Header photo by Zac Woodford
Welcome
to our second newsletter of the new term! First and foremost, huge
congratulations to new UBSS graduates Imogen Clement, Lucy Dufall,
Merryn Matthews, Elliott McCall, Gabriel Littler and Nathan Cubitt! Our
very own museum mascot Whatley Mammoth even managed to wangle himself an
invitation, but as he's friends on Twitter with both Great George and
Wills Memorial Tower, that shouldn't come as any surprise.
We've had a busy month, with both the traditional Bonfire weekend and also a UBSS contingent going to a desperately windy CHECC weekend on Priddy. Training sessions in the Union have started, with Merryn Matthews as Training Overworm.
The UBSS Scottish sub-group (otherwise known as the Grampian Caving Group) has two potential new members, with Kat Osei-Mensah and Jakob Annerdal moving to the snowy north. So, a UBSS caving trip to Scotland sometime, maybe? The GSG hut in Elphin is very nice!
Some of our eagle-eyed readers might have noticed that in many of underground photos, cavers are pictured posing without their helmets. In the best traditions of investigative journalism, and in the hope of reassuring everyone that we aren't just suffering from a chronic shortage of helmets (although more never go amiss!) one of your editors went sniffing around for possible reasons. Several possibilities were offered by a source who has asked to remain anonymous, and we leave it to you to judge which explanation(s) might be the most plausible: a) our models are showing off their epic hairdo b) helmets are considered unfashionable and ruin an epic hairdo c) the helmet and light is being used to illuminate the photo d) some of the club lights reflect the light a bit even when turned off which is distracting and annoying for exposure. You, the audience, can choose!
With Christmas fast approaching, we're also getting close to the end of the year, which means the Society's longest continuous tradition, the New Year's Eve dinner at the Hut. Since the hassles of Covid, this has been a more low key affair, but there will still be plenty of turkey and other goodies to consume, so if you're in Bristol, please do come out to join us in the important rituals that ensure the sun rises the following day! And if anyone has a spare pumpkin to bring along to carve and then set on fire, go for it! If you'd like to come, please let Linda know.
You can find all the back issues of the monthly newsletter online. So if you're sitting in a dull lecture, take a look at what the club has been up to recently.
We've had a busy month, with both the traditional Bonfire weekend and also a UBSS contingent going to a desperately windy CHECC weekend on Priddy. Training sessions in the Union have started, with Merryn Matthews as Training Overworm.
The UBSS Scottish sub-group (otherwise known as the Grampian Caving Group) has two potential new members, with Kat Osei-Mensah and Jakob Annerdal moving to the snowy north. So, a UBSS caving trip to Scotland sometime, maybe? The GSG hut in Elphin is very nice!
Some of our eagle-eyed readers might have noticed that in many of underground photos, cavers are pictured posing without their helmets. In the best traditions of investigative journalism, and in the hope of reassuring everyone that we aren't just suffering from a chronic shortage of helmets (although more never go amiss!) one of your editors went sniffing around for possible reasons. Several possibilities were offered by a source who has asked to remain anonymous, and we leave it to you to judge which explanation(s) might be the most plausible: a) our models are showing off their epic hairdo b) helmets are considered unfashionable and ruin an epic hairdo c) the helmet and light is being used to illuminate the photo d) some of the club lights reflect the light a bit even when turned off which is distracting and annoying for exposure. You, the audience, can choose!
With Christmas fast approaching, we're also getting close to the end of the year, which means the Society's longest continuous tradition, the New Year's Eve dinner at the Hut. Since the hassles of Covid, this has been a more low key affair, but there will still be plenty of turkey and other goodies to consume, so if you're in Bristol, please do come out to join us in the important rituals that ensure the sun rises the following day! And if anyone has a spare pumpkin to bring along to carve and then set on fire, go for it! If you'd like to come, please let Linda know.
You can find all the back issues of the monthly newsletter online. So if you're sitting in a dull lecture, take a look at what the club has been up to recently.
Linda and Zac
CONGRATULATIONS!
Top left, Elliott McCall; top right Nathan Cubbit with Whatley Mammoth; centre Gabriel Littler with a sabre-toothed friend; centre right Merryn Matthews; lower left Imogen Clement; lower centre Whatley Mammoth, lower right Lucy Dufall. Thanks to everyone for sending in their photos and thanks to Graham Mullan for the graphic.
Top left, Elliott McCall; top right Nathan Cubbit with Whatley Mammoth; centre Gabriel Littler with a sabre-toothed friend; centre right Merryn Matthews; lower left Imogen Clement; lower centre Whatley Mammoth, lower right Lucy Dufall. Thanks to everyone for sending in their photos and thanks to Graham Mullan for the graphic.
COME DANGLE WITH US!
Charmaine Sew in the Richmond Building, watched over by Si Hadfield.
Merryn Matthews has taken on the job of Training Overworm! All wriggle before Her Wormship...
Alex Blencowe descending for the first time.
SRT training has finally got underway again in the SU this week, now that all those irritating graduations are out the way (mine included!). Contact me if you are interested in coming along, we will be holding more sessions soon. You too can be suspended in harness whilst confused people studying in the SU take pictures.
