Uploaded April 2023 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Deep Underground We Take You on Journey Into St Clements Caves in Hastings, East Sussex. The caves are now a popular tourist destination that tell the story of smuggling along the South Coast of Britain.
This video covers the History Of St Clements Cave, Hastings, East Sussex | Smugglers Adventure
There is no evidence to suggest that these caves were used by smugglers, but the interactive exhibition does offer a tantalising idea of what might have been, if they indeed were used for smuggling.
The history of smuggling though, on the south coast of England was big business in its heyday, and the exhibition does retell the story very well.
St Clements Caves are believed to be in part naturally formed the remaining was due to the results of sand mining, together with a degree of commercial exploitation during the late 19th century.
These caves have been used as a hospital, air raid shelter and ballroom/music venue.
The caves were (re)discovered in the 1820s when an arbour was being cut out of the sandstone by local grocer, Joseph Golding, and whilst he carried out his work he broke through the earth revealing a huge cavern beneath.
In addition, there is a tale dating back to 1783 of an old man and woman who were evicted from the Work House for misbehaving, it is believed they lived at the bottom of the passage known as 'Monks Walk’.
The caves were utilised during WW2 as an Air Raid Shelter with a capacity of 900 persons. Families actually stayed here night after night. It’s recorded that a bomb hit the west hill during those air raids, and the caves withstood the blast, protecting everyone inside.
Post-war, the caves were used as an entertainments venue with many headline acts such as the Rolling Stones performing in the sandstone cavern known as 'The Ballroom'. Many other functions such as dinner-evenings were also held in the venue.
On 25 March 1989 the St Clements Caves re-opened as the Smugglers Adventure, featuring dozens of life-size figures, and dramatic lighting.
The Ballroom was converted to a gift-shop and the main entrance.
During renovations in February 2012 the Smugglers Adventure incorporated additional lighting to highlight the caves’ architecture and natural geological formations.
A time capsule is buried in the caves. This was placed there in 1966 (the 900th anniversary year of the Battle of Hastings) and is due to be opened in 2066.
We will finish this video with a few photographs of St Clements Caves, both new and old still images, we hope you enjoyed the video.
Our next video will continue our exploration of Hastings, East Sussex as we discover the history of Hastings Castle and many of its residents.
So we hope you will join us with that new adventure.
If your new to our channel, please consider hitting the subscribe button, notification button, give the video a thumbs up and perhaps even drop a comment and we will message back.
Until next time, stay safe, keep well and bye for now.
#stclementscave #hastings #caves #cavestory
***
If you enjoy our content why not support our creative process on Patreon, buy us a coffee or use the special thanks button beneath this video.
Yhana and I will mention your support in one of our upcoming videos.
*** 👉 buymeacoffee.com/stephenandyhana
*** 👉 patreon.com/stephenandyhana ***
***
Welcome to Stephen and Yhana History and Adventure Hunters
Stephen and Yhana are a duo of adventure seekers and they record their adventures for YouTube.
THEY - TREASURE HUNT / VISIT HISTORICAL / CULTURAL / FUN LOCATIONS that all the family can enjoy and they write and narrate wonderful stories from history and the world of genealogy.
(Sometimes... even whilst cycling or kayaking.)
They are uncle and niece (Stephen being Yhanas legal guardian and has been since she was three weeks old.) At Home - It is just the two of them and they both share a common interest and that’s exploring and adventure seeking.
Stephen Robert Kuta, is also an author, genealogist, historian, photographer and a keen traveller.
Yhana loves YouTube, Ice cream, theme parks and the Romans.
Our goal is to create content which focuses on history, genealogy and adventure - This includes future published material as well as film creation.
We would love your support,
So please Join our adventure and support our journey by hitting that SUBSCRIBE Button.
*** STAY IN TOUCH !! ***
SUBSCRIBE and follow our journey for more interesting videos.
You can discover lots more about Stephen and Yhana by using the links below -
INSTAGRAM 👉 instagram.com/s.r.kuta
FACEBOOK👉 facebook.com/stephenrobertkuta
GENEALOGY👉 thelivesofmyancestors.com
KUTA FAMILY NAME RESEARCH 👉 houseofkuta.com
DNA RESEARCH 👉 dnaofmyancestors.com
WIKIPEDIA 👉 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Robert_Kuta
Music featured in our videos is licensed by Epidemic Sound
epidemicsound.com/referral/avumwt
Deep Underground We Take You on Journey Into St Clements Caves in Hastings, East Sussex. The caves are now a popular tourist destination that tell the story of smuggling along the South Coast of Britain.
