This mysterious and still unsolved British landmark was found back in 1835. The amazing Seashell Grotto is located in the city of Margate, Kent. It is a twenty-meter corridor that is underground. The walls and ceiling of this corridor are decorated with millions of seashells of various sizes and types, from which all kinds of patterns, symbols and even whole images are laid out. But who exactly are depicted by these drawings remains a question for historians and scientists.
The seashell grotto is rightfully considered the most mysterious sight of Great Britain. Scientists have put forward numerous versions about the significance of this Grotto; radiocarbon analysis of the shells was carried out. However, until now, it has not been possible to find out: who built this Grotto, when exactly and for what purposes.
But they managed to accomplish another incredible task - to count the total number of various sea shells that adorn the underground corridor. There were about 4.6 million of them. One can only imagine that "lucky man" who sorted and sorted all this huge sea wealth.
Interestingly, the Seashell Grotto was found in a completely random way. A certain Englishman named James Newlove decided to dig a hole on his site in order to break an artificial pond there. It was during these works that Newlove came across a unique monument of architectural art. His son, who was helping his father to work on the pond, decided to go down into the underground. There he discovered a tunnel with walls lined with shell mosaics.
The owner of the find decided that he could make money from his discovery, so within three years he completely dug the grotto and lit it from the inside with the help of gas lamps. Only after that he announced to the whole world about the discovery of a mysterious sight. And the people rushed here to admire the mysterious wonder with their own eyes.
The grotto is two and a half meters high, in the middle there is a rotunda pillar, also decorated with shells. At the end of the corridor there is an altar room with an area of 30 square meters, which has a rectangular shape.
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There are several versions as to where this shell tunnel came from. As well as when it was built. Some historians believe that the grotto was built by the Phoenicians. They explain their version by the fact that the patterns of shells are very reminiscent of ancient Phoenician symbols. And also the fact that the city of Margaret itself, in which the grotto is located, is located on the Tenet Peninsula. And this name came in turn from the name of the Phoenician goddess Tinnit. Others see in the patterns not Phoenician motifs at all, but images of animals and birds such as a crocodile, an owl, a turtle and others. Still others believe that the corridor was generally built by the Templars.
The study of the Grotto of Seashells became much more complicated due to the fact that gas lamps were used here as the first lighting. As a result, a large number of shells were covered with soot. In addition, the landmark was altered and restored several times. Moreover, during the Second World War, the mainsail was damaged by a bomb.
However, now tourists are shown the completely restored Grotto of Seashells, which amazes even experienced tourists with its beauty. Near the entrance to the grotto there is a museum, a souvenir shop and a cafe.
