Knight Templar Cave in Shropshire
(Photo: Michael Scott/ Caters News)

The Mirror published these stunning images by photographer Michael Scott of the large 700-year-old cave, known as Caynton Caves, that lies beneath a farmer’s field in Shropshire, Britain. The complex is believed to have been used by the medieval religious order of the Knights Templar that fought in the Crusades.

In 1291, the Knights Templar lost their last strongholds in Israel and Syria and were forced to move their headquarters to Limassol on the island of Cyprus, and in 1303 they abandoned the Holy Land and returned to Europe.[1] The cave system lies at only a few meters in depth and shows similarities to the underground cities of Derinkuyu in Cappadocia, Turkey.

These images were captured by photographer Michael Scott. See full images: the Mirror.

[1] Nicholson, Helen (2001). The Knights Templar: A New History. Stroud: Sutton, p. 201. ”