This video covers the History Of St Clements Cave, Hastings, East Sussex | Smugglers Adventure
There is no evidence to suggest that these caves were used by smugglers, but the interactive exhibition does offer a tantalising idea of what might have been, if they indeed were used for smuggling.
The history of smuggling though, on the south coast of England was big business in its heyday, and the exhibition does retell the story very well.
St Clements Caves are believed to be in part naturally formed the remaining was due to the results of sand mining, together with a degree of commercial exploitation during the late 19th century.
These caves have been used as a hospital, air raid shelter and ballroom/music venue.
The caves were (re)discovered in the 1820s when an arbour was being cut out of the sandstone by local grocer, Joseph Golding, and whilst he carried out his work he broke through the earth revealing a huge cavern beneath.
In addition, there is a tale dating back to 1783 of an old man and woman who were evicted from the Work House for misbehaving, it is believed they lived at the bottom of the passage known as 'Monks Walk’.
The caves were utilised during WW2 as an Air Raid Shelter with a capacity of 900 persons. Families actually stayed here night after night. It’s recorded that a bomb hit the west hill during those air raids, and the caves withstood the blast, protecting everyone inside.
Post-war, the caves were used as an entertainments venue with many headline acts such as the Rolling Stones performing in the sandstone cavern known as 'The Ballroom'. Many other functions such as dinner-evenings were also held in the venue.
On 25 March 1989 the St Clements Caves re-opened as the Smugglers Adventure, featuring dozens of life-size figures, and dramatic lighting.
The Ballroom was converted to a gift-shop and the main entrance.
During renovations in February 2012 the Smugglers Adventure incorporated additional lighting to highlight the caves’ architecture and natural geological formations.
A time capsule is buried in the caves. This was placed there in 1966 (the 900th anniversary year of the Battle of Hastings) and is due to be opened in 2066.
We will finish this video with a few photographs of St Clements Caves, both new and old still images, we hope you enjoyed the video.
Our next video will continue our exploration of Hastings, East Sussex as we discover the history of Hastings Castle and many of its residents.
So we hope you will join us with that new adventure.
If your new to our channel, please consider hitting the subscribe button, notification button, give the video a thumbs up and perhaps even drop a comment and we will message back.
Until next time, stay safe, keep well and bye for now.
#stclementscave #hastings #caves #cavestory
***
If you enjoy our content why not support our creative process on Patreon, buy us a coffee or use the special thanks button beneath this video.
Yhana and I will mention your support in one of our upcoming videos.
*** 👉 buymeacoffee.com/stephenandyhana
*** 👉 patreon.com/stephenandyhana ***
***
Welcome to Stephen and Yhana History and Adventure Hunters
Stephen and Yhana are a duo of adventure seekers and they record their adventures for YouTube.
THEY - TREASURE HUNT / VISIT HISTORICAL / CULTURAL / FUN LOCATIONS that all the family can enjoy and they write and narrate wonderful stories from history and the world of genealogy.
(Sometimes... even whilst cycling or kayaking.)
They are uncle and niece (Stephen being Yhanas legal guardian and has been since she was three weeks old.) At Home - It is just the two of them and they both share a common interest and that’s exploring and adventure seeking.
Stephen Robert Kuta, is also an author, genealogist, historian, photographer and a keen traveller.
Yhana loves YouTube, Ice cream, theme parks and the Romans.
Our goal is to create content which focuses on history, genealogy and adventure - This includes future published material as well as film creation.
We would love your support,
So please Join our adventure and support our journey by hitting that SUBSCRIBE Button.
*** STAY IN TOUCH !! ***
SUBSCRIBE and follow our journey for more interesting videos.
You can discover lots more about Stephen and Yhana by using the links below -
INSTAGRAM 👉 instagram.com/s.r.kuta
FACEBOOK👉 facebook.com/stephenrobertkuta
GENEALOGY👉 thelivesofmyancestors.com
KUTA FAMILY NAME RESEARCH 👉 houseofkuta.com
DNA RESEARCH 👉 dnaofmyancestors.com
WIKIPEDIA 👉 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Robert_Kuta
Music featured in our videos is licensed by Epidemic Sound
epidemicsound.com/referral/avumwt
