Tony Jarratt's Caving Log Volume 3, 1982-1988
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Tony Jarratt’s Caving Log Volume 3, 1982-1988 Page 1 Somerset 1/1/82 Ken James, Fish, Jeanmaire and I drove to Haydon Drove Swallet where we stood by the entrance reminiscing while Alan Thomas, Drew and Quiet John dug and banged in the cave. Somerset Haydon Drove 20m West After missing Drew, Stu Lindsey and Quiet John Swallet Horrington and being deserted by Mac and Martin Grass I decided to have a quick look down the cave. The Swildon’s Hole 1hr Priddy previous day’s bang had removed a fair bit of the 2/1/82 10m LH wall and it was now possible to see around Alone the corner for some 6’ to a large boulder blocking the stream passage. This, and more of the corner, will have to be banged before further progress can be made. Still looking very promising. Due to being soaked in diluted human shit I then decided to wash off in Swildon’s. A nice solo trip to Sump 2 in high water conditions, chatting with odd bods en route. Made a balls up of free climbing the “20” in front of two small boys. Almost peeled twice. A most pleasant trip which cleared the festive cobwebs. Derbyshire Temple Mine 10m Matlock Bath After a quick, drunken visit to the PDMHS 17/1/82 mining museum we wandered up to the quarry Terry Worthington behind the Fishponds pub where Terry, Dave (PDMHS), Paul and Williams, Steve and other PDMHS men were Jud Thompson, Jane working on converting an old mine level for tourist traffic. At the time of our visit they were using a pneumatic rock drill to widen an area inside the level entrance in order to emplace an electricity box. Using one light Terry led us about 150’ into the mine – abandoned in the ‘50s. The passages are low and muddy and will have to be considerably deepened before being opened as a show mine. Little of real interest, but will be suitable for use as an underground museum with the appropriate tools, wagons and equipment. Surrey Bedlam’s Bank 1 hr Merstham See below /Chaldon Bottom 10m Mines 20/1/82 Chris Smart We initially looked for the crawl entrance to the Bedlam’s Bank /Chaldon series of workings, near the Lodge. This was easily found and was open. We then changed and entered the system via this entrance. Some 100’ or so of easy crawling with a few loose bits and roomy sections. This led downdip into the typical large galleries of these workings. After a couple of hundred feet we emerged at a cross roads near a collapse. This we recognised from our previous trip in from the Bedlam’s Bank entrance. Not having any arrows to follow we decided that we should have just enough time to find our route out via this entrance – including getting lost a few times. This in fact proved far easier than anticipated and we reached the other entrance in about thirty minutes. One minor diversion en route led us to a passage with an excellent series of small gours along the passage floor. Well worth a photograph. On reaching the “see-through radioactive” tube we found that a considerable amount of roof collapse had occurred here – presumably due to frost shattering. Not having rigged the tube I was obliged to let Chris use me as a step ladder and once out he lowered a section of handy wire fence for me to use as a ladder! Without assistance this tube would be completely un-freeclimbable. Excellent trip. Page 2 Somerset Upper Flood Swallet 25m Blackmoor Quick trip to look at the potential of this site and 23/1/82 check on MCG’s progress here. Since Willy Andrew “Drew” Stanton has dug here the cave has assumed the George look of Reservoir Hole – plenty of drystone walls and steps! Easy going all the way to the end – about 750’. In the large bits of passage there are some fine formations – especially straws. The end doesn’t look too hopeful being a solid calcite wall with a small wet drain hole in the floor. Needs a load of banging to progress further but is almost certainly the start of a major system in the typical Charterhouse style. MCG are going to continue here (See page 103!) Somerset Buddle’s Wood 25m Tor Hole See below Mineshafts (5,9) 24/1/82 Mac AM While Alison, Batspiss, Mac and Quackers continued with the survey and photography of shaft 9, I conducted a dig in the almost completely filled shaft 5. An hour’s digging only dropped the infill by some two or three feet so I