The Hellfire Caves - Black Masses, Debauchery, and Scandal with the Hellfire Club

[@colleenclaussen2994]

I always love your tours. Thank you so much for your excellent content!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you, and you’re very welcome!

[@YsabetJustYsabet]

Excellent video; thanks for not taking Dashwood and his cronies any more seriously than they deserved-- they really were just a bunch of rich party boys, way too impressed with themselves and their equipment. This was a great take on the whole story that didn't rev up the whole supernatural angle, and that was refreshing!

[@hogdotwater]

Hey Jessica! Been watching your videos now for a couple months and you've quickly become one of my favourite channels! Growing up, my godmother passed on her love of British history and museums on to me and its been a niche fascination that's followed me into adulthood and your content truly fills my heart in the same way. I really appreciate your passion and knowledge and it really inspires me! Love from Canada ❤

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you from a fellow Canuck!

[@Consuelowillow]

Thank you for all your tours! I absolutely love them! You mentioned if we are interested in seeing Ben Franklin's Craven Street house to comment in the comments. I would love to see a tour of that house. I am very intrigued by that house. I knew he had a house in London, however I did not realize that house had bones in it. I would love to learn more about it from you! You are great!

[@ninaellyson814]

Yaaaaaay!!! I’m so glad you are back!❤

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I try to post once a month, but with the baby it’s tough! The next video should be 2-3 weeks, though. :)

[@nicolelillis2077]

Thank you for that entertaining tour of the Hellfire Caves! Those racy Rakes were certainly a Rogue's Gallery of the most hedonistic Georgians! I've always found that period of history so fascinating and shocking..I also enjoy your museum tours and look forward to seeing more of them this year..Best wishes from Australia..☮️

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You’re very welcome!

[@amyhammerschlag]

Your videos are so interesting, just love them. I'm not sure I'll ever get across the pond so it's cool to see all the interesting places you find.

[@chrisball3778]

I love the Hellfire Caves. They're such a weird and wonderful historical site- there's nowhere else quite like them. I read a biography of John Wilkes, and although he's remembered as a champion of liberty he was basically one of history's most notorious trolls. He fought two duels, but to my mind it's a miracle only two people tried to shoot him. Francis Dashwood did have a more positive side as well as all the endless debauchery. He originally had the caves dug to provide work for unemployed labourers during a period of economic downturn, and to provide chalk for resurfacing local roads at his own expense.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I thought I mentioned he gave work to out of work labourers, but maybe it was cut! John Wilkes was a real character, to say the least.

[@chrisball3778]

@@TheMuseumGuide Maybe you mentioned it but my attention wandered. I'm a bit ill at the moment so maybe not in the best headspace. Thanks for making the video- so weird seeing all those Georgian hell-raisers covered in Christmas decorations!

[@emilygilbeyful]

My great aunt was keyholder for the caves in the 60s/70s before the caves were "renovated" for tourists and electric lights and new gravel floors put in. People would go and ask her for the keys and candles and make a donation to go and visit. it must have been scary before it was done up though! My mum said it was just muddy raw ground when she was a child!

[@mediabear]

The joke was so funny that they secretly met, in costume, to participate in every Sunday…

[@TheMuseumGuide]

It was only a few times a year, not every week.

[@BasementCat69]

Love that the mannequins had santa hats on hahaha

[@christinelegget8542]

I stumbled on your videos by chance. So glad I did. Very interesting . Keep them coming please. ❤

[@annettewillis2797]

Great as always Jessica! Your presentation and depth of knowledge is fabulous. It is so good to see you back. I think further exploration of Ben Franklin would be excellent!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you so much!

[@kittylicious]

I love your videos & I love your energy! I’m so thankful I found your channel because your videos have kept me company for many nights!!! I love learning new things and you do an amazing job teaching. Thank you!!!❤

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You are so welcome!

[@jenniferryersejones9876]

Yes, of course I want to see a video about the Craven St. residence! I had no idea Hellfire Clubs were something other than a bar in Hollywood. Thanks for the tour and the education!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You got it!

[@lmp8932]

Very interesting! Thanks for taking us along 😁

[@TheMuseumGuide]

My pleasure!

[@margaretpepper3550]

If their hellfire nights were held today, OMG wouldn't it be so cool!! Imagine the queues trying to get in!! Book me a ticket.....

[@TheMuseumGuide]

There’s some underground sex parties in East London that might be of interest! 🤣

[@kaloarepo288]

They are called saunas nowadays!

[@daveandgena3166]

It just occurred to me that this was like Studio 54 in the 70s! I first thought the mannequin with the reindeer horns was wearing some kind of ritual garb.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

An easy mistake to make! Thank you for watching.

[@leelalo6625]

Great work! Thanks for taking us with you.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

My pleasure!

[@HereticalKitsune]

Paul Whitehead? Reminds me a bit of Adam Weishaupt, founder of the Illluminati.

