Journal No. 160 Volume 13 August 1975

CONTENTS

Page

Club News 217 Meets 218 Obituary : David Mitchell 219 The Fuddy-Duddies in the Ascendant by “Black Wal” 220 Wessex Cave Club Questionnaire on the National Caving Association 221 by P.G. Hendy Not Now and Again, but Again and Again and Again Part VI by F.J. Davies 224 The Deterioration of Mother Ludlam's Cave by M. Hewins 228 You Only Explore Twice by S. Spratt 231 British Standard Synthetic Fibre Ropes by W.J.R. Willcocks 234

Hon. Secretary: A.D. Newport, 60 Micklefield Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 7EY. Asst. Secretary: P.G. Hendy, 5 Tring Avenue, Ealing Common, London W5. Caving Secretary: C.W. Davies, "Hillcroft", Woodborough Road, , Avon. Hon. Treasurer: Mrs. A. West, 10 Silver Street, Wells, . Tackle Warden: W.J.R. Wilcocks, 3 Westview Drive, Twyford, Berks. Hut Admin. Officer: W.J. Ham, "The Laurels", , Highbridge, Somerset. Hut Warden: P.A.K. Palfree, 10 Maynard Terrace, Clutton, Bristol. Deputy Hut Warden: Miss A.M. Golledge, 12 Coulston Road, Corsham, Wilts. Journal Distribution: Mrs. A. West, address as above. Survey Sales: R.A. Philpott, 3 Kings Drive, Bristol, BS7 8JW. Publication Sales: R.R. Kenney, "Yennek", St. Mary's Road, Meare, Glastonbury, Somerset. BA6 9SS. General Sales: I. Jepson, 7 Shelley Road, Beechen Cliff, Bath, Somerset. Editor: R.G. Witcombe, 39 Whitstone Road, , Somerset, BA4 5PW.

Journal price for non-members: 20p per issue. Postage 5p extra.

CLUB NEWS

SHATTER CAVE

The Club now has three guest leaders. They are John Ham, Aubrey Newport and Pete Palfree. Parties are limited to a leader plus 5, and a fee of 10p per head is payable.

OGOF AGEN ALLWEDD

Applications for the key are now being handled by Aubrey Newport, Phil Hendy or Chris Davies.

SOOTH WALES CRO

This is being reformed. Although the Wessex as a club is not joining (our talents are better directed towards, and more available to MRO) individual members living in South Wales may wish to be put on the call-out list. See Aubrey for details.

HUT EXTENSION

Building materials are now arriving. Watch that base for further developments.

PRIDDY VILLAGE HALL

The Friendly Society urgently needs to raise £1,000 by September to quality for a grant for alterations and renovation. The Committee has decided that the Club should donate £10, but interested members may wish to make their own donations. Contact John Hildick, or any other member of the Friendly Society.

ELECTROLYTE

Stocks are now available for sale, at Upper Pitts.

SWILDONS BOOK

This is now in the hands of the bookbinders and should be distributed at the end of August.

A.G.M.

Members are reminded that this year's A.G.M. and Dinner will take place on Saturday, 18th October. Advanced attention is drawn to Club Rules Nos 5 and 18:-

"5. That the affairs of the Club shall be conducted by a Committee which shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Gear Curator, Assistant Secretary, Caving Secretary, Editor, H.Q. Warden, H.Q. Officer, and three other members who shall retire annually and be eligible for re-election. These posts are honorary and must be filled by members of the Club. Any member standing for office or for membership of the Committee must be nominated by two members of the Club. The Committee shall fill any casual vacancies.

The Committee may appoint any member of the Club whether they be a Committee member or not to carry out any duties that the Committee consider necessary.

The Honorary Secretary of any properly constituted group within the Club shall be eligible to attend a Committee meeting in an ex-officio capacity, and may nominate a substitute to attend any meeting which he cannot attend personally.

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An Honorary Auditor shall be appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting."

"18. That notices of motions for discussion at the Annual General Meeting shall be received by the Honorary Secretary not more than two weeks after the post of the notices of the meeting. Such notices of motions must have the names of the proposers, and be circulated to the members at least seven days prior to the meeting."

NEW MEMBERS

We welcome the following new members:-

E. Benedetti, Rue Delvigne no. 38. 5441-On-Jemelle, Belgium. S.N. Benson, 66 Lemsford Road, St. Albans, Herts. Miss H.E. Jones, 24 Mays Way, Potterspury, Towcester, Northants, NN12 7PP. T.C. Pickles, Senior Common Room, Churchill Hall, Stoke Park, Bristol, BS9 1JG.

FRIDAY NIGHT CLUB

All meets at 7.30 except for those in Wales.

Further details from R.R. Kenney, 'Yennek', St. Mary's Road, Meare, Glastonbury. Meare Heath 296.

August 8th Swildons August 22nd Cuthberts Sept. 5th Cuthberts Sept. 20th WALES Oct. 3rd Hilliers / Shatter Oct. 17th GB Oct 31st Pinetree

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OBITUARY

David Mitchell

Digging on Mendip has suffered a sad blow with the recent death of David Mitchell. This loss is doubly tragic because when he died after some months illness he was only 36.

He was born in in February 1939 and had spent all of his life on and around Mendip, amassing a tremendous knowledge of the area. In particular, he was an acknowledged expert on the caves of Eastern Mendip and it could be an enlightening but somewhat humbling experience to walk with Dave in this area. Eastern Mendip was the start of his digging career over twenty years ago, when he started as a young boy at Browne's Hole. He was to continue digging at this site for a further twelve years.

Dave was first and foremost a practical digger, and he was happiest when underground with a pick and shovel and spoil to be moved. One of the most impressive sights I have seen underground was Dave breaking rock with a hammer and 18" point; he scorned the use of explosives and with good reason - he was just about as effective.

Possibly the most characteristic aspect of his digging was his meticulous approach and the high standard of his workmanship. This is most obvious now in his shoring works, but applied equally to all that he did from excavating underground to stacking on the spoil heap.

Dave was of a rather taciturn nature and because of this his digging and caving activities are perhaps not as widely appreciated as they might be. The following abbreviated list of sites may give some indication of his work:- Browne's Hole, Stock's Hole, Hunting Lodge Slocker, Withybrook Slocker, Elm Cave, Cooper's Hole, Blackmoor Swallet, and Charterhouse Warren.

It was at this last mentioned site, where he had worked so hard and which he loved so much, that his ashes were scattered in accordance with his wishes. Our sympathy is extended to his widow.

Antony Audsley

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THE FUDDY-DUDDIES IN THE ASCENDANT

by "Black Wal"

Fear! Fire! Foes! Arise! Awake! The Fuddy-Duddies are upon us! In every walk of life there is a growing tendency towards paternalism - Daddy knows best - you will do just as you are told. In particular this attitude has been creeping into caving and is striking home at the very roots. Cavers by and large are a pretty individualistic body, they resent any imposition of order upon them. Unfortunately, however, they are also unwilling to attend meetings and/or stand for committee posts, allowing by default the narrow- minded snooper or time-server in.

As we all know, caving is a messy, untidy activity. Cavers tend to spread mess around them, to lose or damage equipment, to be negligent in the finer nuances of living. One often hears "I’m fed up with clearing up every Sunday night. No washing up done - we will restrict the number of plates, cups, K.F.S. etc. etc. available. What a mess - half-filled glasses, beer all over the place, fag ends in the carpet and all over the floor - we will stop parties drinking in the Club Hut. What's this - no tackle, none signed out, ladders left lying on the floor - we will lock it all up."

Now I ask you, who are these we who are going to restrict our activities; who appointed them to be guardians of our peace, to look over us; who asked them to clear up after us? The short answer you will be told is that they are the committee whom you elected. But did you? Was there an election? In the long term it usually turns out that the committee was self-elected - no one stood against the nominees.

No one was willing to get involved in the footling trivialities of club administration. Those who were willing appear to have lost sight of the primary fact that it is a caving club, that caving comes first, that tarting up the Club H.Q. to the extent of making it a prim little country cottage with curtains, plaster on the walls, panelled rooms etc. is inappropriate for a building which is after all a working building for a dirty activity. Plain, simple, dry accommodation, with rough and ready facilities that can stand a bit of bashing about, are all that is required - nay, all that is wanted.

