Beyond the Veil Magazine

The Hellfire Club Caves

Issue #42: June 1982

Beneath the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire lies a network of man-made caves that once hosted one of England’s most notorious secret societies. The Hellfire Caves were carved in the 1750s on the orders of Sir Francis Dashwood and served as the meeting place for his Hell-Fire Club.

Two centuries later, the caves remain a place of mystery, rumour, and persistent reports of supernatural activity.

The Hell-Fire Club

Sir Francis Dashwood founded the Hell-Fire Club in 1746, initially meeting at the George and Vulture tavern in London. The members were aristocrats, politicians, and men of influence, including John Wilkes, the Earl of Sandwich, and possibly Benjamin Franklin.

The club’s motto was “Fais ce que tu voudras” (“Do what thou wilt”). Their meetings combined drinking, political discussion, and rituals that mocked the Catholic Church. The extent of their activities remains debated. Some historians believe they practiced genuine occultism; others argue their ceremonies were satirical theatre.

By the 1750s, Dashwood sought a more secluded meeting place. He commissioned the excavation of caves beneath West Wycombe Hill, creating a labyrinthine underground complex.

The Caves

The caves extend approximately a quarter mile into the hillside. They include a series of chambers, passages, and an underground “River Styx” crossed by a narrow bridge. At the deepest point lies the “Inner Temple,” where the club’s most secret rituals allegedly occurred.

The excavation served a dual purpose: creating the meeting place and providing chalk for a new road. Local labourers carved the caves by hand, following Dashwood’s detailed instructions.

The design is symbolically significant. The cave system roughly mirrors the layout of ancient mystery temples. The journey from entrance to Inner Temple represents a symbolic death and rebirth.

What occurred in the Inner Temple remains unknown. No written records survive. The members took their secrets to their graves.

The Hauntings

Since the caves were opened to the public in 1951, numerous visitors and staff have reported supernatural experiences:

The White Lady: A female figure in white has been seen in the cave passages. Some identify her as Sukie, a local girl supposedly murdered after being caught spying on club meetings. Others believe she represents a nun, connecting to rumours of desecrated religious ceremonies.

Paul Whitehead’s Ghost: Whitehead, a poet and club member, bequeathed his heart to Dashwood. It was kept in an urn in the mausoleum above the caves until it was stolen in 1829. His ghost is said to search the caves for his missing heart.

Cold Spots and Sounds: Visitors report sudden drops in temperature and unexplained sounds: footsteps, whispers, and distant chanting. These occur most frequently near the Inner Temple.

Physical Sensations: Some visitors describe feelings of dread, nausea, or the sensation of being touched by unseen hands. Several have refused to proceed beyond certain points in the caves.

The Investigations

Paranormal investigators have examined the caves on numerous occasions. The enclosed environment creates challenging conditions: artificial lighting, tourist traffic, and the psychological effects of darkness and claustrophobia can all produce unusual experiences.

But some phenomena resist conventional explanation. Temperature measurements have confirmed sudden, localised drops that cannot be attributed to air currents. Electronic equipment has malfunctioned in specific locations. Photographs have captured apparent anomalies.

The caves’ history makes investigation particularly difficult. We know that unusual activities occurred there. We know that the symbolism was deliberately occult. Whether the club’s rituals generated lasting psychic residue or simply created an atmosphere that encourages perception of the supernatural, we cannot say.

The Modern Caves

Today, the Hellfire Caves operate as a tourist attraction. Visitors can walk the passages, cross the River Styx, and enter the Inner Temple. Mannequins depict club members in period costume.

But beneath the tourist veneer, the caves retain an unsettling atmosphere. The passages are narrow, the darkness absolute where lights fail to reach. The weight of the hill presses down. And the knowledge of what occurred here, whatever it was, creates a psychological burden.

Some visitors leave delighted by a pleasant excursion. Others emerge shaken, certain they have experienced something beyond ordinary reality.

The Hell-Fire Club disbanded in the 1760s. Sir Francis Dashwood died in 1781. The rituals have ended. But the caves remain.

Readers who have experienced phenomena in the Hellfire Caves or similar historic sites are invited to contact our research department.