[@SkyeSage17]

Exactly... These secret societies are real and the rich laugh in our faces of how ignorant the common people are. It's sad to hear it is ridiculed. Cognitive Dissonance SMH

[@CampestCowboy]

Your videos are so damn amazing! Keep going!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you so much!

[@TheDailyWitch]

Great Tour! Thanks Jessica!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You are so welcome!

[@abbiefinnie5918]

Just discovered your youtube channel this week and I absolutely love it!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you so much!

[@1960dave1960]

Thanks for posting….i took my children there , when they were teenagers, about twelve years ago, my daughter suddenly became unwell and very scared when we walked over the underground river, she wouldn’t go any further, I too felt some sort of presence, with the air temperature very low compared to the rest of the caves. BTW - you didn’t mention anything about Suzy, or the George and Dragon Hotel in the High Street , West Wycombe. There is , I believe links to Dashwood there also. Also, I thought the Romans dug the chalk tunnels to begin with, but I may be wrong……I always love your videos and your narration …..please keep up the very good work …..😊😊😊

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’m not much of a hauntings person. But I didn’t know about the hotel! The tunnels were commissioned by Dashwood- no Roman history. :)

[@debbscustomengravings5226]

Thank you for doing the Caves. They are great, as is the church, and the Dashwood Estate across the road, although I have never been in the house. For a small donation, you might be able to climb to the roof of the church. A few years ago I was even shown into the "bell room" above the ceiling and invited to walk along the beams to see the bells up close. I declined that bit as the beams are fairly narrow.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I was pregnant while filming this so I probably would have given it a miss even if offered! Thanks for watching.

[@ninaellyson814]

That is funny about Yankee Doodle! The sang has a whole new meaning 😅 I’m in the States and never understood the meaning of the song😅😂 Nice jab from the pond😂

[@robertcombs55]

This is beyond imagination!! My Last name "Combs"is derived from the English "Wycombe

[@invisica47]

Aw heck yeah, I love this one. 🔥

[@user-kb5fd7ox4n]

I hear 'paranormal' and my eyes are like 👀 😄

[@kateapple1]

There’s a guy on KZbin and just published to two hour videos about him breaking into the hellfire club this last month. Apparently there’s a whole Lotta stuff just left there still.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

That’s strange-where was he breaking into?

[@ashtraydekay6624]

Please do the Franklin "Craven residence "!!!!!!

[@nancytoothaker3224]

I enjoyed that very much, thank you

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kaloarepo288]

And Rabelais was a monk! Let that sink in - and to my knowledge always remained a monk!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

These guys 🤣

[@Phoenixx42]

Loved the video, thanks for sharing. So these might be the original epic trolls of society? Lol

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You’re not wrong! Thanks for watching.

[@lmp8932]

PS I have just been told that the ' Museum of London' Cripplegate is one not to miss - Roman relics and mud larks finds. It sounds most interesting.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

It’s sadly closed for 5 years as it moves locations!

[@lmp8932]

Thanks for checking, that's a bummer. Let's hope we are still fit and raring to go ib=n 5 years time!@@TheMuseumGuide

[@tgill2943]

I have read so much about the infamous "hellfire clubs"-historical and historical fiction`-I could go on. Very measured and slightly humorous presentation.Thank you very much for your meticulous effort. I have to leave you with the perfect "hellfire" quote-kind of..."Shit fire and save Matches" Stephen King, some time in the 1980's.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

🤣 I’m a huge King fan- thank you!

[@tgill2943]

I kinda figured you might be😆 Simpatico.@@TheMuseumGuide

[@dumitrulangham1721]

If you want interesting museum try black coutry living museum!

[@carolescutt2257]

'Brilliant' ❤❤

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you!

[@Sharkfighter13]

Have you ever been ti the Mütter Museum?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

No, but I would love to!

[@RichardTClark396]

They are not rumors the place is pure evil do not go there or you may very well bring something back with you that you do not want.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

That wasn’t my experience:)

[@luke144]

I'm related to Benjamin Franklin 🤭. Colorful history. Bright man no doubt but yeah....

[@TheMuseumGuide]

He was a bit of a scoundrel, it seems!

[@luke144]

@@TheMuseumGuide he had... secrets

[@avalonkerr8332]

I truly feel the subversive aspects! Have been called same :)

[@Scottishkaren]

Do Scotland

[@pontecarlo4354]

Does anyone remember this on Most Haunted.? Derek Acorah as usual was possessed but I can’t remember by whom. Lol

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I don’t know the show, but this is like the least haunted place ever 🤣

[@markedis5902]

You completely missed the link to Aleister Crowley and the Golden Dawn using the caves for far more sinister purposes.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I don’t think Crowley ever visited these caves?

[@usmcrn4418]

I loved this! I thought the Epstein comment was a little grungy, but the history was fascinating!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I thought it was an apt comparison! Conspiracy theories with a grain of truth.