The above attitudes and trends seen from a parochial local level are being reflected in the wide world of caving at a national level. Attempts are being made to foist upon us organised caving with paid officials, trained leaders, certification, and looming in the middle distance the threat of still stricter access restrictions coupled with the possibility of increased costs. This whole new bureaucracy would require financing, and where simpler to raise money than from entrance fees. A stand has to be made against this sort of thing, and has indeed been made by the Wessex, and by the next step up the ladder, the C.S.C.C. following our example.

In these perilous days the under-dog needs someone to speak for him. The N.C.A. is our mouthpiece at a national level - see that it speaks for us, the dirty, grass roots caver, not for the fuddy-duddy. Remember it is a long and continuous battle, the defence of individual freedom - for that is what it comes down to - and unless you, the dirty, individual caver come forward to do some of the donkey work of club, regional, dare I say, national administration, then this battle can easily be lost by default. Let there be true elections; if you value caving be prepared to fight for it and become involved; do not pass by on the other side saying "It is no concern of mine" and allow caving as we know it to be destroyed from within.

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WESSEX CAVE CLUB QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE NATIONAL CAVING ASSOCIATION

by P.G. Hendy

Readers will recall that the April edition of this Journal contained a questionnaire on the future of the National Caving Association, Whernside Manor and the benefits to be gained from caving. From a club membership of around 300, only 47 replied; cynics may attribute this low figure to general apathy, but a reply rate of 15% is what could normally be expected for questionnaires of this type. Even so, the conclusions drawn from the forms cannot be considered to be representative of the opinion of the Club as a whole. Those members who disagree with the comments in this report cannot, however, complain if they didn't bother to complete and return a form. The results are only briefly tabulated and discussed in this article, but a limited number of copies of the full data are available, and one will be displayed at Upper Pitts.

DO YOU CONSIDER THE NCA's ROLE TO BE: YES NO N/A A forum for inter-regional discussion 40 4 3 A central spokesman for caving 37 6 4 Obtaining financial support for caving 13 26 8 Fostering standards for tackle and equipment 10 26 11 Fostering standards of cave leadership 7 32 8

N/A = Not Answered

Eight per cent of those members completing forms thought that there was no need for the NCA. It was, however, popularly held that NCA should provide a forum for inter-regional (and international) discussion, and to a lesser extent be involved in public relations (though not promoting caving as a sport.) Only a third of those returning forms supported the finance-seeking role of NCA, and 82 and 72% of members respectively did not consider that NCA should be fostering tackle or cave leadership standards. A possible area that NCA should be involved more deeply in is cave conservation.

SHOULD NCA BE ALLOWED TO ACT ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE?

Yes 3 No 43 N/A 1

There was little doubt that the grass roots cavers should be in control of NCA. The executive should be in a stand-by state, ready to act whenever instructed to do so by cavers, via regional councils, on matters which cannot be handled locally.

DO YOU ENVISAGE AN NCA LARGE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATION? Full-Time 4 Part-Time 6 Secretarial agency work etc.4 Not at all 31 N/A 2

One member pointed out that the size of NCA was not the only criterion to be considered in deciding this question. Certain advantages would be had if the administration was on a paid, full-time basis. However, the majority of members were not in favour of such a move, preferring that the present workload be reduced to a level capable of being coped with by the executive.

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SHOULD CAVING BE SELF-SUPPORTING? YES NO N/A 35 9 3

FROM WHERE SHOULD NCA FINANCE COME: YES NO N/A Caving Club subscriptions 26 17 4 Caver-run Show Caves 16 9 12 Government (via Sports Council) 18 23 6 Other caver-organised money-raising projects 15 19 13 Trade Association of caving equipment suppliers 8 28 11 Levy on cave access 5 34 8

It was thought that caving would lose its independence if financial support came from external sources, particularly the Sports Council. Caver-run Show Caves, other money-raising projects, and a Trade Association, were thought to be unviable. Levies on cave access would be very unpopular. The most favoured source of finance for NCA's administration costs was seen to be caving club subscriptions. Particular caving needs and projects could still be financed by seeking grants, or setting up funds.

WHERNSIDE MANOR. Thirty of the 47 members who replied knew what courses and facilities were offered by Whernside, and 19 had visited the centre.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR WHERNSIDE AS: YES NO N/A Accommodation for cavers visiting the North 24 12 11 Caver education centre 17 19 11 Novice training centre 11 26 10 CA-subsidised Scout Association centre 5 29 13

There is no need for Whernside at all 19 17 11

Opinion was divided over the need for Whernside; it was largely seen as a problem for the Scout Association to solve. Financial support from or via NCA was not popular. Whernside is obviously too large to make a caving club HQ, or a place for general caver accommodation. Several replies to the questionnaire indicated that Whernside may be useful as a caver education centre in its broadest sense - running courses, disseminating information on all aspects of caving and as a centre for karst research.

IF MAINTAINED, WHERNSIDE SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BY: YES NO N/A Self-supporting 34 6 7 Promoting non-caving activities 17 11 19 Donations from commercial firms 17 15 15 Direct Government grant 16 18 13 Grant via NCA 8 24 15

Making Whernside self-supporting was heavily favoured, partly because this would show how uneconomic it was, and hasten its closure. The promotion of non-caving activities was thought to be a good idea, as was approaching commercial firms for donations. In the current economic situation, this latter may not bring in much money, however. Government grants, either direct or via NCA, would not be popular. A minor source of money may come from selling tackle etc. at Whernside.

SHOULD NCA FOLLOW POLICIES WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO GO CAVING?

Yes 6 No 40 Be Neutral 1

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It was pointed out that unless the NCA did promote caving as a sport, Government grants may not be forthcoming. But 56% of those returning questionnaires did not want Government support, arguing that 'who pays the piper calls the tune.' Opportunities for genuinely interested novices will, however, always exist.

SHOULD CAVING BE USED FOR: YES NO N/A Developing character and initiative 8 32 7 Personal satisfaction 45 0 2 Providing practical educational experience 14 27 6

Caving, like mountaineering, has little similarity to most other sports, in that it is non-competitive, and largely indulged in, for its own sake, by individualists. Any form of compulsion to cave, either by Army- style means or compulsory school curricula, is to be deplored.

JOURNAL - IS THE COVERAGE OF CAVING PROBLEMS, MEETINGS AND DECISIONS SATISFACTORY? YES NO N/A Local matters 35 7 5 National matters 26 17 4

The Journal, it is felt, probably strikes a fair balance between caving politics and the sporting and scientific aspects of speleology. Of the last 400 pages of the Journal, 25 were devoted to political matters.

In conclusion, the questionnaire served to crystallise opinions which can frequently be heard at Upper Pitts or in the Hunters. Basically, we think that caving should be run by cavers, and that external sources of finance should not be accepted if there are strings attached. The situation at Whernside seems to be such that radical changes, if not complete closure, can be expected in the near future. The body of opinion expressed in the questionnaires suggests that this will not be loudly mourned. Above all, it is felt that personal satisfaction is the very heart of caving. The sport must not be allowed to develop in any way which may reduce the opportunities for individualism, personal initiative, and other of its esoteric aspects.

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NOT NOW AND AGAIN, BUT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN

Part VI

by Fred Davies

Our exciting entry to the Gravel Pit on the 16th February 1974 re-awakened interest and Brian and I were back on the site on the 23rd February when we blew the chock stone and the corner just above.

When we returned on the 2nd March we climbed together to the site of the chock stone. It was gone, but there was a lot of loose debris from the charge placed on the corner. Happily we trundled all this away below it, the rumbling noises lasting a long time as debris descended Gravel Pit. We then found it possible to force our way slowly and painfully up a tight vertical tube with little in the way of holds to assist vertical progress.