Merryn Matthews
Charmaine Sew in the Richmond Building, watched over by Si Hadfield.
Merryn Matthews has taken on the job of Training Overworm! All wriggle before Her Wormship...
Alex Blencowe descending for the first time.
SRT training has finally got underway again in the SU this week, now that all those irritating graduations are out the way (mine included!). Contact me if you are interested in coming along, we will be holding more sessions soon. You too can be suspended in harness whilst confused people studying in the SU take pictures.
Merryn Matthews
POST-EXAMS MENDIP WEEKEND
Happy cavers! You, too, can be like them!
Hi All,
Just a quick one to say that we will be hosting a post-exams Mendip Weekend January 21st to 22nd. The sign up form is HERE. Everyone is welcome!
Worm wishes.
Mia
Student Prezz.
Happy cavers! You, too, can be like them!
Hi All,
Just a quick one to say that we will be hosting a post-exams Mendip Weekend January 21st to 22nd. The sign up form is HERE. Everyone is welcome!
Worm wishes.
Mia
Student Prezz.
BONFIRE WEEKEND
Bonfire ballet at the Hut. Not so much Swan Lake as the Dying Duck. Or was that the following day's performance? Photo by Elaine Oliver.
The traditional bonfire weekend was held at the Hut and according to Merryn Matthews, the lamb was GOOD. She says that's all you need to know to appreciate it was a great weekend, thanks Zac for organising! But she has kindly provided a few more details ...
I cycled out early to the hut to prepare for the incoming cavers and lamb, my first time setting up the hut alone. The evening of cosy fireplace hot chocolate and a book couldn't have contrasted more with the explosive bonfire antics the next day!
Jacob Podesta and Carly also arrived late that evening to set up the lamb and wood collection, helped by everyone else as they arrived in the morning.
Caving in Goatchurch. Photo by Jessica Brock.
Reluctantly, some caving also happened down Goatchurch and Sidcot (I had to borrow Ash's oversized caving gear and was grumpy about it). A highlight was our talented freshers showing up Nottingham Uni in the Sidcot Lobster pot, and having a drumming session at bottom of the cave.
Dan Hill in horror at the effigy dressed like him. Photo by Zac Woodford.
As it got dark the party cars arrived, bringing food, fireworks and banging tunes to accompany perfectly cooked lamb, thanks to Ash for tending it all day. A dangerous effigy of a politician (I can't remember who, could be anyone with our government) was burnt, accidentally dressed in Dan's t-shirt.
Lamb preparation. The language was probably more Gordon Ramsay than Delia Smith. Photo by Jessica Brock.
I'm told the Sunday was also fun, but I cycled off early that morning. Yay caving.
Bonfire ballet at the Hut. Not so much Swan Lake as the Dying Duck. Or was that the following day's performance? Photo by Elaine Oliver.
The traditional bonfire weekend was held at the Hut and according to Merryn Matthews, the lamb was GOOD. She says that's all you need to know to appreciate it was a great weekend, thanks Zac for organising! But she has kindly provided a few more details ...
I cycled out early to the hut to prepare for the incoming cavers and lamb, my first time setting up the hut alone. The evening of cosy fireplace hot chocolate and a book couldn't have contrasted more with the explosive bonfire antics the next day!
Jacob Podesta and Carly also arrived late that evening to set up the lamb and wood collection, helped by everyone else as they arrived in the morning.
Caving in Goatchurch. Photo by Jessica Brock.
Reluctantly, some caving also happened down Goatchurch and Sidcot (I had to borrow Ash's oversized caving gear and was grumpy about it). A highlight was our talented freshers showing up Nottingham Uni in the Sidcot Lobster pot, and having a drumming session at bottom of the cave.
Dan Hill in horror at the effigy dressed like him. Photo by Zac Woodford.
As it got dark the party cars arrived, bringing food, fireworks and banging tunes to accompany perfectly cooked lamb, thanks to Ash for tending it all day. A dangerous effigy of a politician (I can't remember who, could be anyone with our government) was burnt, accidentally dressed in Dan's t-shirt.
Lamb preparation. The language was probably more Gordon Ramsay than Delia Smith. Photo by Jessica Brock.
I'm told the Sunday was also fun, but I cycled off early that morning. Yay caving.
Merryn Matthews
LEGLESS AGAIN
The UBSS entry for the fancy dress competition. Photo by Alex Blencowe. Thanks to Barbara Sim for the title!
CHECC (The Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs) is a traditional UBSS stamping ground, and this year was no exception. Charmaine Sew takes up the tale...
A few of us headed to our home ground in the Mendips for CHECC this year. Aside from the classic raving, we had lovely talks about various expeditions — one of which included UBSS’s very own Ireland trip! Mia had the honour of presenting it to the crowd.
We also dressed up as our own crest for the fancy dress costume.
Camping itself was quite an adventure; with ghastly winds and rain that couldn’t seem to make up its mind. In Ryan’s words, “I’m going to die”. Oskar and Marianne were also stranded at Wells for the afternoon and decided to have a spiritual one with the cathedral before Stanley came to their rescue.
