Posted on 11/03/2021 7:35:15 AM PDT by BenLurkin
The Margate Shell Grotto is one of Kent, England's greatest cultural treasures. Some 4.6 million seashells line the walls of the subterranean passageway in ornate mosaics—but just as interesting as the craftsmanship on display is the mystery behind it. The grotto was discovered accidentally in the 19th century, and to this day no one knows who built it ... or why.
According to most accounts, farmer James Newlove and his son Joshua were digging a duck pond in 1835 when they struck upon the underground cavern. A closer look revealed that they weren't the first people to enter the space, as someone had gathered millions of shells from cockles, whelks, oysters, mussels, and other mollusks and glued them to the walls.
The shells adoring the winding tunnels form intricate and colorful patterns. Some are abstract, while others are laid out in the shapes of animals like birds and reptiles. The space itself covers 2000 square feet, with an altar room at one end of the "serpentine passage" and an underground rotunda at the other.
One possible explanation is that the grotto was the project of an eccentric Victorian aristocrat. Follies—decorative structures that serve no practical purpose—were a fashionable way to flaunt wealth during the Regency and Victorian eras.
(Excerpt) Read more at mentalfloss.com ...
Numerous parts of the federal government come instantly to mind...
It looks like a much-older-than-Victorian church.
The story is that it was first found in 1835. Here is a site with lots of pictures:
https://www.kuriositas.com/2015/05/the-mystery-of-margate-shell-grotto.html
Probably the same folks who buried the yet undiscovered treasure on Oak Island.......
Yeah, I think anyone holding out for Dagon knows where to send their tithe money, now.
Much too much time on their hands.
Maybe some rich person hired people to do it. Jobs.
“One possible explanation is that the grotto was the project of an eccentric Victorian aristocrat.”
Must have been a time traveler, too, since the grotto was discovered before Victoria took the throne.
My money is on Murray Trevor, Thrill Seeker from the future.
Read later
Never heard of him. Anyway, I’ll bet I could come up with better thrills in the past than making an underground shell grotto.
I was in Maidstone, Kent, years ago. I never heard of this until now.
Thanks for posting that observation. Similar thought came to me as well.
They must’ve eaten all of the shellfish and thought, “whatever are we going to do with this huge pile of shells?”
I can’t even begin to try to understand the planning that went into this.
Truly amazing.
But they’re getting closer! Maybe this season...
On the Eastern Shore I’ve seen farmers “pave” their dirt roads with oyster shells from the processing plants.
Right!
Mark
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.