We finally stopped this upward progress about 20' above the level of the chock stone we had blown, at a point where the development seemed to become more horizontal. One sits in a small domed chamber about 3' in diameter, as slumping wet sludge on the floor funnels down to the climb up, which incidentally makes it most unpleasant. Good solid rock to shoulder level all round, then a roof that looks just like the excavated side of an aggregate heap. Once, when sitting and contemplating at that spot in late March, I gingerly prodded around with a crowbar and it sank easily in at all points of the roof.

When leaving the cave on the 2nd March we had an unpleasant shock while descending the Gravel Pit. It was blocked half way down. About five minutes work enabled us to force a mass of small debris on down the pitch, but we were stopped by a large block securely wedged into place. A further ten minutes work, even lifting with a loop of rope, was to little avail, and we began to wonder whether it would be necessary to blow our way out. Luckily a test showed that it was possible to squeeze past this chock stone which we had inadvertently placed there, and it now forms a useful belay for roping down the lower, wider part of the Pit.

I did not like the prospect of an attempt to continue upwards, and anyway such a move was completely unjustified without permission of the landowner above. It seemed possible to me that we were less than 10' below the surface and quite likely, judging by information on the Stanton plan of the case and Speleo Rhal radio locations that we were under a building.

I took the opportunity one afternoon to explain all these discoveries to Mr. Albert Main and his family. They showed their usual interest in the ground below their fields and willingly allowed us access to the fields behind the barn for a radio location.

Meanwhile we made our first attempt to obtain a photographic record of the series. Martin Bishop, Bob Mehew and I, went right to the top of Gravel Pit. Bob was interested to see how close was his ambition - an Upper Swildons via Priddy Green - quite a trip. Photographically this trip was not a great success. Martin's flash equipment proved unreliable and the gravel of Gravel Pit was very damaging to other equipment. A photographic record of the series is still lacking. Perhaps Paul Hadfield will be able to visit the series soon and see the rest of Gravel Pit.

It was the end of July, Monday the 22nd to be exact, before we were ready for what has always been an unpopular job. Mike Roger and Richard Mitchell helped carry Brian Prewer's transmitter down to IV but they there suffered lamp trouble and Brian and I continued with the gear. Brian's apparatus was trouble- free but we took rather a long time setting it up. It was quite a struggle laying out a good aerial, I could only obtain a 3' diameter, and keeping plugs free of mud was not easy. We in fact switched on fifteen minutes after the agreed zero hour - a delay that caused many heartaches on the surface - but within ten minutes of switch-on Brian had us located. The transmitter was left in the cave to run itself out.

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It in fact stayed underground until the end of August when Chris Wood accompanied me to Gravel Pit and we removed the three ammo boxes that it so nicely packs into. Pete Moody was digging in IV and kindly brought the heavy battery box out for us.

That is the story of our explorations. If the section accompanying Part V is continued up to the 750' 0D line, then you have as good a picture as is possible of the known system. Plan-wise it all fits completely above the other parts shown on the Stanton survey. The plan published here records the surface location made by Brian Prewer whose depth estimate was 25'.

What does all this mean with regard to cave development? Why do the Top Avens and Gravel Pit apparently exist as large developments independent of Priddy Green Sink? With the benefit of hindsight I did a bit of eyeballing at valley lines in the Priddy Green area. My conclusions are shown on the sketch map, the entrance to Priddy Green Sink also being shown. The valley lines north of Fountain Cottage are slightly obscured by road grading but I am certain that Priddy Green Sink is in the wrong place. Swallets do not form on the top of spurs!

Priddy Green Sink is an artificial feature brought to prominence by hundreds of years of overflowing water from Priddy's drinking supplies and, more recently, road run-off. The water sinking in Priddy Green Sink has then been captured by the pre-existing Cowsh Aven Series. Notice that Cowsh Avens itself comes to surface right in the valley bottom and forms a superb example of an extremely steep swallet system. It perhaps played its major role when water was running over glacial debris and so, at most places, was prevented from coming into contact with the limestone.

Sticking my neck out further, I will now predict the existence of many more such vertical systems on the Mendip plateau south of the Priddy/Hunter's road; the problem is, where are they? Centuries of intensive farming and Mendip's thick soil (or gravel as on Priddy Green) has removed any surface indications. It may be that we shall only discover them from below, as in this case, but we may always be certain that they will be where we find them.

Should you wish to look at the Cowsh system, which can provide some exciting vertical caving, do remember on the return journey that many of the tighter parts lead you out over quite extensive drops. Also beware of the midges. Many of the verticals seem to be highly effective breeding grounds for a species of midge. These do not trouble with their bite, but have an unpleasant habit of flying into eyes, ears and mouths - a dangerously distracting event when one is straddling on fine holds over a 50' drop.

We plan in the near future to have a tidy up operation and remove some of our debris, such as the sauce boat still lying at the bottom of Krapitan and some of our fixed ropes. Starting from the bottom the major features are:-

Cowsh Aven

We plan to leave a fixed loop on the top five feet of the climb as the rock here sometimes becomes extremely greasy.

Dawe-Thompson Traverse

We shall remove our fixed line but it is easy to lifeline members of a party on this move.

Little Pot

Again our fixed line will be removed but combined tactics will easily get a party up here.

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Bladder Pot

Again we will remove our fixed rope. This is another climb that sometimes becomes very greasy but there are ample natural belays allowing this to be treated as a rock climb and so protecting the leader. There is a choice of belays at the top, a natural thread or drill anchor and metal loop.

Top of Main's Aven

A point at which the rock is continuously unpleasantly greasy. We have a fixed rope across the top but will remove this as it is easy to lifeline the moving man. A slip means a quick visit to the bottom of Main's Aven - about 50'.

Krapitan

The most difficult technically of all the climbs. The fixed rope will be left in place.

Gravel Pit

An easy climb up but an unpleasant move on descent where the size of the aven suddenly increases. It is probably wise to take a rope and use the chock stone just above this point as a belay for an abseil descent.

A descent by way of Main's Aven and Great Aven turns it into a round trip and will impress by the size of these developments.

As part of the tidying up campaign we have already closed the entrance to Priddy Green Sink. This has probably not been visited by more than four people in ten years, and it would mean a lot of work if a connection with Cowsh Avens were to be made as they are a good 150' apart. The heavy cast iron manhole lid was removed and a precast 4" concrete slab placed over the shaft. This slab was then covered with 12" of soil. A chance was taken at the same time to clean up the drain which engulfs water running down the road from the church area. We can re-open Priddy Green Sink, should it ever be desirable, at the expense of about half an hour's work, and that area of the green is now much tidier.

I hope that you enjoy your visits to these caverns.

SKETCH MAP A MANOR FARM AREA, PRIDDY

Marked on the map are four locations:- + Site of Main's Aven according to Stanton plan of Swildon's Hole. + Site of Main's Aven according to the radio location carried out by Speleo Rhal. This is of course over a depth of 200'.

X Site of highest point of Cowsh Avens as fixed by the radio location of 22nd July - depth approx. 25'.

● Entrance of Priddy Green Sink.

The close correlation between the Stanton plan and our radio location of Cowsh is a great credit to the accuracy of the Stanton plan. The discrepancy between these and the Speleo Rhal measurement is probably explained by the greater depth over which the location was made.

SKETCH MAP B

Sketch to show the valley lines running through Priddy.

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THE DETERIORATION OF MOTHER LUDLAM'S CAVE

by Maurice Hewins

Mother Ludlam's Cave, Farnham, is a horizontal passage in the Folkestone beds of the Lower Greensand. It is situated by the side of the track through Moor Park, 160 yards from its junction with Camp Hill, by Stella's Cottage (NGR 872457 OS Sheet 186.) It actually lies in the grounds of Ludlam's Gate, a house up the hill in Monkswell. Although the cave has been open for many years, it was formerly gated. A photograph of 1880 shows the entrance closed by a grill. A later Victorian ornamental screen was in use after that. It was probably the latter which was noted by Eric Parker in 1908 (Ref. 1.)

This screen was removed and left lying nearby for years before being presented to Farnham Museum. A final makeshift barrier was in place in the 1950's but was progressively smashed. A survey and description of the cave was published in the Wessex Journal (2), and there is an excellent description by John Hooper in British Caver (3). An article in "Secret Tunnels in Surrey" (4) is largely based on the above two articles, with some additions.

