The Bloody Bones Cave.

Bloody bones cave can be found on Bickerton Hill which refers to two low red sandstone hills that form the southern end of the Mid Cheshire Ridge in the county of Cheshire in the North West of England.

The hills have been mined and quarried for copper since the 17th century, and a grade-11-listed engine house chimney remains as a remnant of the mining industry. A number of caves can be found in the sandstone, some of which have a history of habitation. One of these caves is known as Bloody Bones and at one point in the past was known to have been inhabited by a band of Brigands.

More light can be shed on this fact due to the writings of Isabella Lucy Bird who was an explorer, writer and traveller 1831-1904, in an extract from her book “The Life of Isabella Bird” (1906) by Anna Stoddart, refers to the Bloody Bones Cave beneath the sandstone ridge at Rawhead and where Brigands are said to have roamed; stealing cheese and selling sand. Her story is as follows:

‘ Near Tattenhall rises a hill known as Rawhead…. This hill was full of caves, in which dwelt a gang of outcasts whose doings grew notorious. Robbery followed robbery in the neighbourhood. The caves were searched on suspicion, but nothing was found to warrant arrest….one midnight someone passing Tattenhall Churchyard saw lights and heard voices….No one would go near it, until the magistrates decided to make a midnight raid with armed constables, and to see what manner of ghosts disturbed its peace. They found the Rawhead gang busy hiding booty in a grave, the slab of which they had raised. An old woman whose cottage was close to the graveyard proved to be in collusion with the burglars and had assisted them to choose their storehouse. All were arrested and transported. But Isabella never forgot how her nurse took her to see the unearthing of silver-plate and jewellery from the grim hiding place, and how she watched the whole process from the lifting of the slab to the recovery of the last teaspoon.’

Further information is given in Frank Latham’s book ‘Tattenhall- The History of a Cheshire Village’, where he claims the brigands plundered graves, stole cheeses and gave Isabella a black silk dress as hush money!