]6J( Description of a Cavern in Devonsfiife. 



We cannot for a moment suppose that people capable or 

 vuidtriaking long and tedioii& voyages were ignorant of the 

 means of constructing honscs ; yet the caves might attract 

 iheir atiention either ni a military or religious point of view. 

 The Pi.xies' Hole was undoubtedly known to the earlier in- 

 habitants of Daninonium. Art liaa been used in forming the 

 narrow passage ; but it presents no appearance of having 

 been diminished in size. The first entrance to the cavern 

 was efiected throuii^h the cavity I have before described, as 

 descending from the side of the rock. When the interior was 

 gained, a more commodious outlet was desirable; the nar- 

 row passage was then formed, of small extent, by which 

 means all hostile ait.'.cks were prevented. It is impossible 

 to account for the sudden diminution of the iirst entrance, 

 and the regularity of the second passage, by any other con- 

 jecture. 



However convenient the Pixies' Hole might have been 

 as a place of retreat during the tinic of hostile invasion, it 

 never seems to have been used for a religious purpose. Yti 

 its awful shades and lengthened caverns, the venerable 

 rocks and wood by which it is surrounded, would have ad- 

 mirably accorded with the superstition of the Druids : but 

 after the most laborious search I have not yet been able to 

 discover any Druidical antiquities in the immediate vicinity 

 of Chudleiiih, notwithstanding' the numerous tumuli still 

 to be observed on the hills of Halldown, distant but a few 

 miles, aflTord convincino; proof of a once numerous popu- 

 lation ; although the absence of Druidical reaiains tends to 

 remove all conjectures respecting the religions use of the 

 cavern. I am uin\illing to suppose that it passed un- 

 noticed by the Druids. The singular stalactitical deposit 

 called the Pope's E^ead may, without any inconsistency, be 

 named iheDcitv of the cavern ; and the superstitious usages 

 of former ages have not yet entirely vanished, as respect is 

 paid to its singular and striking form. 1 have but one 

 :)iore remark to ofl'er, and that respecting the origin of 

 tjothic architecture. Jt has been conlidently. asserted, that 

 groves of trees Iirst suggested the Gothic arch, nave, and 

 transept of our ancient cathedrals*. But it seems more 

 probable that the vaulted roof and stalactitic pillars ob- 

 served in caverns first gave the idea. Religious rites were at 

 first ptrforaied in caves.; and when removed to groves and 

 buildii gs, the priests and people endeavoured to retain the 

 form of these ancient natural temples, from whence arose 

 the solemn and massive grandeur of Gothic architecture. 



February £9, 1312. 



• See Warburton'i Notes on Pope. 



XXIV. On 