The cave has been surveyed to a distance of 200', at which point it narrowed to 6' wide. It was here less than 1' high with a stream emerging. There were signs of a roof collapse, and there is no way of telling how far the cave used to go. Further progress under the soft sandstone roof would have been suicidal. The most impressive feature is the magnificent ironstone arch which was put in to prevent collapse of the roof near the entrance. It is probably Victorian, and certainly later than the vandalism reported in 1825 by William Cobbett (5).

Vandalism at the cave was again noted in 1973, this time in the local press (6). The owner, Mr. Sankey, despairing after failure to prevent damage, had approached the then Farnham Council with a view to handing the cave over to them, or any responsible local body, to repair and maintain it. Several councillors made noises suggesting their willingness to help, but since then no action has been taken.

The damage that was done is most serious. The foolhardy youths had removed tons of sand from above the supporting arch, and tunnelled a hole right out onto the bank above the cave. The roof beyond and above the arch had consisted of an iron-rich bed of orange sand of moderate strength. The digging has removed this and raised the height of the roof, such that the new ceiling is a bed of a light yellow sand whose nature would render it suitable for filling egg-timers. Surprisingly, for the last two years the condition has remained static, but this cannot last. The sand fallen from the roof is forming a dam, and the water in the passage behind the entrance chamber is deeper than it was. Without a fairly expensive repair and hold operation, the cave must ultimately collapse.

To appreciate why Mother Ludlam's Cave is in many ways unique and worth preserving it is necessary to know its history, which is bound up with that of Waverley Abbey. In 1128 a party of Cistercian monks founded their monastery on the flood plain of the Wey. The Cistercians were masters of medieval plumbing, and their water supply was usually carried from its source by lead pipes to a cistern in the infirmary, before being distributed to various parts of the abbey. Remains of such a cistern and pipe work was found at Waverley during excavations in 1899-1902 (7). In 1179 the monks proudly proclaimed "Now our lavatory and aqueduct are finished" (8). The water came from a spring called Ludwell (the loud well or waterfall?) We do not know where Ludwell was. It might be possible to trace the pipe back to its source but as numerous floods have covered the site in 5'-6' of silt it would be difficult.

In 1216 the monks reported the drying up of Ludwell (8):

"In this year to the great amazement of many, the spring supplying our wash-house (i.e. Ludewelle) almost completely emptied and dried up; in the course of many years its fullness had provided in abundance a plentiful supply of water, running continuously to various work places in the abbey. Thus when the spring failed and ceased to run in its former manner through the workshops, it is no

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wonder that grave anxiety arose throughout the abbey from the failure of the above mentioned spring. Therefore a monk of ours, Brother Symon, annoyed on consideration of the serious effects of this misfortune, began to apply his mind intelligently and consider how to remedy the aforementioned disaster swiftly and fittingly. Accordingly, when he had at last come upon and thought out a sound plan, he tackled this sufficiently arduous task, that is, to search out and track down new veins of fresh water; and when he had with great difficulty discovered these and with the expenditure of much toil and sweat united them by his hard work, he forced all these streams to descend together through an underground duct to a single spot, and in that same spot to contrive - by skill rather than by nature - a fresh and ever-running spring; the continuous flow of this, as is plain to all who see it, does not cease to provide by its considerable size, the aforementioned workshops of the abbey with a useful supply of water. The name of the spring is St. Mary's Spring. The stream of a new spring planted at the foot of the hill by Symon's aid now flows continuously, and a pipe provides its course."

Here then is the passage usually given to explain the existence of Mother Ludlam's Cave. It leaves unanswered the question as to the whereabouts of Ludwell. Was it near enough to Symon's digging so that he could connect his new spring to the old aqueduct? If so could the now dry Father Foote's Cave be Ludwell? This 30' long cave is higher up the bank in the garden of Ludlam's Gate. Its size and cross section are similar to that of most of the length of Mother Ludlam's. If the question is worth an answer it might be obtained by a dig in and around the cave entrance.

Unfortunately the future for Mother Ludlam's Cave is not good. Although Surrey County Council lists it as Antiquity No. 1712, neither Surrey, nor the new district council, ironically called Waverly, seems interested. My own view is that responsibility must go to the Department of the Environment who have restored parts of the abbey. Britain has many ruined abbeys, but Antiquity No. 1712 is probably unique. If it cannot be preserved it should at least be properly excavated.

I would like to thank Mr. Sankey for his kind co-operation, and Mr. Nicholson of Farnham College for the Latin translation.

References:

1) Eric Parker. Highways and Byways of Surrey. 1908. 2) WCC Journal No. 82 Vol. 6 Dec. 1961 page 323. 3) The British Caver No. 14 Spring 1946 page 68. 4) Secret Tunnels in Surrey. Chelsea Speleological Soc. Records Vol 3 July 1963. 5) William Cobbett, Rural Rides. 6) The Farnham Herald April 4th and April 20th 1973. 7) Harold Brakspear. Waverley Abbey. Published by Surrey Archaeological Soc. 1903. 8) Annales Monasterii de Waverleia.

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Entrance to Mother Ludlam’s Cave in about 1960 Photo - J.A. Thomas

Mother Ludwell’s Cave in 1975. New hole in roof is to the left on tree.

Photo - M. Hewins

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YOU ONLY EXPLORE TWICE

by Steve Spratt

On the 22nd March 1975 a party of Reading University Caving Club members led by the writer, decided to attempt to reach an abandoned inlet high above Atlas Pot in . Having been one of the co-discoverers of the Thrupe system, I was well acquainted with the cave, or so I thought.

This unsurmountable inlet could only be approached it seemed by a suicidal rock climber armed with slings and pegs, or using a maypole. You may think that the latter would be a foolish method of entering an inlet considering that you are exposed to a 90' drop down Atlas - and you would be quite right in your assumption!

The particular inlet in question is directly above the streamway entering Atlas and centred opposite the Eagle's Nest on the far side of the aven. The plan of attack using the maypole was to rig it out over the aven from the Eagle's Nest to a prominent ledge on the other side, and then to allow my suicidal climber to peg his route from there.

Accordingly on the aforementioned day, a party of eight enthusiastic S.G.B. Erectors each armed with a 5' length of steel scaffold pole, together with a climber, penetrated the depths of Eastern Mendip - a bizarre sight indeed. Pipes and cavers were successfully extruded through the tight thrutches, and there was quite a musical effect as the pipes were lowered down Perseverance Pot - a touch of the Tubular Bells.

Finally Atlas Aven was reached and a member of the party was sent up into the Eagle's Nest with one end of a 120' rope. Using the Breeches Buoy principle, the lengths of scaffold were transferred from the main inlet to the Eagle's Nest. While this was in progress, my climber joined me at the Eagle's Nest. He observed that he felt it would be advisable to try a more direct route from the Atlas streamway. So at this stage we decided to go our separate ways.

Work continued. My plan of attack was just becoming a reality, with the maypole and ladder rigged ready to take my weight. I was on the point of ascending when there came a light and a deep cry from a great height. Was it the Cave Gods pronouncing some parable? No, it was my intrepid climber who had reached his goal, and thereby rendered all my scaffold apparatus redundant.

Sadly the maypole was systematically de-rigged across the all too familiar Atlas Aven, and the sherpas set out back to the surface. On reflection, a builders merchant could probably have improved on our structure with a few bean sticks! Meanwhile back in the cave, my climber (this is an appropriate time to introduce him as Andy Bennett) and myself ascended into the new inlet. The climb was over shattered razor rock onto a ledge of perched Grand Pianos. From here we traversed onto a buttress leaning out over Atlas Aven, and stretched across a black void into the inlet proper, a boulder strewn rift. A cursory look around showed us that much more passage lay beyond. The trip was terminated here and the inlet left for further exploration the following weekend.

On the 29th March, with the support of Messrs. Witcombe, North, Rogers, and a local lad from the Thrupe area, we returned to the unexplored passage.

During the intervening week between the discovery trip and the exploration trip, I found myself being continually interviewed and questioned by the Thrupe team on the whereabouts of this magnificent new find. When the day eventually arrived for me to prove my discovery, I was becoming aware of a remarkable similarity between my passage and a certain Bypass Passage discovered many months earlier.