Zac Woodford led a trip to Brown's Folly stone mine, Bathford, and obtained proof that members of Cambridge Uni Caving Club need to increase their fitness levels.
Some of us were also lucky enough to land spots in SRT and surveying. Despite hearing UBSS’s kit being repeatedly called out for being ‘strange’ but nonetheless, we were blessed with great coaching.
The UBSS entry for the fancy dress competition. Photo by Alex Blencowe. Thanks to Barbara Sim for the title!
CHECC (The Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs) is a traditional UBSS stamping ground, and this year was no exception. Charmaine Sew takes up the tale...
A few of us headed to our home ground in the Mendips for CHECC this year. Aside from the classic raving, we had lovely talks about various expeditions — one of which included UBSS’s very own Ireland trip! Mia had the honour of presenting it to the crowd.
We also dressed up as our own crest for the fancy dress costume.
Camping itself was quite an adventure; with ghastly winds and rain that couldn’t seem to make up its mind. In Ryan’s words, “I’m going to die”. Oskar and Marianne were also stranded at Wells for the afternoon and decided to have a spiritual one with the cathedral before Stanley came to their rescue.
Zac Woodford led a trip to Brown's Folly stone mine, Bathford, and obtained proof that members of Cambridge Uni Caving Club need to increase their fitness levels.
Some of us were also lucky enough to land spots in SRT and surveying. Despite hearing UBSS’s kit being repeatedly called out for being ‘strange’ but nonetheless, we were blessed with great coaching.
Charmaine Sew
MORE TALES FROM WALES
Flowers on the dinner table. Who says the club isn't civilised? Photo by Zac Woodford.
In our last issue, we had a photo diary from the South Wales trip, now new cavers Charmaine Sew and Alice Holland have put pen to paper for us.
Charmaine sets the scene with flaming pumpkins and #caveconversations ...
The winning entry in the Flaming Pumpkin Challenge 2022. From a video by Dan Hill.
Can you ever have a trip over Halloween weekend without the pumpkins? Almost a month since the trip and the only thing I can really remember is carving pumpkins and…setting them on fire…? Was it pumpkin golf? Or something else? It is what you name it?
We had Ash and Haydon completing a colourful…workbook…? (Is it time to spice up the variety of entertainment material in the Hut?) We also had a group bringing a pumpkin into a cave. Now onto the serious caving — Ryan, Dan and I had an unforgettable afternoon in OFD under the lovely guidance of Simon and Tom (I hope I remembered names correctly).
Charmaine, Ryan (standing) and Dan in OFD. Photo by Si Hadfield.
We also had our fair share of thought-provoking cave conversations that I could not help but record before they slipped from my mind.
Here’s the diary of #caveconversations:
“You know you’re doing something cool but you’ll never look cool. You’ve always got your wellies and oversuit, you’re wet and muddy. It keeps you grounded and humbled.”
“We live in an age where we’re comfortable in certainty. You’ll never get that in caves”
“We’re fading out of energy but this is a reminder to keep doing what you’re doing”
“Don’t look down. Don’t overthink it. You’ll eventually get down in sections”
Our new student museum curator Alice Holland proves that it is possible to prove both YouTube videos and adrenaline-junkies in outdoor shops wrong ...
It doesn't always rain in Wales. Photo by Si Hadfield.
Last month I joined the South Wales Weekend for my very first-time caving. I had a great time and it was a very memorable experience!
On Friday we set off for the Brecon Beacons, had good food at the hut and were made to feel very welcome by the society. Talking to experienced members about caving was so interesting, it's a whole world I didn't know existed, and I had a good laugh watching the caving games.
Ladders are often entertaining. Photo by Zac Woodford.
I was a little bit apprehensive about caving the next day, partly because my boyfriend had been watching terrible videos on Youtube ("CAVING GONE WRONG!"), partly because when I went to get my thermals from an outdoorsy shop the adrenaline-junkies working there said "Caving? I could never do that." Reassuring!
On Saturday we headed to OFD, with Merryn and Duncan leading my group. I didn't know what to expect but was still surprised by the sheer size of the cave system and the diversity. I had a lot of fun climbing over boulders, wading through water, walking through the larger chambers, and sliding everywhere (slippy wellies). Being a complete wimp, I had slightly less fun with the high traversing, but I just about did it. Very grateful to Duncan and Merryn for their positivity, patience and Mars Bars!
I was very amused by the names of some of the cave areas and also the fact that you can walk for 3hrs underground and bump into someone from Reading or Oxford. Turning off our lights and sitting in the dark listening to the sounds of the cave was an eery but peaceful experience.
Wot, no one went swimming? Photo by Duncan Hine.
On Sunday a few of us, knackered from the day before, were taken for a walk to some nearby waterfalls by Duncan and Mia. The day started off quite rainy but it's a beautiful place and we all really enjoyed ourselves, it was a nice end to the weekend. Everyone did a great job in keeping us safe and happy. Thank you so much UBSS for fun weekend!
Flowers on the dinner table. Who says the club isn't civilised? Photo by Zac Woodford.
In our last issue, we had a photo diary from the South Wales trip, now new cavers Charmaine Sew and Alice Holland have put pen to paper for us.
