Giant’s Cave, Edenhall

At Giant’s Cave, near Eden Hall, it has been the custom from time immemorial for the lads and lasses of the neighbouring villages to collect together on the third Sunday in May, to drink sugar and water, when the lasses give the treat: this is called Sugar-and-Water Sunday. They afterwards adjourn to the public house, and the lads return the compliment in cakes, ale, punch, etc. A vast concourse of both sexes assemble for the above purpose. (Brand’s Pop. Ant. ; Bohn’s Ed.) [The Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells of England by Robert Charles Hope (1893)]

The cave is associated with the giant Tarquin who was killed by Lancelot and buried at Penrith in the Giant’s Grave.

The following description of the cave is extracted from ‘Gentleman’s Magazine and Historical Review, Volume 61, Part 2’ ‘The cave at the entrance is about 9 feet high and 20 wide and extends in length about 50 when it becomes more contracted in every point of view. Stagnant water and dirt within add to the natural gloominess of the place and give an unfavourable impression. But the situation is in many respects beautiful a fine winding river flowing at the bottom of a lofty precipice not so bold indeed as to alarm had to me at least a pleasing effect’