Sure enough, a quick glance was enough to tell the Thrupe team that a trip to the unknown was really just a trip to the known by a different route. To lessen the obvious embarrassment I consoled myself with the thought that we had at least pioneered the first Atlas Streamway/Bypass Passage round trip.

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Having concluded this excursion rather quickly it was decided to resume the hunt for further Atlas inlets. Clive North was lifelined out onto the Bypass Passage buttress, and by means of makeshift running belays, he traversed leftwards around the aven wall - about 120' above the floor - and upwards about ten feet into yet another inlet. He soon found a light connection with Bypass Passage, and after some cataclysmic gardening a way was open for Rich Witcombe and myself to join him without exposing ourselves to the void of Atlas.

The new inlet was roomy but very steeply inclined and full of loose and fractured rock. We followed it up for 50' - 60' into a zone of mud-choked phreatic tubes and dangerous boulder chokes. On our exit I discovered a tight meandering rift passage terminating at a mud wall. Looking over the top revealed a 10' pot. I could not contort myself over this obstacle so I invited "Yoga" Witcombe to explore further. After he had traversed the wall and pot he discovered a well scalloped phreatic tube partially filled with mud and becoming too tight after about 20'. The passage carried a slight draught and could possibly connect with the aven above Slither Pot.

Thus at least some new passage came out of the day's excursion, and I felt relieved that my caving reputation had not been more injured. On account of this I called the new series Vengeance Passage.

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233

BRITISH STANDARD SYNTHETIC FIBRE ROPES

by W.J.R. Willcocks

It will probably come as a surprise to many people that there is a whole range of British Standards covering the properties and the way in which many commonplace things are made; from access hooks for chimneys via pesticides, common names for, septic tanks, through to zip fasteners, or, if you prefer, soap BS 1931 to nuts BS 64. These standards are prepared by the B.S.I. in close co-operation with the major users and manufacturers of the product, often with the help of the Board of Trade or other interested Government bodies.

A few of the more relevant standards concerning ropes are listed below:-

BS 4128 The selection, use and care of man-made fibre ropes in marine applications.

BS 3776 Rescue lines for industrial workers. BS 3369 Rescue lines for fire brigades. BS 3104 Polyamide (nylon) mountaineering ropes. BS 3977 Polyamide (nylon) filament ropes (hawser laid.) BS 3758 Polyester filament ropes (hawser laid.) BS 4136 Plaited cords made from man-made fibres. BS 4929 Polypropylene ropes. BS 4928 Part 2 Man-made fibre ropes. Polyamide (nylon), polyester, and polyethylene filament ropes. BS 5053 Methods of test for cordage and allied articles.

A full range of BS Specifications are held by many public libraries for reference purposes. Both Bath and Bristol are among the libraries doing this, and I would refer those of you who have a deep interest in the properties of ropes made to British Standards to these sources for details.

In general hawser laid ropes are manufactured from multifilament yarns, and are of three strand Z or right hand lay. Nylon and terylene ropes are heat set at a minimum temperature of 110°C to set the lay and ensure dimensional stability. Polypropylene ropes may also be made from staple, film or monofilaments.

Plaited cords of which only 8 plait and certain small diameter 16 plaits are mentioned in the standards are nominally identified by a coloured marker yarn:- dark green for nylon, orange for polythene, BS 4136 red for polyester or BS 4928 Part 2 dark blue for polyester, and here is danger and confusion, BS 4136 blue for polypropylene, and BS 4928 ferric oxide (orange or orange brown) colour for polypropylene. Furthermore, orange self-colour i.e. totally coloured, ropes are polythene. Thus a rope with one orange/brown strand may be polythene or polypropylene. The dark blue for polyester is almost black, but the polypropylene blue is a light blue not readily confused. Care is needed, however, as any rope may be totally coloured in its identifying colour.

The finished ropes are tested for weight, length, circumference, length of lay and breaking strain. Standard methods of test are used in each case and are those laid down in BS 5053. It is of fundamental importance to realise that the figures quoted in a BS, and often in manufacturers' literature, for the various parameters of a rope are those obtained using those standard methods of test. Departure from the laid down test method will often give very different figures. If you test ropes and get figures very different from those quoted by the suppliers, look to your test methods first before accusing the suppliers of giving false figures.

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It is of considerable interest that no test methods for abrasion or comparative abrasion are laid down. The standards quote the various ropes as having good or excellent abrasion resistance. A small amount of background research quickly establishes the reason for this apparent oversight. In the BS or A.S.T.M. specifications and also in cloth and carpet testing literature where abrasion testing of materials is called up, emphasis is placed on the detail that meaningful results are only obtainable between closely similar materials i.e. near grades of the same material, and that furthermore, results obtained on different test machines may, and often do, reverse the apparent order of abrasion resistance. Attempts to compare widely differing fibres where crystalline melting point, yarn make-up, and chemical composition are grossly different e.g. polyester 16 plait with monofilament polypropylene hawser laid, can give most misleading results reflecting the conditions of test rather than absolute differences in abrasion resistance.

It is well worth considering at this point the uses for which ropes are employed in caving. They come down to basically four:-

1. Top roping or lifelining as in ladder work. 2. Lifelining as in rock climbing. 3. Abseiling. 4. Prussiking.

It is generally agreed that for (1) a rope of reasonable extension under load, say 15 – 20% elongation at 500 lbs or about 20% of ultimate breaking load, for the usually used ropes is suitable. For (2) BS 3104 calls for 22% elongation under similar conditions. For (3) there is some conflict of requirement; if you are going to use the bounce of the rope then a reasonable amount of elongation is desirable, but it is not so good if you wish to use the rope to go back up on to find that when you let go, the rope has sprung well up out of your reach. For (4) you would normally choose non-spin ropes of minimal elongation as above, both to minimise the amount of climb before you leave the bottom of a pitch and to reduce the bounce and rubbing in climbing.

Study of the various tables brings out these relevant points:-

3 Strand Hawser Laid Ropes

BS 4128 Polyamide Polyester Polypropylene (Nylon) Monofil. Multifil. Staple Film Extension at 20% of 28% 14% 17 - 19% 12% ultimate breaking strain S.G. 1.14 1.38 0.91 0.91

Melting Point °C 250 260 165 165

Minimum Breaking Load (kg f)

Nominal Polyamide Polyamide Polyester Polypropylene BS Polyethylene Diameter (Nylon) BS (Nylon) BS BS 4928 4928 BS 4928 4928 3104 10 mm 2080 1590 1590 1425 1090 11 mm 2040 12 mm 3000 2270 2030 1540

BS 4128 Energy Absorption of Equal Sized Ropes

Polyester ⅔ of polyamide (nylon)

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Polypropylene ½ of polyamide (nylon)

Plaited ropes of which only 8 plait nylon and polypropylene are defined in BS 4928 are sized by rope numbers, the number being that of the circumference in inches of a rope of the same material and having the same weight and breaking strain. The obsolescent BS 4136 mentions 8 plait coreless ropes of up to 10 mm diameter but gives no indication of how these are to be measured. In brief, at present there are no British Standards covering 16 plait ropes and in particular polyester ropes. It also appears that the nominal diameter of plaited ropes is arrived at by weighing rather than physical measurement and may therefore vary quite a bit depending on the make-up of the rope. (Hawser laid ropes have to be within 5% of nominal diameter.)

The care and inspection of ropes in use is dealt with in considerable detail in British Standards; BS 4928 in particular giving much detail for the whole range of ropes. Regular close inspection is recommended, one foot at a time for surface wear, open lay every foot to judge internal wear. It is worth quoting from the Forward of BS 3104:- "The loads which may be imposed on mountaineering ropes in emergency depend on their use, but may be great in relation to their size. Furthermore, experience has shown that there are hazards of severe mechanical damage, and some risk of failure must be recognised. This risk is reduced as the size of the rope is increased and it is recommended that the heaviest rope consistent with ease of handling be used, always."

