Scotts Grotto Outdoors

Scott's Grotto is a series of interconnected chambers, extending some 67ft into the chalk hillside. It is rumoured to have cost ?10,000 and is thought to have taken 30 years to complete. The chambers and tunnels are lined with shells, flints and pieces of coloured glass, some donated by friends. On top of the hill above the tunnels there is a summer house which would have commanded a wonderful view over the town of Ware. The picture on the left shows the inside of the Council Chamber as labelled on Mr R T Andrews's 1900 Plan of the Grotto. This chamber is the most highly decorated and has seats inset into it's wall. One of these seats even has the word FROG written in shells, referring to his wife, Sarah Frogley

Several theories exist as to why he built it, was it that he just wanted to decorate his garden or perhaps he wanted somewhere to write? Another possibility is he needed an attraction to draw London society out to visit him in Ware. Scott kept a visitor's book which contains three thousand names so the attraction obviously worked.

The grotto is open 1400-1630 on each Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday between April 1st and September 30th. It can be found between number 28 and number 34 Scotts Road, Ware (Scotts Road is next to the college on the A119 to Hertford). Visits can also be arranged by telephoning the Honorary Curator, Mrs Janet Watson, on Ware (01920) 464131 (again April until September).

Entrance is free but a suggested donation of £1 would be appreciated to cover maintenance costs. Visitors are advised to wear flat shoes and bring a torch as the floor is uneven and the entire underground system is unlit.