Redcliffe Caves have been designated as a Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Site (RIGS) since 1986.
The Caves stretch as far as Clifton and Knowle. The caves are located in a hill of red sandstone. On a geological map of the area this hill of sandstone stretches from just over the Floating Harbour around to just before Temple Meads, about ¼ of a mile into Bedminster and over to near the Lloyds Building.
The accessible caves cover just over an acre but it is recorded that they did cover between 9 to 12 acres but due to modern buildings, sewers and a railway tunnel most of the “lost”caves will probably not be relocated. One other point of interest is than about 400 feet beneath this wharf are tunnels from the Bedminster Coal Field.
The name Redcliffe Caves
This is not really correct since all the caves were formed by man. The Red Sandstone was dug out by pick and shovel, mainly for use in the glassmaking trade; there are no natural caves. So really the caves should be renamed Redcliffe Mines but the word mine refers to the extraction of a mineral so perhaps they should be renamed Redcliffe Quarry. After the mining effort the caves were put to other uses for storage of valuable goods, glassware, pottery and packing materials and also as a dumping ground.