Creswell Crags

  

Creswell Crags was among the most northerly places on earth to have been visited by our ancient ancestors, a story that is unique on a European and World scale. All of the caves are protected by metal grills to preserve the rare archaeological deposits that remain inside. At the east end of the gorge is the Museum and Education Centre. The gorge is part of the Creswell Heritage Landscape Area.

Creswell Crags is one of Britain's most important archaeological sites, as important as Stonehenge or Hadrian's Wall. The caves tell the fascinating story of life during the last Ice Age when the Crags were amongst the most northerly places on earth to have been inhabited by our ancient ancestors. The cave art discoveries underline the international significance of the site.

The Crags have suffered from the late nineteenth century when the Creswell Caves became known to scientists. Early excavators used dynamite to blast their way into the caves! Tens of thousands of archaeological finds from the site are now dispersed amongst 30 different museums around the UK.

The development of the new visitors centre has allowed these collections to be brought together, including artefacts from the British Museum. Other partners including Brew House Yard, Nottingham, Woollaton Hall, Bolton Museum and Manchester Museum have all agreed to long-term loans for the new permanent exhibition at Creswell.

A major project proposes to carry out the work necessary to look after, protect and tell people about the story of life at Creswell Crags.

The Trust is a registered Museum and holds a collection of over 50,000 objects. Most of these objects are the bones of small mammals found during excavations at Pin Hole cave in the 1980s. Other objects include flint stone tools and bones of large mammals found during earlier excavations in other caves at Creswell Crags.

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Prices

Exhibition entry - Adults £3.00, Concessions £2.00, Children £1.50
Children under 5 years may not be permitted on cave tours for health and safety reasons. For more information on bringing younger children, please telephone 01909 720378.

Cave Tours
Ice Age Cave Tour (including exhibition entry) - Adults £6.50, Concessions £5.00, Children £4.50
Rock Art Cave Tour (March to September only, including exhibition entry) - Adults £8.00, Concessions £7.00, Children £6.00
Both Cave Tours (including exhibition entry) - Adults £13.00, Concessions £11.00, Children £8.00

There are further reductions for family groups.

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