A LUXURY home inside a cave dating back to 14,000 BC has hit the market – and it hides a mysterious secret.
The 200-year-old four-bedroom property is located just steps from the historic center of Hastings.
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The £1.5 million home offers three bathrooms, including one in a domed cave with mysterious faces carved into the rock.
It is unclear why and by whom the mysterious faces were carved.
Local legend claims that the São Clemente Caves could have been used by smugglers or even for strange occult rites.
But they were used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War, a hospital and a temporary home.
The estate has even been visited by Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as well as Prince Albert and Prince George Frederick.
West Hill Villa is considered one of the most important and elevated positions in the historic center of Hastings.
It was built into the sandstone rock of West Hill in the mid-19th century.
There is versatile accommodation set across five floors of the Grade II listed house.
The lower part of the house features an open-plan living room/kitchen and dining area situated where the old Hastings Pottery once stood.
It opens onto a sandstone arch that leads to the caves.
Another spectacular feature is the 27-meter glass vineyard that houses a variety of exotic plants, vines and banana trees, as well as a fish tank.
The house is owned by Just Property who commented on the advert.
“It is ideally situated just a stone’s throw from the Old Town with its restaurants, shops and seafront, as well as Hastings town center with its amenities and main train station connecting London, Brighton and Ashford,” the listing says .
“The gardens extend across the full width of the rear elevation with terrace, formal lawned areas and a terraced vegetable garden, with an elevated seating area overlooking the 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 a separate WC with continuous views over the Old Town.
History of the São Clemente Caves
The network, known as St Clements Caves, served as a hospital, a Second World War air raid shelter, when it had a capacity for 900 people, a ballroom and a music venue.
The earliest written reference tells the story of an elderly couple who were exiled from the city’s asylum for bad behavior and fled to live in the caves from 1783 onwards.
And in the 1820s, the caves were rediscovered by a local grocer named Joseph Golding.
Fast forward to 1864, and they became a tourist attraction with a spectacle known as the “Adventure of the Smugglers,” centered on the 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 stunning features including a 90ft orange grove 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 square feet and was originally built as two separate homes, now combined as one.
It houses a fish, vines, banana trees and other exotic plants – some of them brought home by Captain Cook himself.
Captain Cook used the orange grove as a safe haven for his plants during his travels, before they were transported to Kew Gardens.
“On the remaining three floors, the lounge is occupied, which benefits from a tiled stove and large sash windows, as well as four bedrooms, two bathrooms and storage space.
“Enjoying extensive far-reaching views over the Old Town itself and across the English Channel.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
