Hospital Radio: The perfect cave for a choir

I am fortunate enough to be a member of Wren Music’s men’s choir, known as Mensing.

With them , I have sung in Exeter Cathedral, at festivals in Exeter and Bristol, in a Men’s Shed in Okehampton, at Sidmouth Folk Festival and in Beer Quarry Caves, where we were singing on October 25th.

Beer Quarry Caves is a man made underground complex close to the village of Beer, in East Devon. Beer stone has been quarried for 2,000 years, starting with the Romans. The quarries have not been used the 1920’s, and the site is now open to visitors and guided tours. Mensing were accompanying a group of visitors , singing songs in different locations as the group walked round the complex. 

Beer stone was highly valued, especially for use in churches and cathedrals. It can be easily cut and shaped when first cut, but hardens on exposure to the air. During Roman times, the stone was removed by boat from the River Axe estuary. During medieval times, the caves were very busy, with men working by candlelight using hand tools, such as pickaxes and saws. Children were also working in the caves at this time.

The stone would be cut and shaped in the caves, then taken by horse drawn wagons to be loaded on to barges at the nearby village of Beer.

Historically,  the quarries were used as a secret place of worship for Catholics, at a time when religious persecution was common. They were also used by smugglers, including a notorious individual called Jack Rattenbury. Jack was born in Beer in about 1778. He first went to sea at the age of 9, becoming involved in smuggling at the age of 16. He and his fellow smugglers used the caves to store contraband, which was therefore hidden from the excise men. He wrote a book about his life, imaginatively called Memoirs of a Smuggler. He led an adventurous life, including several spells in prison. His cottage in Beer is still standing. 

Quarrying at the site stopped in the early part of the 20th century. Following the closure, some parts of the caves were used to grow mushrooms. The caves are open for guided tours from spring to summer, though they are closed in the winter, at least in part because they are home to several species of hibernating bats. The presence of the bats has led to the site being declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest. 

A number of notable buildings have used Beer stone in their construction, including Exeter Cathedral, London Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral and Windsor Castle.

It was a magical experience to sing in the caves with Mensing. Our voices whispered down the galleries, and it was humbling to sing in a place where people have worked for over 2000 years. Beer Quarry Caves offer remarkable natural acoustics, making them a unique venue for musical performances and ceremonies.

The caves, carved over centuries from Beer stone, form vast cathedral-like chambers with high vaulted ceilings and smooth limestone walls. These architectural features contribute to exceptional sound resonance, allowing voices and instruments to carry clearly and richly throughout the space. The site now offers Celebrant-led weddings and vow renewals, where the acoustics amplify spoken vows and musical interludes, creating an intimate and awe-inspiring experience.

Whilst originally quarried by the Romans, the caves have served many purposes—from cathedral stone source to smugglers’ hideout. Today, their sonic qualities add a new layer of cultural richness, blending history with performance.

So, if you’re ever tempted to sing in a cave, Beer Quarry might just be the perfect place to let your voice soar. The question is what would you sing? Echoes by Pink Floyd or Martha and the Muffins,’ Echo Beach? Whatever you decide upon the echoey grandeur of Beer Quarry Caves is just about perfect.