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Luxury home inside a CAVE dating back to 14,000BC hits the market… and it hides a mysterious secret
Captain Cook used the orangery as a safe haven
A LUXURY home inside a cave dating back to 14,000BC has hit the market - and it hides a mysterious secret.
The 200-year-old four bedroom property is located within walking distance of the historic Old Town of Hastings.
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The £1.5million house offers three bathrooms including one in a vaulted cave with mysterious faces carved into the rock.
It is not clear why and by whom the eerie faces were carved.
Local legend holds that the St Clement Caves could have been used by smugglers or even for strange occult rites.
But they were used as an air raid shelter during WW2, a hospital and a temporary home.
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The property was even visited by Prince Charles and Princess Diana as well as Prince Albert and Prince George Frederick.
West Hill Villa is considered to occupy one of the most commanding and elevated positions within Hastings historic Old Town.
It was built into the sandstone bedrock of the West Hill in the mid-19th century.
There is versatile accommodation arranged over five floors of the Grade II listed home.
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The lower part of the house features an open plan sitting room/kitchen and dining area situated where the old Hastings Pottery used to be.
It opens up into a sandstone archway which leads to the caves.
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Another spectacular feature is the 90ft glass house vinery which houses a variety of exotic plants, grapevines and banana trees as well as a fish pool.
The house is held by Just Property who commented on the listing.
"It is ideally situated within walking distance of the Old Town with its restaurants, shops and sea front as well as Hastings town centre with its amenities and mainline railway station connecting to London, Brighton and Ashford," reads the listing.
"The gardens extend across the width of the rear elevation with terrace, formal lawned areas and an established terraced vegetable garden, with a raised seating area looking out to sea.
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"In addition there is a garage accessed from Exmouth Place.
"The internal spiral staircase leads to a gallery landing and separate WC with the continuing views over the Old Town.
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History of St Clement's Caves
THE network, known as St Clements Caves, served as a hospital, a World War II air-raid shelter, at which point it had a capacity of 900, a ballroom and a music venue.
The earliest written reference tells the tale of an old couple who were exiled from the town workhouse for misbehaviour and escaped to live in the caves from 1783.
And In the 1820s, the caves were rediscovered by a local grocer named Joseph Golding.
Fast-forward to 1864, they became a tourist attraction with a spectacle known as 'Smugglers Adventure', centred around a myth that the caves were used for smuggling on the south coast of England 200 years ago.
The villa was built in the 1800s along with gorgeous features including a 90ft orangery and has since been visited by the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Prince Albert and Prince George Frederick.
It spans over 2,928 sq ft and was originally built as two separate homes, now combined as one.
It houses a fish pool, grapevines, banana trees and other exotic plants – some of which were brought to the house by Captain Cook himself.
Captain Cook used the orangery as a safe haven for his plants during his voyages before they were transported to Kew Gardens.
"On the remaining three floors, occupies the lounge which benefits from a wood burner and large sash windows as well as the four bedrooms, two bathrooms and utility space.
"Enjoying extensive far-reaching views over the Old Town itself and across the English Channel."
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