Synthetic ropes in general are very resistant to permanent set by overloading. It is, however, recommended that regularly spaced indelible markers be placed on a rope to enable any local permanent elongation which may cause breakdown on subsequent loading to be identified. Polypropylene ropes are unaffected by acids and alkalis. Acids attack polyamide (nylon) and alkalis attack polyester. In general, strong sunlight may cause some weakening of the surface fibres of synthetic ropes but is unlikely to penetrate below the surface. The effect is not unlike the effect on natural fibre ropes. Attention is drawn to the lower melting point of polypropylene rope (160°C) which may be reached quickly by allowing the rope to surge around a fixed point. All synthetic ropes can be damaged in this manner.

In conclusion, ropes bought to British Standards will have the properties laid down in the standard. Ropes should be chosen for a specific end use, and in general should be used only for that purpose. If a rope has to be used for an application for which it is not suitable, those people using it must be made aware of the hazards involved e.g. prussiking on hawser laid nylon - high stretch and spin, lifelining with plaited polyester - very low stretch, and so on.

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WESSEX CAVE CLUB - ADDRESS LIST AS AT AUGUST 1975

D.N. Airey Esq., 8 Attwood Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire J.C.H. Alder Esq., 43 Rowlands Crescent, Solihull, West Midlands G.O.S. Ansell Esq., 16 Barry Road, Kellyville, NSW 2153, Australia T.C. Atkinson Esq., 82 Onley Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NOR 95E H.C. Attwood Esq., 155 Goddard Avenue, Swindon, Wilts. Mr. & Mrs. A.R. Audsley Lawn Cottage, Church Lane, Three Mile Cross, Reading, Berks

F.G. Balcombe Esq., 143 Newgate Street Road, Goffs Oak, Waltham Cross, Herts. K.G. Barber Esq., Solva, 21 Southfield Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. R.J. Barnacott Esq., Orange Court Farm House, Littleton, Nr. Guildford, Surrey R.M. Barratt Esq., 39B Oakes Grove, Maidenhead, Berks. SL6 6MN N.E. Barrington Esq., ‘The Oak House’, The Square, , Somerset R.A. Barton Esq., 51 Crantock Rd., Catford, London SE 6 K.W. Bate Esq., 98 Hill Morton Road, For Oak’s, Sutton Coldfield, Warwicks C.A. Beauchamp Esq., 65 Coombe Lane, Raynes Park, London SW20 E. Benedetti Esq., Rue Delvigne 38, 5441 - On - Jemelle, Belgium J.A. Benham Esq., 90 Elsden Road, Wellingborough, Northants S. N. Benson Esq., 66 Lemsford Road, St. Albans, Herts D.A. Berrill Esq., 4 Beckford Gardens, Whitchurch, Bristol R. Bignell Esq., Dept. Geography, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. P.R. Blundell Esq., 66 Bronley Heath Road, Downend, Bristol G. Bolt Esq., 18 Winscombe Court, Berkeley Down, Frome, Somerset R. Borrett Esq., 15 Chandlers Close, Bampton, Oxford A. Bradley Esq., 69 Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, London SE3 C.G. Bradshaw Esq., 99 Colles Road, Wells, Somerset Mr. & Mrs. T.C. Bryant Glyncoed, Victoria Road, Maesycwmmer. Mid-Glamorgan, CF8 7RF I. Buchanan Esq., 61 Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, Bucks Miss G.A. Buckham 6 St. Stephens Street, Barbourne, Worcester A.S. Burleton Esq., 27 Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol J.M. Burnett Esq., The Bungalow, 1 New Ridley, Stockfield, Northumberland P.E. Burt Esq., 66 Roundwood Lane, Harpenden, Herts H. Busby Esq., 61 Quarry Road, Witney, Oxon. A.P. Butcher Esq., 37 Avonleigh Road, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 3EF

P.P. Candlin Esq., 14 Brookfield Way, Oulton, Solihull, Warwicks. Norbert Casteret Castel Mourlon, St. Caudens, Garonne, France Mr. & Mrs. D.J. Causer 19400 Sorenson Avenue, Apt. 122, Cupertino, California, USA R.A. Chappell Esq., 69 Teddington Park, Teddingtron, Middlesex T.H. Chard Esq., c/o The Earth Science Dept., The Open University, Walton Hall, Walton, Bletchley, Bucks. J.R. Church Esq., 6 Marshfield Way, Fairfield Park, Bath, BA1 6HG A. Clarke Esq., 8 Cogsall Road, Stockwood, Bristol N.R. Clatworthy Esq., 2 Queens Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset F/O & Mrs. N.H. Cleave Stream Cottage, The Street, Crudwell, Malmesbuiy, Wilts J.S. Cobbett Esq., c/o Shell UK Exploration, Altens High Road, Nigg, Aberdeen J.C. Cocker Esq., 59 Kennington Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol 7 Dr. N. Cooper ‘Westover’, , Nr. Axbridge, Somerset Mr. & Mrs. J. Cornwall 26 Russell Road, Fishponds, Bristol Mr. & Mrs. P.R. Cousins 8 Giffords Cross, Lichfield Staffs. S.G. Crabtree Esq., Cleeve Cottage, Craddock, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 3IL Rev. C.H.D. Cullingford The Staithe, Beccles, Suffolk

Mr. & Mrs. C. Dainty 24 Marshall House, Pleck, Walsall, Staffs. R. Darke Esq., 1060 Spruce Avenue, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada J.M. Darville Esq., 24 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham B.C. Davies Esq., 26 Manor Way, Chesham, Bucks.

C.W. Davies Esq., Hillcroft, Woodborough Road, Winscombe, Somerset F.J. Davies Esq., Camp V, Withey Lane, Neighbourne, Oakhill, Somerset, BA3 5BQ Mr. & Mrs. P. Davies ‘Copthalls’, West Hill, Wraxall, Bristol, BS19 1PN Dr. R.E. Davies 7053 McCallum Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19119, USA K.R. Dawe Esq., Birch Lodge, Much Birch, Hereford Mr. & Mrs. L.W.E. Devenish ‘Washingpool’ Chilcote, East Horrington, Wells, Somerset A.E. Dingle Esq., 32 Lillian Road, Barnes, London, SW 13 J. Dolman Esq., 28 Quarry Hill, Haywards Heath, Sussex R. Drake Esq., 5 Hillside Close, Paulton, Somerset, BS18 5PN Dr. D.P. Drew 87 Rail Park, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland D.A. Dubois Esq., ‘Holly Cottage’, Edwin Road, West Horsley, Surrey J.W. Duck Esq., Stowberry Crescent, Wells, Somerset S.J.C. Durham Esq., 9 Tunbridge Close, Chew Magna, Bristol

A.P.N. Edmonds Esq., Hillview, Greenhill Lane, Sandford, Bristol, BS19 5PE W. Edwards Esq., 91 Rookery Road, Knowle, Bristol 4. R.V. Elliott Esq., Firtree House, Westbury-sub-Mendip, Wells, Som. M.H. Evans Esq., 17 Litchard Terrace, Bridgend, Glam.