Charmaine sets the scene with flaming pumpkins and #caveconversations ...
The winning entry in the Flaming Pumpkin Challenge 2022. From a video by Dan Hill.
Can you ever have a trip over Halloween weekend without the pumpkins? Almost a month since the trip and the only thing I can really remember is carving pumpkins and…setting them on fire…? Was it pumpkin golf? Or something else? It is what you name it?
We had Ash and Haydon completing a colourful…workbook…? (Is it time to spice up the variety of entertainment material in the Hut?) We also had a group bringing a pumpkin into a cave. Now onto the serious caving — Ryan, Dan and I had an unforgettable afternoon in OFD under the lovely guidance of Simon and Tom (I hope I remembered names correctly).
Charmaine, Ryan (standing) and Dan in OFD. Photo by Si Hadfield.
We also had our fair share of thought-provoking cave conversations that I could not help but record before they slipped from my mind.
Here’s the diary of #caveconversations:
“You know you’re doing something cool but you’ll never look cool. You’ve always got your wellies and oversuit, you’re wet and muddy. It keeps you grounded and humbled.”
“We live in an age where we’re comfortable in certainty. You’ll never get that in caves”
“We’re fading out of energy but this is a reminder to keep doing what you’re doing”
“Don’t look down. Don’t overthink it. You’ll eventually get down in sections”
Charmaine Sew
Our new student museum curator Alice Holland proves that it is possible to prove both YouTube videos and adrenaline-junkies in outdoor shops wrong ...
It doesn't always rain in Wales. Photo by Si Hadfield.
Last month I joined the South Wales Weekend for my very first-time caving. I had a great time and it was a very memorable experience!
On Friday we set off for the Brecon Beacons, had good food at the hut and were made to feel very welcome by the society. Talking to experienced members about caving was so interesting, it's a whole world I didn't know existed, and I had a good laugh watching the caving games.
Ladders are often entertaining. Photo by Zac Woodford.
I was a little bit apprehensive about caving the next day, partly because my boyfriend had been watching terrible videos on Youtube ("CAVING GONE WRONG!"), partly because when I went to get my thermals from an outdoorsy shop the adrenaline-junkies working there said "Caving? I could never do that." Reassuring!
On Saturday we headed to OFD, with Merryn and Duncan leading my group. I didn't know what to expect but was still surprised by the sheer size of the cave system and the diversity. I had a lot of fun climbing over boulders, wading through water, walking through the larger chambers, and sliding everywhere (slippy wellies). Being a complete wimp, I had slightly less fun with the high traversing, but I just about did it. Very grateful to Duncan and Merryn for their positivity, patience and Mars Bars!
I was very amused by the names of some of the cave areas and also the fact that you can walk for 3hrs underground and bump into someone from Reading or Oxford. Turning off our lights and sitting in the dark listening to the sounds of the cave was an eery but peaceful experience.
Wot, no one went swimming? Photo by Duncan Hine.
On Sunday a few of us, knackered from the day before, were taken for a walk to some nearby waterfalls by Duncan and Mia. The day started off quite rainy but it's a beautiful place and we all really enjoyed ourselves, it was a nice end to the weekend. Everyone did a great job in keeping us safe and happy. Thank you so much UBSS for fun weekend!
Alice Holland
THE 44th TAG FALL CAVE-IN
Sitton's Cave, Cloudland Canyon, Georgia. Photo by Ash Gregg.
Ash Gregg recently took a trip to the other side of the Pond, and he's written an account of his caving activities.
In mid-October, after spending a few days in San Francisco, a friend and I travelled over to Georgia to attend the 44th TAG Fall Cave-in. (TAG stands for Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia.) Around 900 people attended this caving event, with lots going on. There were opportunities to visit different caves, meet new people and generally enjoy the festival atmosphere. Highlights included a live band, giant SRT course, epic bonfire, tasty beer and a showing of a VERY SPECIAL MOVIE WHERE YOU DRESS UP AND THROW RICE AND SING... Timewarp, anyone?
On the 7th October we visited Ulla Cave, Georgia. A walk through the forest leads to a gated entrance, in which many salamanders were resting in the shade. A crawl through a boulder choke led our group into a bedding which dropped down to a large pool, prone to sumping in winter. After getting a bit damp we emerged in very large passage which continued past abundant formations for a considerable distance. We admired the vast quantities of columns before turning around and exploring some side passages on the way back out.
Pryor Springs, Cave, Tennessee. Photo by Jessica Jernigan.
Later in the day we donned our SRT kits and visited Pryor Springs Cave, Tennessee. This pull-through trip drops down a series of waterfalls into some well decorated passage - the Ice-Cream Factory. Once in the main stream we avoided the beavers living in the resurgence to emerge at the bottom of the hill.
Salamander in Pryor Springs, Cave, Tennessee. Photo by Jessica Jernigan.
