The Triassic red sandstone was dug into in the Middle Ages to provide sand for glass making and pottery production.

[6] In 1346 a hermit called John Sparkes lived in the caves and prayed for his benefactor Lord Thomas of Berkeley.

[10][11][12] During World War II small parts of the caves were surveyed for use as an air raid shelter.

[18] The explored and mapped area covers over 1 acre (0.40 ha) and extends nearly as a far as Bristol General Hospital.

[5] A survey in 1953 and 1954 explored and mapped the accessible portions and provided some evidence of the wider extent of the caves.