiday let, were all part of the sale.

The Tudor Hotel Collection also owns the Bodmin Jail visitor attraction and a hotel in Cornwall and the Redcliff Hotel in Paignton.

The company’s chief executive Rob Cox said: "Adding Kents Cavern to our collection... is a proud moment for us and underpins our commitment to collating the finest collection of historic hotels and visitor attractions."

The outgoing owners of Kents Cavern, Nick and Sheena Powe, previously thanked their customers and staff for their support.

Mr Powe said: "The new owners will be bringing the Stone Age heritage alive, offering a better visitor experience, exactly what Kents Cavern needs and what I couldn't do."

According to the attraction’s website, Kents Cavern is made up of Devonian limestone formed over 3,000 miles away beneath the sea.

The cavern started to form some 2million years ago with rainwater finding its way through cracks and gaps in the rock dissolving the limestone and creating fissures which get larger.

The solution of water and carbon dioxide forms a weak carbonic acid.

In turn, the acid slowly dissolves the limestone forming calcium bicarbonate.

Meanwhile the fissures continue to grow, slowly getting larger and form small passages.

Those passages then fill with water, gouging out parts of the rock.

Then when the water table dropped huge circular passages and canyons were left behind.

The Sun Online has contacted The Tudor Hotel Collection for further comment.