gave up here. It would need a proper dig to gain access to this particular shaft. PM – After a quick couple of pints Mac and I descended Shaft 9 for a look in the original section ond the extension found by Chris Richards. I had a look at the tight, awkward squeeze into Alison’s extension but thought better of it – perhaps another day. Had a quick look around noting several lesser horseshoe bats, nice stals etc. Alison, Batspiss, and Quackers continued with the surface survey. Several of the spoil heaps here would almost certainly yield easily openable shafts with a little work, if permission could be obtained. It may be an idea to cap Shaft 9 as it is of most interest. Page 3 Somerset Wigmore Swallet 2 hr Red Quarr Basically a recce trip to prepare the cave for 30/1/82 future digging. We found that only the squeeze Chris Smart, Ron into Santa’s Grotto, and the entrance to Pinks and Bridger Posies Passage were blocked. These were cleared and we continued to the end where several bags of grot, boulders, etc were removed and stacked in the “Smoke Room”. Chris disappeared for a piss in Santa’s Grotto and on his return he noticed a hole in the floor – on the left just before the Smoke Room – where water had been sinking. On closer investigation this proved to be a hole leading into some 10’ of open passage with small straws on the roof and taking all of the draught. The entrance to this hidden passage was partially cleared. Next trip should prove interesting. Still a bloody grot hole but most pleasant. Somerset Wigmore Swallet 3hr Red Quarr Rest of team failed to materialise so Trev and I 31/1/82 10m went down to the new dig. A dozen or so plastic Trev Hughes sandbags were filled and stacked in the Smoke Room, alongside various boulders. This left a 1’ diameter hole which had to be enlarged by chiselling a bed of marl preventing access. Eventually we managed to make the hole large enough to insert one’s head which showed us to be in an approx 5’ diameter, 2’ high chamber – liberally strewn with boulders and having a few pink straws. Off to the right (down dip) an 8” high bedding plane led off for about 6’. The gravel floor would have to be excavated to progress here. A 1’ deep by 3” wide hole led down in the centre of the chamber floor – possibly on a minor joint. Much work will need to be done here to gain access to the chamber and progress further. More digging bags desperately needed and stacking space becoming limited. Somerset Wigmore Swallet 3½ hr Red Quarr On arrival at the Smoke Room we found that 6/2/82 approx ½ ton of ceiling and wall had collapsed, Blitz blocking the way on. Some of this was cleared and stacked and the route on opened but too dangerous to enter due to at least another ton of roof about to collapse. This may mean the end of the terminal dig. Blitz meanwhile cleared the red passage entrance to enable him to get in up to his waist. I then had a bash here and managed to remove enough rock to enable one to turn around in the chamber. 10’ of partially blocked upstream passage could be seen with a few sections of thin calcite false floor and several straws. Downstream the partly mud filled bedding passage led on for another 10’. The stream sinks down holes in the floor. Looking good now and digging should be relatively easy. Smoke Room to be used as spoil dump. Page 4 Somerset Wigmore Swallet 3hr Red Quarr Cleared several bags of mud, gravel and rocks 13/2/82 40m from Blitz Passage, to reveal a 3” wide x 4’ deep Trevor “Biffo” Hughes rift in the floor down which the stream was diverted and rushed merrily away. The area (back up passage) should be investigated further in case the rift opens up. The down dip end of Blitz Passage was dug in soft mud etc for some 6’ to a blank wall and muddy pool. The way on here is beneath the floor where small holes can be opened up which draught. The passage also appears to trend to the left. Before leaving the stream was re-diverted into this area in the hope that it will flush out the floor somewhat. Spoil was stacked in the Smoke Room which should be fileld up now as it is still in a state of constant collapse. 1 broken hammer, 1 broken entrenching tool and Pete and Alison’s sledge removed to surface. Somerset 14/2/82 Transported Glyn Bolt’s welding kit to Cuckoo Cleaves and Twin Titties Hole where he mended and affixed the new gates.