Museum

@Wookey Hole

Get an insight into the fascinating history of Wookey Hole in our Museum

Take some time to explore the three exhibitions at the Wookey Hole Museum dedicated to different phases of our history.

You can find out how Wookey Hole Caves were formed and more about the different people who have lived here over thousnads of years, including the Witch of Wookey Hole, upstairs in the Mill.

DID YOU KNOW?

The caves were used by the Romans, who used the River Axe to take lead from mines in the Mendip Hills to the sea. A horde of Roman coins has even been found in the caves and we regularly unearth pieces of pottery from Roman and Saxon times.

Photo courtesy of Joy Bailey

Cave Diving Exhibit

The very first successful cave dive in Britain took place at Wookey Hole in 1935. Graham Balcombe and Penelope (Mossy) Powell dived to a depth of 52 m (170 ft) into the cave and discovering Chamber 7. They inspired generations of divers to explore further and deeper into the labyrinths beneath the surface.

The site has provided rich pickings for archaeologists and anthropologists over the years.

From Roman finds, 2000 year old human skeletons to animal bones, daggers and prehistoric tools, Wookey Hole has produced a treasure trove of incredible artefacts – and you can see some of the latest finds in the Cave Diving Exhibition.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wookey Hole was also the site of one of the deepest cave dives in history (to a depth of 90 metres).

The diver pictured here is Michael Thomas, who had made many discoveries at Wookey Hole, some of which are on display in the Cave Diving Exhibition.

Wookey Hole is still used by cave divers today. The complexity of the cave diving system makes it an ideal training ground for divers.

You can learn more about modern cave diving in a film made by the British diving team who led the famous cave rescue in Thailand in 2018 in the exhibit.

Paper Making

The history of paper-making at Wookey Hole can be traced back to the 1600’s. The Mill you can see today dates back to the 1850's and was once the largest of its kind in Europe.

In the paper making exhibit you can learn how rags from old fabric were turned into the highest quality paper and you might even get to have a go at making paper yourself!

On top of the Mill buildings you can spot large vents (they look like big, covered chimneys). These vents caught the breeze flowing through the valley and directed it into the “drying lofts” – the areas used to hang and dry the paper for up to 7 days.

DID YOU KNOW?

Today, the River Axe flowing beneath the Paper Mill drives a turbine which generates electricity. The River Axe has been a source of green energy for centuries, and continues to be!