Rope making, Peak Cavern, Castleton

This engraving was taken from 'Peak Scenery; or the Derbyshire Tourist’ by Ebenezer Rhodes, published in 1818. Peak Cavern is one of the ‘Wonders of the Peak’. It is the largest natural cave entrance in Britain, and the second largest in the world. It was formerly known as the 'Devils Arse’ and local legend has it that the stream that drains from the cavern through the village is Satan urinating inside the cavern.

The cave was formed by the underground river (called the River Styx), and a small gorge leads to today's cave entrance. The room behind the entrance is more than 100m long and was used by the inhabitants of Castleton for several hundred years. The cave is a shelter against rain and was for a long time the largest 'dry' place on the isles. The damp atmosphere made it ideal for rope making, the remains of which can still be seen today.