At Cavanagh's farm 0.25 miles north of long straggling village of Stroove (also known as Shroove or Shrove) near Inishowen Head; on hillside west of Stroove House. Arable. View restricted by higher ground to North otherwise excellent across mouth of Lough Foyle to Derry and Antrim coasts, Rathlin Island, and to Scottish islands on a clear day.

This rock-cut souterrain, found while ploughing in 1918, is in the middle of a field on a fairly level stretch in rising ground. When it was later explored, part of it was found to be under a foot or more of water. In places tool marks can be seen on the rock.

The accidental opening took place at the point marked F on the sketch below. After section E. had been drained, it was possible to explore the various parts of the souterrain,and the shaft opening at A (the present entrance) was found. The high water mark can still be seen in section E.

Shaft A: This perpendicular opening is about 8 ft. deep, and 4 ft. to 5 ft. in diameter. A small protecting wall has now been built round this at field level.

Passages or Chambers: Passage E, leading from shaft A, is about 4 ft wide and 3 ft. to 4 ft. high. About 12 ft. along is the narrow passage G, which is about 1.5 ft. above floor level, about 2 ft. wide and high and sloping upward. The latter is about 14 ft, in length, 4 ft to 5 ft. wide and 3 ft. to 4 ft. high it slopes upwards with the rising ground of the field overhead. The farmer says that near F (the accidental opening, now built up) there was a fireplace: remains of charcoal may still be seen, also a piece of flint, an animal's tooth and fragments of bone - possibly of comparatively recent date. The North West chamber or passage bends to the right or North at D which has a corbelled roof, rising to about 5 ft, to 6 ft. and finished with a capstone.

The farmer believes the souterrain to be more extensive. Apart from the closing of the accidental opening at F. there seems to be a deliberate blocking near F. He also says he found the opening shaft A had been filled up and when he first explored the souterrain (or cave) the connection between the chambers E and W was a narrow opening similar to H, and the present opening B, into chamber S, was blocked up.

Chamber W is now approached by an entrance C, about 3 ft. high and 2 ft. 6 ins. wide. The chamber is roughly circular, about 6ft. in diameter and 3ft. to 4ft high. The small opening H, connecting chambers W and S, is about 1ft above floor level, about 1ft. 4 ins. square, and 1ft. 6 ins to 2 ft. in depth.

Chamber S is about 12 foot long, 3ft. to 4ft. high and varying in width from 3ft to 4ft. 6ins. The tool marks are seen more clearly in this chamber than in any other part of the souterrain. All floor surfaces are fairly level (except where they slope upwards with the rising ground, and in the North West., F and D sections), and somewhat covered with stones, some of which may have fallen from roof and walls, where there is evidence of rock fracture; some obviously have only fallen recently. I was told when the souterrain was first opened, a dog that was watching, rose up, hair on end, and terribly upset. It would never return to that field "Whatever was in the cave came out of it, and the dog saw it and was frightened".

In the same field, near the place of the accidental opening, the farmer reports that he found a structure which, from his description, would appear to have been a stone cist, perhaps 1ft. 6ins. to 2ft. and covered with a slab of rock. In it were found bones, said to be human, but no sign of pottery. Fragments of rough pottery are sometimes picked up in the field. Certainly at present the field yields quantities of flint, both grey and yellow in colour, some show signs of working.

A pair of sanding stones is close by and 0.25 miles west is a pair of standing stones. See Stroove in Townland Section.

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