D.N. Farr Esq., 48 Perndale, Waterlooville, Hampshire J.P. Faulkner Esq., 83 Parkfield Road, Pucklechurch, Bristol J.R. Felstead Esq., 46 Chippendale Close, High Wycombe, Bucks. Mr. & Mrs. A. Fincham Dept. of Biochemistry, University of West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica. Mr. & Mrs. R.E. Foord 7 Cranford Drive, Hayes, Middx. Dr. & Mrs. D.C. Ford Dept. Geography, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada C.R. Foster Esq., Hillcrest, Tadhill, Leigh-on-Mendip, Bath, BA3 5QT T.G. Fouracres Esq., 16 Highbridge Walk, Uplands, Bristol BS13 8BA J.W. Fox Esq., ‘Brookside’ Martins Moss, Smallwood, Nr. Sandbach, Cheshire N. Francis Esq., 7 Southbourne Road, Wallasey, Cheshire Miss C.L. French 6 Orchard Road, St. George, Bristol BS5 7HS Mr. & Mrs. F.W. Frost 71 Hazelbury Road, Knowle, Bristol, 4

M.J. Gallagher Esq., 86 Rook Lane, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS12 6PG A. Gay Esq., 10 Cosbycote Ave, Herne Hill, London SE 24 B.A. Gay Esq., 10 Cosbycote Ave, Herne Hill, London SE 24 Mrs J. & Mr. T. Gilbert 19 Cotswold Drive, Sprotborough, Doncaster, Yorks. D.J. Gill Esq., 85 Silverhill Road, Henbury, Bristol, BS10 7NS C.J. Gledhill Esq., Queensmere House, Queensmere Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5NN Brig. E.A. Glennie Seaton House, Shrublands Road, Berkhamstead, Herts. Miss A.M. Golledge 12 Coulston Road, Corsham, Wilts. D.I. Gordon Esq., Top Floor Flat, 16 Grosvenor Place, Bath, Avon J.G. Gosling Esq., 72 Marston Gardens, Luton, Bedfordshire P. Goss Esq., 10 Seaward Avenue, Bournemouth, Hants. Mr. & Mrs. K.A. Goverd 6 Bloomfield Avenue, Timsbury, Bath, Avon C.C. Graber Esq., 301 East Fourth Street, Ontario, California 91764, USA A.M. Gulley Esq., 23 Pennycrofts Court, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3IF

P.L. Hadfield Esq., Second Bn. Royal Anglian Regiment, L.A.D., R.E.M.E., B.F.P.O. 17 W.J. Ham Esq., 'The Laurels', East Brent, Highbridge, Somerset N.J. Hamilton Esq., Moonrakers, , Somerset Mr. & Mrs. B. Hansford 19 Moss Road, Winnall, Winchester, Hants. Mr. & Mrs. J.D. Hanwell ‘Chaumbey’, 50 Wells Road, , Wells, Somerset M.E. Hardcastle Esq., 42 Canynge Road, Clifton, Bristol 8 R.C. Harper Esq., Top Flat, 3 Blackwood Crescent, Newington, Edinburgh C.W. Harris Esq., Monterye Lodge, Wells, Somerset Miss Z.K. Hartwell 63 St. Ann Street, Salisbury, Wilts. W.J. Hebditch Esq., New Cross Fruit Farm, South Petherton, Somerset P.G. Hendy Esq., 5 Tring Avenue, Ealing Common, London W.5. E. Hensler Esq., 'Gilead Balm', 12 Knighton Close, Woodford Green, Essex

Mr. & Mrs. M. Hewins 31 Badshot Park, Badshot Lea, Famham, Surrey J.I. Hildick Esq., ‘Tarragulla’. Old Bristol Road, Priddy, Wells, Somerset W.R. Hindle Esq., 371 Heath Road South, Northfield, Birmingham 31. C.R. Hobbis Esq., 10 Ilford Court, Wiltshire Close, Galmington, Taunton, Somerset. L. Holland Esq., I.E.A. Cidade Universitaria, CX Postal 11049, Sao Paulo, Brazil Mr. & Mrs. M.J. Holland 12 Broomlea, Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland Miss A.A.D. Hooper 34 Richmond Road, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 2AB J.H.D. Hooper Esq., 34 Richmond Road, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 2AB S/Lt. S.T. Howes Wye Knot, Chapel Lane, Tintern, Gwent F.C. Hucker Esq., Penniless Porch, Wells, Somerset J.A. Hunt Esq., 35 Conygre Road, Filton, Bristol A. Harworth Esq., 70 Melton Green, West Melton, Wath on Dearne, Rotherham, Yorks.

Mr. & Mrs. C.J. Iles 40 Monmouth Road, , , Somerset D. Ingle-Smith Esq., Geography Department, The University, Bristol

K.D. James Esq., 5 Baytree Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset R.A. Jarratt Esq., Alwyn Cottage, Station Road, Congresbury, Bristol, BS19 5DY I. Jepson Esq., 7 Shelley Road, Beechen Cliff, Bath, BA2 4RJ B.W. Jones Esq., 8 Medway Court, Whalebone Lane, Becontree Heath, Dagenham, Essex Miss H.E. Jones 24 Mays Way, Potterspury, Towcester, Northants, NN12 7PP Mr. & Mrs. J.H. Jones 18 John Street, Pricetown, Nantymoel, Glam., OF32 7SC

Mr. & Mrs. C.H. Kenney Springfield, Tor Hole, , Bath, BA3 4LS R.R. Kenney Esq., ‘Yennek’, St. Mary's Road, Meare, Glastonbury, Somerset A.R. King Esq., 29 Pembroke Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3BE Prof. D.J. Kinsman Dept. of Geological Sciences, Princetown University, Princetown, New Jersey 08540, USA John Kitchner Esq., Cotland House, Fulbrook, Burford, Oxon.

P.J. Lacey Esq., 11 Newland Road, Weston-super-Mare, Avon Rev. P.F.C. Lamb The Rectory, Mells, Frome Somerset Mr. & Mrs. M.J. Lane 36 Londesborough Road, Market Weighton, Yorks. R.D. Law Esq., Cheddar Road Farm, Axbridge, Somerset Comm. P.B. Lauder Brook House, Wrington, Avon, BS18 7QL. Mr. & Mrs. R.E. Lawder 2 Rosedale Corner, Lower Camden, Chiselhurst, Kent A.J. Lawrence Esq., 4 Guildersfield, Hill Farm Road, Taplow, Berks. R.G. Lewis Esq., 17 Oak Road, Horfield, Bristol 7 Dr. O.C. Lloyd Withey House, Withey Close West, Bristol 9 T.J. Lyons Esq., 106 Newbridge Hill, Bath, Somerset

J.E. Mabbett Esq., 36 Solent Road, Hill Head, Fareham Hants. R.A. MacGregor Esq., 28 Stephens Road, Mortimer, Reading, Berks. R.C. Marking Esq., 57 Ash Hayes Drive, Nailsea, Bristol. BS19 2LH S.G. Meade-King Esq., 5 Worcester Crescent, Clifton, Bristol 8 R.D.S. Mean Esq., ‘Brookfield’, North End, Batheaston, Bath, Somerset I. Metcalfe Esq., 94 Lingdale Road, Woodside, Bradford, BD6 2NX J. Miell Esq., 167 Goldcroft, Yeovil, Somerset R.A. Mills Esq., 5 Warren Close, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, SO5 2JC B.L. Milton Esq., 2 Bath Road, Bitton, Bristol, BS15 6HX P.D. Moody Esq., 20 Falcon Close, Westbury-on-Trim, Bristol G. Moore Esq., Garden Flat, 35 Downleaze, Bristol 9 F. Morland Esq., 7 Southgate Mews, 321 Wellington Road North, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Cheshire Mr. & Mrs. W.A Morris. 1 Gillian Avenue, St. Albans, Herts. C.H. Moss Esq., 5 The Terrace, H.M. Dockyard, Chatham, Kent M.J. Moxley Esq., 10 Cadogan Gardens, London SW3 Mr. & Mrs.C.J. Mulvey ‘Copperfields’, Buttsfield Lane, East Hoathley, Sussex C.C. Murray Esq., Ril House, Litton, Bath

Mr. & Mrs. H. Murrell ‘Gelli Ber’, Castleton, Cardiff

K. Neill Esq., 7 Bedwyn Close, Swindon, Wilts K.J. Newbury Esq., 14 Longclose Avenue, Rudloe, Corsham, Wilts. A.D. Newport Esq., 60 Micklefield Road, High Wycombe, Bucks. M.D. Newson Esq., Forest Lodge, Llynwyngog, Staylittle, Llanbrynmair, Powys