[@usmcrn4418]

@@TheMuseumGuide you’re right! I just missed the context 😎

[@flashrobbie]

bored, rich guys fleeing adulthood

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Exactly!

[@kateapple1]

Correct ✅ 👏

[@leelalo6625]

Exactly. Heheheheh.

[@katharper655]

.....All of which simply proves that the more things change the more they stay the same. I cite the current P*Diddy Scandal as a prime example. Everybody and his brother are scrambling.....because EVERYBODY and his brother are involved. ALLEGEDLY

[@mariusmarius4832]

Every old building in UK where there is money to be made is allegedly haunted...no surprises here.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I agree 🤣

[@user-kb5fd7ox4n]

Why wasn't history taught like this at school ?

[@jeanieb2754]

We dont know what happened in these caves. Seems like a lot of effort to carve out tunnels for a fun false ritual.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

The caves were initially a work project for unemployed miners, but never underestimate how much Georgians loved or goes and shenanigans.

[@scallopohare9431]

Yes, Americans adopted "Yankee Doodle" by way of owning the insult, making it moot.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Well I’ll be darned!

[@jonmcintire9067]

Miss Piggy's dark side is the museum guide .💀💀💀💀😀😀😯😉😈😈😈😈😈😎💑😸💀💀💀💀💀💖💖

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Huge compliment.

[@jenniferd6242]

HIIIIII-YAHHH @@TheMuseumGuide

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@jenniferd6242 🤣🐽🐷👑

[@jonmcintire9067]

Those people were doing ritual things underground in that place .💀💀💀💀😎😀😀😯😉😈😈😈😈😉

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Naw, they were just drinking and seeing what they could get away with!

[@kateclark7250]

Everybody ought to have a hobby

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I prefer mine to theirs 🤣

[@n.m.3981]

I feel sorry for that poor scared baboon

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Me too!

[@khosmoz]

I would not trust a bunch of drunk aristocrats inside a cave. Impossible to escape.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I feel the same way! 🤣

[@ElsieJoy39]

Had to give up watching this one...too distasteful...call me a prude.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I hear you! They were such cads 🤣

[@thenarrowpathoftruth9443]

Just a bunch of "rakes who wanted a wild night out..." ah, yeah, because anyone would employ 100 men to dig caves nearly 400 meters underground just to have a few wild nights out.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Well, there’s no doubt they were up to spicy naughtiness, but they weren’t a secret cabal controlling the world.

[@thenarrowpathoftruth9443]

@ I appreciate your answer and I mean you NO disrespect at all but... how do you know? Both my family and my wife's family have had involvement in secret societies. I have been researching this for decades. Franklin went on to help create what must now be the most powerful nation in world history - a nation which, in large measure, does control the world. Are you thinking within the mere confines of the lifespans of those men only? Are you accounting for the unseen spiritual influences which might have been generationally connected with their family lines? If Franklin, though playing a small part in the grand scheme, helped to found the most hegemonistic country in world history, then how is he not now, in a sense, from his grave, controlling the world?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@ I mean you all the respect in the world, but secret societies are usually silly men playing dress up. I don’t think a secret cabal needs to gather to run the world when the rich and powerful just do it in front of our faces. (And to be fair, Franklin probably just visited a few times to get his jollies. He wasn’t a full fledged member).

[@thenarrowpathoftruth9443]

@@TheMuseumGuide Yes, I am aware Franklin was not an “official” member. Of course I don’t know you so I must ask: have you read any Albert Pike, Manly P. Hall, Helena Blavatsky or Aleister Crowley?

[@thenarrowpathoftruth9443]

@@TheMuseumGuide Were you aware that, Aleister Crowley, who was a "Misraim rite Freemason," a black magic sub-group at the highest level, wrote the following in his book, Magick in Theory and Practice?: "For the highest spiritual working one must accordingly choose that victim which contains the greatest and purest force. A male child of perfect innocence and high intelligence is the most satisfactory and suitable victim. But the bloody sacrifice, though more dangerous, is more efficacious; and for nearly all purposes human sacrifice is the best. In the Sacrifice during Invocation, however; it may be said without fear of contradiction that the death of the victim should coincide with the supreme invocation." (Meaning, for the best demonic connection with the spirit world, he found it best to have an orgasm into his male child victim while murdering him). Does this sound like silly men merely having a wild time to you?

[@caelirose2699]

19:50 Giggling while referencing Epstein's Island like it's something sexy and taboo is gross

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’m scoffing at Georgian decadence and silly men trying to feel like big powerful gods, but I could have made that clearer.

[@aprilleighallred8546]

​@@TheMuseumGuidethe reference was very fitting for the topic!!

[@ThePurityControl]

Some parts of the second Psychic TV album Dreams Less Sweet were recorded in the Hellfire CLub caves. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_Less_Sweet

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Oh cool! I went to see Psychic TV a few years before Genesis died. I didn’t realise this!

[@BriLovesKirra]

Love your tours! ❤❤