On the 8th October a group of us drove to Gourdneck cave, Tennessee where we were welcomed by some very friendly farmer's dogs as we rigged the entrance pitch. We dropped down and soon we were in the main stream passage, being careful to avoid disturbing a water pipe going into the far reaches of the cave. We headed upstream, with the passage getting larger and larger. The stream was splashy but fairly low, making the various climbs and cascades not too wet. A couple of awkward climbs were navigated to get higher in the passage and ascend a couple of waterfalls. Eventually we reached a very large chamber (approx 30m high) with a large waterfall. A fixed rope allowed us to prussick up and enter a higher bedding which connected to the higher stream above the waterfall. This enlarged to a well decorated passage which continued to another large chamber with a waterfall. This time the rope was nearer the water, and getting off the rope at the top went into a wet crawl. After this crawl the passage became decorated with lots of flowstone and muddy crawls around stalagmites. At this point we turned around to head back out.
Sitton's Cave, Cloudland Canyon, Georgia. Photo by Ash Gregg.
On the 9th October a group of us headed to Sitton's Cave, Cloudland Canyon, Georgia. Bumped into fellow UK caver Paul Fairman from the BEC. We entered the large entrance down a boulder slope in the side of the mountain. A short crawl led into the larger main fossil passage. This enabled a gentle bimble, stopping occasionally to admire formations and take photos. This included some large 'salami' stalactites and dried up crystal pools. The passage eventually lowered and split leading to a few more formations. On the way back out we explored a couple of decorated side passages.
Stephen's Gap, Alabama.
On the 10th October after the event a group of us went to Stephen's Gap, Alabama. A short walk in the forest led to a pair of large shakeholes. Once a rope was rigged on the far side we could rappel down through a slot, admiring the views. This landed on a rock pedestal, jutting out into the side of the shaft. From here the other hole connects down a large boulder slope enabling a prussick-free through trip. Most of us went around for a second lap. At the very bottom of the cave we found a lizard, a snake-skin, and then followed the cave passage further, just about reaching a point where lights were needed (out of view of the large sky-light entrance). A very pretty cave, which unfortunately several un-prepared hikers have fallen into leading to previous access issues.
Sitton's Cave, Cloudland Canyon, Georgia. Photo by Ash Gregg.
Ash Gregg recently took a trip to the other side of the Pond, and he's written an account of his caving activities.
In mid-October, after spending a few days in San Francisco, a friend and I travelled over to Georgia to attend the 44th TAG Fall Cave-in. (TAG stands for Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia.) Around 900 people attended this caving event, with lots going on. There were opportunities to visit different caves, meet new people and generally enjoy the festival atmosphere. Highlights included a live band, giant SRT course, epic bonfire, tasty beer and a showing of a VERY SPECIAL MOVIE WHERE YOU DRESS UP AND THROW RICE AND SING... Timewarp, anyone?
On the 7th October we visited Ulla Cave, Georgia. A walk through the forest leads to a gated entrance, in which many salamanders were resting in the shade. A crawl through a boulder choke led our group into a bedding which dropped down to a large pool, prone to sumping in winter. After getting a bit damp we emerged in very large passage which continued past abundant formations for a considerable distance. We admired the vast quantities of columns before turning around and exploring some side passages on the way back out.
Pryor Springs, Cave, Tennessee. Photo by Jessica Jernigan.
Later in the day we donned our SRT kits and visited Pryor Springs Cave, Tennessee. This pull-through trip drops down a series of waterfalls into some well decorated passage - the Ice-Cream Factory. Once in the main stream we avoided the beavers living in the resurgence to emerge at the bottom of the hill.
Salamander in Pryor Springs, Cave, Tennessee. Photo by Jessica Jernigan.
On the 8th October a group of us drove to Gourdneck cave, Tennessee where we were welcomed by some very friendly farmer's dogs as we rigged the entrance pitch. We dropped down and soon we were in the main stream passage, being careful to avoid disturbing a water pipe going into the far reaches of the cave. We headed upstream, with the passage getting larger and larger. The stream was splashy but fairly low, making the various climbs and cascades not too wet. A couple of awkward climbs were navigated to get higher in the passage and ascend a couple of waterfalls. Eventually we reached a very large chamber (approx 30m high) with a large waterfall. A fixed rope allowed us to prussick up and enter a higher bedding which connected to the higher stream above the waterfall. This enlarged to a well decorated passage which continued to another large chamber with a waterfall. This time the rope was nearer the water, and getting off the rope at the top went into a wet crawl. After this crawl the passage became decorated with lots of flowstone and muddy crawls around stalagmites. At this point we turned around to head back out.
Sitton's Cave, Cloudland Canyon, Georgia. Photo by Ash Gregg.
On the 9th October a group of us headed to Sitton's Cave, Cloudland Canyon, Georgia. Bumped into fellow UK caver Paul Fairman from the BEC. We entered the large entrance down a boulder slope in the side of the mountain. A short crawl led into the larger main fossil passage. This enabled a gentle bimble, stopping occasionally to admire formations and take photos. This included some large 'salami' stalactites and dried up crystal pools. The passage eventually lowered and split leading to a few more formations. On the way back out we explored a couple of decorated side passages.
