Buried beneath one of England's oldest known buildings is a creepy crypt pre-dating the country itself.
The chamber below magnificent Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire is thought to have been modelled on the tomb in which Jesus was laid to rest following his crucifixion.
The cold and covert cavern tucked away in the cathedral's belly dates back to the year 672 - some 255 years before England was founded.
One of the most sacred spaces inside the imposing cathedral, the crypt is the oldest known surviving part of any cathedral in the country and housed holy relics - some of which were connected to Saint Peter, Jesus' closest friend, to whom the building was originally dedicated.
The idea was originally conceived during Saint Wilfrid's travels across Europe where he saw impressive places of worship being built with underground burial chambers, Yorkshire Live reports.
Wilfrid wanted to build his own, equally as impressive, structure, and so sought the work of craftsmen and stonemasons to build the crypt and a stone monastery, removing a timber monastery which had been on the site since the 660s.
The cathedral which stands today is the fourth stone building of worship to have been built on the site, having been erected in 1547.
However, the Grade-I listed building's crypt is original to 672.
Back in the day, worshippers descending the twisting steps would walk through the candle-lit central chamber adorned with opulent gold, silver and purple decorations.
Journeying down below to the small chapel hidden underground and then back up again to take in the breathtaking church is also meant to symbolise Jesus' death and the hope of his resurrection. The church has been rebuilt more than once through the centuries, but Wilfrid's crypt survives intact and has been a special place for more than 1,300 years.
Today, visitors can marvel at unusual treasures, such as wooden carvings which inspired some of the characters in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland . Many also seek the peace and solace inside the stoned cathedral walls.
