Crystal Caves is Bermuda's Oldest Living Treasure
"Crystal Caves of Bermuda" are caves in the British overseas territory of Bermuda. It is located in Hamilton Parish, close to Castle Harbor. The cave is approximately 500 m long, and 62 meters deep. The lower 19-20 m of the cave are below water level. The cave formed at a time when the sea level was lower as the sea level rose, many cave formations which formed above water became submerged.
A tourist attraction since 1907, it was discovered in 1905 by Carl Gibbons and Edgar Hollis, two 12-year-old boys searching for a lost cricket ball. Soon after, the Wilkinson family (the owners of the property since 1884) learned of the discovery. Mr. Percy Wilkinson lowered his 14-year-old son Bernard into it with a bicycle lamp on 140 feet of strong rope tied to a tree to explore the cave.
The area surrounding Harrington Sound, (which lies to the south of Crystal Cave), is of limestone formation and is noted for its many subterranean waterways, through which the waters of the sound empty into the Atlantic Ocean. Crystal Cave is one of these, and, as its name suggests, is known for its beauty, with many stalactites, stalagmites and deep, clear pools. However, some crystal formations have been damaged by earthquakes in the distant past.
An excursion to Crystal Cave also includes the neighbouring Fantasy Cave, with Fantasy being deeper (88 steps down). Fantasy Cave was reopened in the summer of 2001 with all the pathways rebuilt and re-illuminated by artificial lighting. It was discovered and opened about the same time as Crystal Cave, but was closed by the owners in the 1940s.
The two caves located on 8 Crystal Caves Rd. at Wilkinson Ave. are accessible by bus going between Hamilton and St. George's Parishes.
The caves are owned by the local Wilkinson Trust and are open to the public.
Floating pontoon pathways span a large 55 feet deep azure blue underground lake. Formations in the water are clearly visible. The great American humorist Mark Twain was one of the first to experience the mind-boggling profusion of pristine white stalactites, soda straws and helectite formations above the lake. Entire walls are covered in calcite mineral deposits that resemble frozen waterfalls. Deep pools of water hint at the underlying network of passageways connecting the caves with the ocean. Fantasy Cave is a natural wonder.
The Unfinished Church ~ (St. Georges, Bermuda)
This Gothic ruin is all that is left of the building begun in 1874 to replace St. Peters Church. It was originally built to seat 650 people. Its simple, bold design was the work of architect William Hay. His plans called for a cruciform church, with walls regularly buttressed and perforated with tall, arched window. Two columns of brick pillars supported the roof internally and the building was crowned with a tower. The church was never finished, due to various complications. First, a split in congregation led to the Reformed Episcopal Church building its own place of worship nearby. Then, in 1884, the Cathedral in Hamilton burned down and money originally earmarked for St. Georges was diverted to rebuilding it. However, despite these difficulties, the new church had almost been completed by 1894 at a cost of 2,000 pounds. The roof was added in 1899 by private subscription.
The Congregation then elected to renovate old St. Peters Church, abandoning their new church on the verge of its completion. The western end of the church was badly damaged in the hurricane of 1926, and thereafter, the walls and floor suffered from neglect, storm damage and erosion. The rest of the roof has since vanished and one side of the internal supported pillars has toppled over. Today, the ruin is preserved as an historic monument as part of the St. Georges World Heritage Site.