Stephen's Gap, Alabama.On the 10th October after the event a group of us went to Stephen's Gap, Alabama. A short walk in the forest led to a pair of large shakeholes. Once a rope was rigged on the far side we could rappel down through a slot, admiring the views. This landed on a rock pedestal, jutting out into the side of the shaft. From here the other hole connects down a large boulder slope enabling a prussick-free through trip. Most of us went around for a second lap. At the very bottom of the cave we found a lizard, a snake-skin, and then followed the cave passage further, just about reaching a point where lights were needed (out of view of the large sky-light entrance). A very pretty cave, which unfortunately several un-prepared hikers have fallen into leading to previous access issues.
Ash Gregg
SOMERSET UNDERGROUND
Somerset Underground is a series of three guidebooks edited and compiled by Rob Taviner and published by the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive. Volumes 1 and 2 recently won the prestigious Tratman Award run by the British Cave Research Association (won in 2019 by our own book, Caves of Mid-West Ireland). Volume 3 is due to be launched on Mendip in the Hunter's Lodge Inn on 10th December at 7.30pm.
These three meticulously researched books cover the following areas:
VOLUME 1 (Bristol, Broadfield Down, The Bristol Channel & West Somerset)
VOLUME 2 (West Mendip, Burrington & North Mendip)
VOLUME 3 (Central and South Mendip, encompassing the major catchment areas of Cheddar Risings and Wookey Hole)
You can pick up copies at the price of £10 each at the launch. Alternatively, Graham (as an MCRA registrar) will have some copies available in Bristol after that date. If you'd like a copy, please contact Graham, and he'll give you details of how to pay. Please don't send money to the UBSS account as the book is published by MCRA, not.
Volume 1 will provide a surprising number of caves you can do without even leaving the city, and the other two cover the major caving areas of Mendip. The descriptions aren't as detailed as those in Mendip Underground, but that is sold out, and there isn't a date yet for the release of the updated version. Between them, these books cover many more sites in a much larger area.
Somerset Underground is a series of three guidebooks edited and compiled by Rob Taviner and published by the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive. Volumes 1 and 2 recently won the prestigious Tratman Award run by the British Cave Research Association (won in 2019 by our own book, Caves of Mid-West Ireland). Volume 3 is due to be launched on Mendip in the Hunter's Lodge Inn on 10th December at 7.30pm.
These three meticulously researched books cover the following areas:
VOLUME 1 (Bristol, Broadfield Down, The Bristol Channel & West Somerset)
VOLUME 2 (West Mendip, Burrington & North Mendip)
VOLUME 3 (Central and South Mendip, encompassing the major catchment areas of Cheddar Risings and Wookey Hole)
You can pick up copies at the price of £10 each at the launch. Alternatively, Graham (as an MCRA registrar) will have some copies available in Bristol after that date. If you'd like a copy, please contact Graham, and he'll give you details of how to pay. Please don't send money to the UBSS account as the book is published by MCRA, not.
Volume 1 will provide a surprising number of caves you can do without even leaving the city, and the other two cover the major caving areas of Mendip. The descriptions aren't as detailed as those in Mendip Underground, but that is sold out, and there isn't a date yet for the release of the updated version. Between them, these books cover many more sites in a much larger area.
UNDER THE EDGE
Copper staining in Engine Vein. Photo by Linda Wilson.
A recent BCRA symposium weekend included a field trip to the Alderley Edge copper mines in Cheshire and gave Linda Wilson an opportunity to revisit some old haunts.
I fell in love with Alderley Edge as an eight-year-old when my older brother gave me a copy of a children’s book called The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner, first published in 1960. The front cover on my copy depicts a bearded character who wouldn’t look particularly out of place in the Hunter’s on a Friday night and I was quickly drawn into a world where magic and the everyday world walked hand in hand as Colin and Susan, sent to stay with Bess and Gowther Mossock on the Alderley Edge in Cheshire while their parents were abroad, found themselves in the middle a dangerous struggle with the forces of darkness for possession of an ancient jewel – the weirdstone – without which the magic protecting a king and his knights will fail, leaving them unable to fulfil their destiny to remain in a magical sleep in a cavern under the Edge until the time of Britain’s greatest need.
You know him from the Hunter's, don't you? Cover image from the edition I read as a child.
Naturally, as soon as I could, I pestered my long-suffering dad to drive me from Preston to the Edge as often as possible, so I could explore the places mentioned in the book. If you haven’t read it, you should. It contains one of the scariest underground scenes in caving literature, set in the fortunately fictitious part of the mine known as the Earldelving, where Colin and Susan and the dwarves, Fenodyree and Durathor, had to enter a section of low flooded passage lying on their backs, not knowing whether they would reach air on the other side or not. Strangely, this description did nothing to dampen my ambition to visit the mines and in my early teens when my dad let me loose to go feral on the Edge with my best friend while he read the Sunday paper in the car park, we explored as many holes in the ground as we could armed with torches and just enough common sense to survive.
We mainly explored the many holes around Stormy Point (now all gated) and went quite a long way in one, down a couple of climbs until we finally stopped at a deep, wet, muddy traverse as returning to the car completely soaking wet might have been frowned on by even the most relaxed of parents. We had probably visited probably Doc Mine, and in 1977, a few years after our last visit, a shaft collapse prevented access to the lower level.
