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Hermits Cave

Newtown, Bradford on Avon.

The cliff face below the St Mary Tory church on the northern side of Bradford on Avon was quarried extensively in the past. From Well Path, a few window-like openings of the underground workings can be seen on the hillside.

Alternate Names: Wilkins Brewery Quarry, Hermit Cave

Notes: Local tradition states that a hermit lived in these underground quarry workings and used the chapel above. The chapel is known to date from the 15th century AD and was used as a pilgrim chapel on the way to Glastonbury.

Stone extraction from the quarry had finished prior to 1860 and by 1860, Alexander Wilkins had bought the quarry and built a brewery on the site, with a large malthouse against the quarry face. The brewery closed in 1914 and saw several subsequent different uses, including a Royal Enfield motorcycle factory. The malthouse was converted into flats in 1991.