Hermitage.

6 yards by 3, with a doorway between 2 window holes (KERRY).  The west window hole was formed out of a doorway, so the cave originally had 2 compartments (KERRY T).
2 compartments:  west oratory, east dwelling.
There was an altar opposite the oratory door and a niche in the west wall (for a lamp?);  also a fireplace in the north east corner with a blocked chimney vent (KERRY T).

It was ‘man-made’ (D1990).

There is a sketch dated 1730 (WARD1891).

The cave was inhabited when Pilkington was writing — 1789.

It was enlarged in the 18th century by Sir Robert Burdett, who entertained in it (PEVSNER).

It was occupied at the beginning of the 19th century by a couple whose house was being repaired.  They set up a stocking frame there, and the wife bore a son there (KERRY, quoted by CLARK).

"Mr Chandler; a former steward of this estate, gave permission to one William McConnell to furnish the Hermitage with a door and windows, so as to enable him to extort a fee from visitors for its exhibition.  Fortunately, the man died before he could accomplish his design".  (KERRY T)
This may be the same episode as one recorded in my own notes based on Maud and Harvey’s reminiscences.

There is a wonderful plate in Trueman and Marston’s History of Ilkeston 1899.