A huge chasm, cut deep into the Staffordshire hillside above Gradbach, Lud's Church has a long history as a sacred place, thought to have been revered by Pagans who are said to have visited when it was bathed with light on midsummers day and later possibly a venue for the secret worship of the Lollards, followers of church reformer John Wycliffe, who are rumoured to have met here in the 15th century.
Other possible visitors include Robin Hood, Bonny Prince Charlie and Knight-of-the-Round-Table Sir Gawain, and like everything about its story the origin of the name of the cave is unclear, possible named after the Celtic god Llud or maybe after Lollard Walter de Lud Auk.
For more, see
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/apr/04/luds-church-derbyshire-caves-holidays
^Picture © Smabs Sputzer used under a Creative Commons license^
From November 2012 until January 2013, Tired of London, Tired of Life will briefly be posting as RatherEnglish.com and featuring interesting things to do in England
Lud's Church is beautiful. Lovely walk from the youth hostel through woodland in to the almost enchanted chasm!!
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