M.R. O’Connor Esq., 38 Weyview Crescent, Broadway, Weymouth, Dorset

P.A.K. Palfrey Esq., 10 Maynard Terrace, Clutton, Nr. Bristol J.G. Parkes Esq., Woodcote, Wood Lane, Parkgate, Wirrall, Cheshire J. Parkhouse Esq., 4 The Serpentine, Lytham, Lytham-St.-Anne, Lancashire FY8 5NW S. Patterson Esq., 43 Fairmead Road, Yeovil, Somerset P.G. Patterson Esq., 43 Fairmead Road, Yeovil, Somerset Dr. R.A.J. Pearce No. 3 Rodwell Hall, St. Thomas Road, Trowbridge, Wilts. Miss T. Pearce No. 3 Rodwell Hall, St. Thomas Road, Trowbridge, Wilts. Mr. & Mrs. H.A. Pearson 129 East Dundry Road, Bridge Farm Estate, Whitchurch, Bristol 4 J. Penge Esq., 4 Chelmer Grove, Keynsham, Bristol G. Peters Esq., 38 Hillcrest Road, Weymouth, Dorset J. Phillips Esq., Vaymor, 44 Rockfield Road, Kells, Co. Meath, Eire J. Phillpott Esq., 31 Ashmole Road, Abingdon, Berks. R.A. Philpott Esq., 3 Kings Drive, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8JW G. Pickford Esq., Bottany Farm, Warminster, Wiltshire T.C. Pickles Esq., Senior Common Room, Churchhill Hall, Stoke Park Road, Bristol, BS9 1JG Dr. R.G. Picknett ‘Suilven’, 28 Potters Way, Laverstock, Salisbury, Wilts. C. Pickstone Esq., 92 Carisbrooke Way, Cyncoed, Cardiff Mr. & Mrs. B. Pitman 15 Fairfiled Close, Cwmbach, Abedare, Mid-Glamorgan, CF44 4PF L.M. Plant Esq., 25 Windermere Road, Reading, Berks., RG2 7HT B.E. Prewer Esq., East View, West Horrington, Wells, Somerset J.R. Price Esq., 18 Hurston Road, Inns Court, Bristol, BS4 1SU T.A. Pullin Esq., ‘Campari’, Court Road, Oldland Common, Bristol Dr. R. Pyke 17 Church Street, Cogenhoe, Northampton

B. Quilliam Esq., 23 Mary Green, Abbey Road, London NW8

G.F. Reynolds Esq., 9 Leys Road, Wellingborough, Northants. Mrs. R. Reynolds Ashlea, 40 Wells Road, Wookey Hole, Wells, Somerset, BA5 1DN T.E. Reynolds Esq., Ashlea, 40 Wells Road, Wookey Hole, Wells, Somerset, BA5 1DN C. Richards Esq., 11 Highland Close, Worlebury Hill, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset M.J. Rigg Esq., 19 St. Margaret’s Road, Tintinhull, Yeovil, Somerset G.A. Roberts Esq., c/o Computer Department, SW Gas Board, Sydney Wharf, Bath J.S. Robinson Esq., 176 Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol R. Robinson Esq., West Lodge, Seaton Avenue, Hythe Kent Dr. A. Rogers Dept. of Physiology, The University, Bristol, 8 A.T. Rogers Esq., 11 Meadows Walk, Croespenmaen, Crumlin, Gwent

R.J. Sabide Esq., 1 Yeaomans Close, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1DH B. Salmon Esq., The Vicarage, Winscombe, Somerset K.A. Sanderson Esq., 8 Hyd Hill, Shelf, Nr. Halifax, Yorks. D. Savage Esq., 16 Highfield Road, Barnford, Rochdale, Lancs. R.A.E. Scammell Esq., 4 Prospect Place, Bathford, Bath, Somerset Mr. & Mrs. A.E. Sealy Hillgrove Farm, Green Ore, Wells, Somerset R.A. Search Esq., The Caravan, Fairhaven, Jubilee Lane, Milton-under-Wychwood, Oxon. Commdr. T.R. Shaw Gateways, 11 Bewley Lane, Laycock, Wilts. Flt. Lt. M.G. Simmons 41 Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, Salop. P.L. Smart Esq., Department of Geography, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS P.H. Smith Esq., 70 Birchall Road, Bristol BS6 7TU T.H. Stanbury Esq., 31 Belvoir Road, St. Andrews, Bristol 6 Dr. & Mrs. W.I. Stanton Kites Croft, Westbuzy-sub-Mendip, Wells, Somerset

Mr. & Mrs. R.J. Staynings 64 Longmeadow Drive, Dinas Powis, Glamorgan CF6 4TB Mr. & Mrs. D. Stead 21 Francis Road, Horndean, Portsmouth, Hants. Dr. G. Stevens 4 Kingston Avenue, Acklam, Middlesbrough, Cleveland R.A. Stevenson Esq., Greystones, Wells Road, Priddy, Wells, Somerset. A.J. Surrall Esq., 15 Knottesford Close, Studley, Warwicks. R.D. Sutherland Esq., 52J Tocil Flats, University of Warwick, Coventry CU4 7AL

D.B. Tanner Esq., 1073 Newport Ave., Oak Bay, Victoria, B.C. Canada, VS8 5E2 N.P. Taylor Esq., Whidden Farm, Chilcote, East Horrington, Wells, Somerset Miss A.S.E. Thomas Morawelon, St. Hilary, Nr. Cowbridge, South Glamorgan Mr. & Mrs. G. Thomas 3 Old Tarnwell, Uper Stanton Drew, Bristol, BS18 4EA J.A. Thomas Esq., 13 Hale Reeds, Heath End, Famham, Surrey Dr. D.M.M. Thomson ‘Pinkacre’, Leigh-on-Mendip, Nr. Bath, Somerset M.M. Thompson Esq., East View, Priddy, Wells, Somerset P.J. Tooth Esq., 75 Talbot Road, Knowle, Bristol BS45 2NP Dr. E.K. Tratman Penrose Cottage, Burrington, Nr. Bristol A.J. Trickey Esq., Stoneleaze, Brockley Way, Brockley, Backwell, Bristol D.A. Tringham Esq., 9 Highbury Terraces, Camden, Bath, Somerset O.G. Tucknott Esq., Middle Way, East Horrington, Wells, Somerset Mr. & Mrs. G. Tudgay 10 Bifield Road, Stockwood, Bristol, BS14 8TH

L.A. Vanderplank Esq., 51 Cambridge Road, Clevedon, Somerset Mr. & Mrs. R.J. Vanderplank Windwhistle, Lampley Road, Kingston Seymour, Clevedon, Avon G. Villis Esq., The Oaks, Round Oak Road, Cheddar, Somerset

A. Watson Esq., 33 St. James Street. Mangotsfield, Bristol, BS17 3HD Dr. F.S. Wallis The Museum, Wells, Somerset D. Warburton Esq., Little Truck Mill, Oreton, Cleobury, Mortimer, Salop Dr. G.T. Warwick 47 Weoley Park Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham 29 R.A. Websell Esq., 36 Winchester Street, Salisbury, Wilts. Sir J. Wedgwood Whitehouse, Clare, Suffolk Mr. & Mrs. R.M. West 10 Silver Street, Wells, Somerset P.L. Weston Esq., 47 Gloucester Road, Trowbridge, Wilts. J.R. Wigmore Esq., Post Office Stores, Bran End, Dunmore, Essex Mr. & Mrs. W.J.R. Willcocks 3 Westview Drive, Twyford, Reading, Berks. Mrs. B.M. Willis Flat 2, 40 Altenburg Gardens, London SW 11 D.A. Willis Esq., Flat 2, 40 Altenburg Gardens, London SW 11 J.R. Willman Esq., 32 Waldemar Avenue Mansions, London SW6 5LT B. Wilkinson Esq., 421 Middleton Road, Carshalton, Surrey P.J. Winter Esq., 17 Dennar Park, Hengrove, Bristol, BS14 9BY R.G. Witcombe Esq., 39 Whitstone Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. V.C. Wright Esq., 3 South View Drive, Upminster, Essex J. Wyatt Esq., 9 Glyne Way, Long Handborough, Oxfordshire Mr. & Mrs. S.G. Wynne-Roberts North Down House, Midsomer Norton, Nr. Bath, Somerset

M.D. York Esq., 59 Kennington Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol D. Young Esq., 2 Conbar Avenue, Rustington, Sussex

Affiliated Clubs

Hon. Sec. Bournemouth School Caving Club, EASTWAY, BOURNEMOUTH, Hants, BH8 9PY

Hon. Sec. S.S. Spaeolo. Soc., SIDCOT SCHOOL, Winscombe, Somerset