Angela Roche is the great-great granddaughter of John Bramwell, the last-known cave dweller of the rock houses, which are cut out of the sandstone on Rock Hill in Mansfield.
We have searched the archives and been given permission to share some fantastic photographs from Angela’s collection which show the rock houses through the years.
Unfortunately the landslide in November 2019 has meant the condition of the rock houses is currently unknown, as work is ongoing to secure the rock face.
A wonderful part of our history.
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13. Nature takes over
Over time, the rock houses began to blend in as foliage slowly grew around them. Photo: A Roche
15. 1971
A picture of the rock houses in 1971 - a popular place for children to explore, before they were bricked up for safety. Photo: Chad
16. The interior
A recent photograph taken of the inside of one of the rock houses. You can see the old fireplace, which would have led to the huge chimneys you could see from the street. Photo: Darren Cooper