In 1991, I finally got the chance for a proper visit to the mines, in company with Nigel Dibben of the Derbyshire Caving Club (DCC) who took a UBSS party consisting of myself, Graham Mullan, Andy Farrant, Steve Cottle and Chris Bennett. We were given an extended trip in West Mine, the site of Colin and Susan’s exploits in the Weirdstone, and Andy (who hadn't read the book) had to put up with me squealing with glee every time we encountered a part of the mine described by Garner. The first high pitched noise of delight came when we reached the notorious Plank Shaft, which has claimed several lives over the years. It can now be crossed in a slightly safer manner than by using the eponymous plank that daunted Colin and Susan. But if you look down and see eyes looking up at you from the darkness, I’d advise making a hasty exit …
"The widest shaft they had yet come upon lay before them, and stretched across its gaping mouth was a narrow plank." Plank Shaft, West Mine. Photo taken on the 2022 trip by Linda Wilson. Unchanged from the 1991 visit, but happily different to the 1960 description quoted from Garner's book.
We were also lent the keys for Wood Mine and Brynlow Level and left to explore them by ourselves. Andy has (un)fond memories of our collective efforts to open the lock on Brynlow on our way out. When we were failing miserably, I devised a back-up plan whereby we would clear the accumulated leaf debris and mud from under the door and shove Andy under it. That spurred him on and the lock finally saw his point of view. Apparently, it’s still the same lock and still causes the same problems!
One of the first passages encountered in West Mine after coming in via the new entrance. Olly had to haul me away with promises of more green further in. I like green!
The decision to hold the British Cave Research Association’s AGM in Manchester this year provided a welcome opportunity to return to some of my favourite places, so Graham and I took the campervan north for a long weekend, and I arranged a trip on Friday into West Mine with my DCC friend Olly King. The entrance to the mine has changed from the one I knew in 1991, entering now from National Trust land a short distance away from the original, which is in private ownership. Olly and I spent a very happy three hours wombling around the mine, taking photos and identifying many of the iconic locations described in the book.
A short, fixed entrance ladder leads quickly into the huge entrance stope and from there a series of mainly large passages can be followed to even larger chambers such as Sphinx Chamber and Lion Chamber (which features in Garner’s book).
"The tunnel opened into a broad gallery; before them rose an outcrop of rock, and it was the shape of a lion's head." The Lion Rock, as described in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.
Yes, I know it looks a bit like a poodle, but allow the author some artistic licence! The rope on the right gives access to the levels above. Fenodyree, pictured on the book cover, refers to this as being in the Cave of the Svartmoot. In the book, svarts are nasty, pale goblin critters.
The Lion Rock viewed from the level above, from which Colin, Susan and the dwarves watched the Svartmoot.
The main ores mined at Alderley Edge were copper and lead, but cobalt, silver and iron were also found there, along with arsenic, nickel, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, antimony and even some gold! Malachite (the green hydrous carbonate) and azurite (blue) have left vivid colouring on the walls in many place and some darker cobalt can also be seen in places. West Mine was first worked for copper in 1857.
West Mine contains many different levels.
By 1878, the mine wasdeemed to have been commercially worked out. Attempts to reopen it between 1911 and 1919 were largely unsuccessful and in the late 1950s/early 1960s, the entrance was sealed after a series of accidents, some fatal, and the open cast workings were infilled. Official access was regained to the mines in 1975 by the DCC who have dealt with access to West Mine and others on the Edge ever since. The mine is a maze of closed loops, large passages and shafts, some equipped with ropes and one with a chain, unsurprisingly known as Chain Shaft. The mine provides a wide variety of sporting options as well as opening a fascinating window onto the past and into the rich geology of the Edge.
Descending the Blue Shaft from Engine Vein Mine to Hough Level.
On the Sunday field trip, we had a record turnout of nearly 20 people, with UBSS represented by myself, Mark Tringham and Andy Farrant, with Andy and I caving together under the Edge for the first time in 30 years. I’d long harboured a desire to do the trip that connects Engine Vein (a huge open cast scar in the landscape, now overgrown with vegetation but still instantly recognisable as a relict of mining activity) with Wood Mine via the mile-long Hough Level, which involves navigating a flooded section in a canoe or a modified bathtub (if you’re really lucky!). With that as one of the trips on offer, I immediately attached myself to that party, led by Jane from DCC, with Nigel and Billy taking another group on geological tour of Engine Vein Mine and then onto Wood Mine overground, where we finally met up with them again.
Andy Farrant (kneeling) in Hough Level.
Engine Vein leads down into the Hough Level via a series of easily negotiated fixed ladders and then there was a long walk to the flooded bit and much amusement in the unconventional transport on the water before we emerged in Wood Mine for a look around the dry passages there. It’s also possible to ascend a ladder from Hough Level into Brynlow Level, for anyone who doesn’t mind contending with knee deep mud.
Russell Myers in Wood Mine.
We left Wood Mine eventually via the adit for the walk back to the National Trust car park and the small DCC museum. The proximity of the Wizard Café is another big plus.
The remains of the open cast workings at Engine Vein.
Engine Vein was first worked in the Bronze Age and then again by the Romans. It’s fascinating to speculate whether a strange carved face opposite one of the Roman levels in the mine is contemporary with those workings or not.
