The Hermit'S Cave, Upper Pond, Busbridge Lakes

The Hermit's Cave is an 18th-century cave built into a hillside at Upper Pond, Busbridge Lakes. It is constructed from sandstone rubble blocks and is covered with earth. The entrance features a central recessed, pointed arched design with piers supporting the arch. There are remains of flanking arched niches, and a carved sandstone block serves as a keystone above the door. This keystone is part of a collection of Roman and Romano-British altars and inscribed stones that have been used as garden ornaments. A fine wrought iron gate with intricate "Gothick" tracery is located at the center of the entrance. Inside, there is a vaulted chamber, and a tunnel leading out of this chamber is described in Neale's "Seats of the Nobility and Gentry" as being long, with a circular chamber at the end. The cave was possibly constructed in 1756 by soldiers from Guildford to contain the body of Philip Cartaret Webb's wife, although her remains were removed later. The Hermit's Cave is part of a series of landscape features in a Romantic Landscape Garden, which is now recognized as an Historic Garden in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.