Petrified objects hang in the mouth of Mother Shipton’s cave (Image: Getty)
Tucked away in is one of the UK’s oldest , with a weird witchy twist. Mother Shipton’s Cave is named after Mother Shipton herself, a famous prophetess and suspected witch who was born in the cave during a massive storm in the early 15th century.
Born Ursula Southeil, otherwise known as Mother Shipton, she was said to have been hunchbacked with bulging eyes and people swiftly thought she was the spawn of the devil. However, despite her appearance, the young girl gained respect and grew up to become the town’s herbalist and soon revealed she could predict the future.
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One of the most magical places in Yorkshire – Mother Shipton’s Cave ✨ Where: Knaresborough, HG5 8DD. Parking on site (parking is only for Mother Shipton’s, you cannot park on site then walk into Knaresborough). Mother Shipton’s is a five minute walk from Knaresborough station. Dog friendly?: Yes! And they even sell Puppuccinos. Refreshments: Hot drinks and refreshments served on site and there is also a picnic area. Access: The Cave and Petrifying Well are both natural rock formations. Access can only be gained via three sets of twenty-five steps. There is no access for pushchairs for these steps, but there was a space to park the pushchairs. @Mother Shipton’s Cave
Her prophecies started out minor, often about the townspeople but eventually worked up to prophesying about one of England’s most famous monarchs King Henry VIII. One of these predictions was his break from the Catholic Church and creation of the Church of England.
The has been open to paying visitors since 1630 and now with more than 65,000 visitors a year, it’s no surprise that Mother Shipton’s Cave has stood the tests of time and remained open for nearly four centuries.
The cave is also home to a unique geological gesture – a petrifying well that slowly turns items placed into it into stone. This is because of rich mineral deposits in the water that accumulate on surfaces over time and give them their stony appearance,
Mother Shipton casting a magic spell and protected by a circle ward (Image: Getty)
In the gift shop on site you can buy water from the well, as well as fossilised teddy bears and other witchy items.
One visitor posted her experience on , calling the cave ‘magical’. The woman, who goes by @Yorkshirefi said the trip is an unmissable one if you’re in the area – and if you’re feeling lucky you can even cast a wish into the well inside the cave.
She said the appearance of the objects in the petrifying well was “almost magical”.