Caynton Caves: Black magic rituals force closure of mysterious site after owners lose patience with trespassing cult

  • Trespassing cult etched sinister symbols into sandstone labyrinth…
  • … then had cheek to knock on owner’s door for return of garments

By
Simon Tomlinson

Last updated at 11:09 PM on 22nd January 2012

A labyrinth of mysterious caves has been closed down after its owners finally got sick of them being invaded by a satanic cult.

The Caynton Caves, hidden in dense woodland near Wolverhampton, have a rich history stemming back to the 17th century when they were apparently carved out of sandstone by followers of the Knights Templar.

In the past, the landowners have tried to be accommodating when sects, good or evil, have asked permission to use the site.

Dark forces at work: A section of the Caynton Caves near Wolverhampton which have been littered with sinister symbols and rubbish after being taken over by a Satanic cult

Dark forces at work: A section of the Caynton Caves near Wolverhampton which have been littered with sinister symbols and rubbish after being taken over by a Satanic cult

Etchings of evil: An eerie face has been carved into one of the cave's walls. The owners have tried to accommodate the wishes of various cults in the past as long as they didn't cause any damage

Etchings of evil: An eerie face has been carved into one of the cave’s walls. The owners have tried to accommodate the wishes of various cults in the past as long as they didn’t cause any damage

Their patience began running thin when, over Christmas, they found the caves had been filled with candles, sinister symbols scrawled on the walls and rubbish.

But the final straw came when they answered the door to two red-faced warlocks who had the cheek to ask for the return of their robes which had been used in the black magic ceremony.

The entrance has now been sealed up in the latest attempt to keep the trespassers at bay.

Dominic Wass, an urban artist who has a workshop on the site, said: ‘There’s definitely some strange stuff gone on down there. It’s surreal to have two warlocks knock on your door, but at least they asked.’

Inside the caves, mystic sigils (seals) competed for crowded wall space with more modern scrawled messages, written by youths who have turned the temple into a drinking den.

Labyrinth: The caves were painstakingly carved out by the Knights Templar in the 17th century

Labyrinth: The caves were painstakingly carved out by the Knights Templar in the 17th century

Mystical: The sacrificial stone, which has been repeatedly moved around by trespassers who use the caves for their rituals

Mystical: The sacrificial stone, which has been repeatedly moved around by trespassers who use the caves for their rituals

Spirits were present, too – empty bottles of booze littered the floor.

Mr Wass, 25, who works under the name Sketch, scanned the cobweb-encrusted inner sanctum and shook his head in disbelief.

‘They’ve moved the sacrificial stone again,’ he said.

‘Obviously, it’s not something we want to be associated with. But in the past, if people have asked permission, explained what they wanted to do and we were happy with it. Only if they tidied up afterwards. This is going too far.’

Time and again, wrought iron gates have been placed over the entrance to the caves, which is only just big enough to crawl through.

But they have been ripped down within days.

Revolving door: Dominic Wass, who works on the site, in front of the cave entrance which has been frequently used by trespassers intent on carrying out their black magic ceremonies inside

Revolving door: Dominic Wass, who works on the site, in front of the cave entrance which has been frequently used by trespassers intent on carrying out their black magic ceremonies inside

Enough is enough: The entrance is just big enough to squeeze through. It has now been sealed up in the latest attempt to keep people out

Enough is enough: The entrance is just big enough to squeeze through. It has now been sealed up in the latest attempt to keep people out

Mr Wass, who has lived on the site for two years, said: ‘It’s almost impossible to control. You can put up razor-wire, but if someone gets injured, we’re the ones who land in trouble.

‘People don’t seem to realise that this is private property and they are trespassing.

‘It’s a difficult one. Publicity just leads to more people trying to get into the caves.’

In other efforts to keep unwelcome worshippers away, CCTV has been increased at Caynton and more robust fencing erected. A walkway has also been blocked off.

Plans to fill in the caves have been considered, but rejected.

News of the closure is likely to be a blow to the many polite Pagans who ask permission to use the place.

Dark arts: Mr Wass surveys the damage left behind after the last Satanic ritual over Christmas

Dark arts: Mr Wass surveys the damage left behind after the last Satanic ritual over Christmas

Yet it appears the appeal of worshipping in one of the most mystical areas in the Midlands is too attractive.

The site ranks alongside Castle Ring, a public Stone Age monument near Cannock Wood, Staffordshire, which has become a hotspot for Druids.

Solstice and Halloween pose particular problems at Caynton.

One Halloween bonfire party for local children was interrupted when trespassing worshippers, alerted by smoke, spilled out from the cave.

Mr Wass said: ‘Very little is known about why they are there. There are all kinds of stories.

‘We were told they were dug by followers of the Knights Templar (a sect dating back to the days of the Crusades).

‘They wanted a place where they could worship without being persecuted. It must have taken them a long time to create.

‘We’ve also been told that a landowner hid slaves down there. Slavery was illegal by then and he’d hide as many as 60 down there.’

Some believe the grotto is more recent, dug out in the 1850s by a wealthy family as a folly.

One website, devoted to Britain’s hidden treasures, states: ‘It consists of a series of passages and chambers, with niches for candles, and the carving of the rooms is quite professional.

‘It’s a creepy place and is rumoured to have been used in the 1980s for Black Magic rituals – probably not involving boxes of chocolates.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

It’s like banning christians from praying in St Pauls….

There are caves like this in a Park in Rugeley. Their entrances have been bricked up, but they are Listed as a ” Grotto” belonging to the former Hagley Hall. I believe English Heritage is responsible for their maintenance.

This is typical of modern Britain. People can’t or won’t behave themselves and something interesting is lost to everyone.

Could you please do some proper checking before writing this kind of thing.
Satan is a Christian invention and nothing to do with Pagan. Warlocks are often thought to be male witches and some do call themselves that but it is wrong. Witches do not make sacrifices again that is something that all opposing groups accuse each other of doing.
Confusing all the different groups and people is easy to do but you would think a professional journalist would at least do some homework on it.

The Knights Templar were the military arm of the Roman Catholic church, not a ‘sect’, although it suited a greedy Pope and a greedy King to accuse them of practices contrary to that church in order to destroy them and appropriate their wealth.
Druids and Pagans follow an earth-based spirituality.
Local youths use it as a hang-out, tell themselves silly horror stories and drink in the caves.
Hmm. Which group do you really think is responsible for problems?

”The caves were painstakingly carved out by the Knights Templar in the 17th century” Almost as improbable as these people leaving their robes being ”Satanists.”

Hmm…being an atheist I don’t understand the psychology of people who need religious festivals but it is a shame that those who asked permission politely and treated the caves with respect have had their enjoyment curtailed by the actions of drunken louts and members of the stupid minority. Can’t a compromise be reached with those willing to respect the area paying a fee that can go towards paying the security costs of protecting it against the idiot few who have no respect?

Specifically, on the picture labeled “etchings of evil” with the “eerie face”, could the Daily Mail supply evidence that these etchings are actually evil…I`m not sure but that face looked a rather eerily a close fit to the Jesus I`ve seen recently in toast, or on landscapes!

Kinda silly…all of it…

Do your research, please. There is no such thing as a ‘warlock’–witches are of both sexes. If you are a witch, you are a beleiver in goodness; same iwth Pagans. Black magic followers have nothing to do with witchcraft, or followers of Wicca. GET IT RIGHT.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes