Peak's Arse

Peak's Arse is a natural cave beneath the Castle of the Peak in the Blackwell Hundred of Derbyshire. When the wind blows in a certain direction, the cavern emits flatulent sounds.

Geography

The cavern stretches about 300 yards (270m) deep, in three large caverns. The second and third caverns are accessible only by boat.

History

Peak's Arse (Pekesers in Old English) is part of the Honour of Peverel. At the time of the Domesday Book it was held by Anbern and Hunding from Peverel.
At various times cottages have been built just inside the cavern, and this may have been the case for the three villagers listed in Domesday, or they may have lived just outside the cavern.
Gervase of Tilbury, in the third section of Otia Imperiala, wrote that in KIng Stephen's time one of William Peverel's swineherds entered the Peak's Arse during winter to look for a lost sow, pregnant and ready to farrow. Fearing his master's anger, he went deep into the cave. He eventually saw light and emerged into wide, cultivated plain where reapers were gathering in the harvest. He found the sow, which had given birth to a litter beneath a thorn-bush. The lord of this strangbe realm bid him farewell kindly, and he retraced his steps through the cave to find himself back in the Derbyshire winter.
Gervase said he heard the story from Robert, Priuor of Kenilworth from 1160-1180, who was born in the area.

Alternative Name(s)

Peak Cavern (modern), the Devil's Arse (early modern)

Type

Cave

Location under

Derbyshire