Carved face, Engine Vein. There has been speculation that the shelf in front of it might have been used to leave offerings.
THE LEGEND OF ALDERLEY
The best known of the legends associated with Alderley Edge is the story of the wizard and the sleeping knights, which forms the basis of Garner’s novel.
So the story goes, a farmer from nearby Mobberley was crossing the Edge on his way to Macclesfield to sell his milk-white mare. Near the spot known as Thieves Hole, he was stopped by an old man who wanted to buy the horse. The farmer refused, thinking to drive a better bargain at the market. The old man claimed he would be unsuccessful there but said he would meet him at the same spot on his way back. To the farmer’s annoyance, the prophecy proved to be true and when he encountered the old man again that night, he agreed to sell him the mare. The old man led him by a lengthy route to large rock, which parted to reveal a pair of huge iron gates.
The rock hiding the Iron Gates. It was pissing down when I took this photo, hence the mist on the lens.
The farmer was terrified but allowed himself to be led through a series of caverns to one which contained many men, all asleep, each – apart from one – with a milk-white horse asleep by his side. The farmer’s mare was the last one needed to complete the company. The old man instructed the farmer to take the mare’s price from the glittering heaps of treasure in one of the caverns, telling him that there would come a day when the men and horses would wake from their enchanted sleep and would engage in a battle on the plain that would decide the fate of their country, in the time when ‘George son of George shall reign.’ So our current King Charles ends up with a great-grandson called George, it’s time to really start worrying! The farmer left the caves with his pockets stuffed with jewels and the old man and the iron gates were never seen again.
The legend first appeared in print in the Manchester Mail in 1805 and is typical of the sort of legend claimed to have many local sources and the wizard is commemorated in a carving of a face, possibly of similar age, below Castle Rock, accompanied by the words: ‘Drink of this and take thy fill for the water falls by the wizard’s will.’ The rock concealing the Iron Gates can be found by following the path west of Stormy Point. For anyone interested in locating the places referred to in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and its sequel The Moon of Gomrath, My friend James Wright of Triskele Publishing has put together an excellent online map, and much to James’ delight, I’ve arranged for Olly King to take him down West Mine next year.
If anyone is interested in visiting the mines, let me know and I’ll see what I can arrange. There’s a large campsite in Nether Alderley with decent facilities only ten minutes’ drive away from the Edge where Graham and I park edthe van, while unbeknownst to us, Mark Tringham had also pitched his tent.
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea ...
The mines would make a great place for a weekend away and the DCC are really obliging guides. I’m calling first dibs on the bathtub next time!
The Alderley Edge Mines by Chris J Carlton and Nigel J Dibben, revised edition published in 2012 by Nigel Dibben. £12.
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner [available from the Evil Empire and most bookshops]
Copper staining in Engine Vein. Photo by Linda Wilson.
A recent BCRA symposium weekend included a field trip to the Alderley Edge copper mines in Cheshire and gave Linda Wilson an opportunity to revisit some old haunts.
I fell in love with Alderley Edge as an eight-year-old when my older brother gave me a copy of a children’s book called The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner, first published in 1960. The front cover on my copy depicts a bearded character who wouldn’t look particularly out of place in the Hunter’s on a Friday night and I was quickly drawn into a world where magic and the everyday world walked hand in hand as Colin and Susan, sent to stay with Bess and Gowther Mossock on the Alderley Edge in Cheshire while their parents were abroad, found themselves in the middle a dangerous struggle with the forces of darkness for possession of an ancient jewel – the weirdstone – without which the magic protecting a king and his knights will fail, leaving them unable to fulfil their destiny to remain in a magical sleep in a cavern under the Edge until the time of Britain’s greatest need.
You know him from the Hunter's, don't you? Cover image from the edition I read as a child.
Naturally, as soon as I could, I pestered my long-suffering dad to drive me from Preston to the Edge as often as possible, so I could explore the places mentioned in the book. If you haven’t read it, you should. It contains one of the scariest underground scenes in caving literature, set in the fortunately fictitious part of the mine known as the Earldelving, where Colin and Susan and the dwarves, Fenodyree and Durathor, had to enter a section of low flooded passage lying on their backs, not knowing whether they would reach air on the other side or not. Strangely, this description did nothing to dampen my ambition to visit the mines and in my early teens when my dad let me loose to go feral on the Edge with my best friend while he read the Sunday paper in the car park, we explored as many holes in the ground as we could armed with torches and just enough common sense to survive.
We mainly explored the many holes around Stormy Point (now all gated) and went quite a long way in one, down a couple of climbs until we finally stopped at a deep, wet, muddy traverse as returning to the car completely soaking wet might have been frowned on by even the most relaxed of parents. We had probably visited probably Doc Mine, and in 1977, a few years after our last visit, a shaft collapse prevented access to the lower level.
In 1991, I finally got the chance for a proper visit to the mines, in company with Nigel Dibben of the Derbyshire Caving Club (DCC) who took a UBSS party consisting of myself, Graham Mullan, Andy Farrant, Steve Cottle and Chris Bennett. We were given an extended trip in West Mine, the site of Colin and Susan’s exploits in the Weirdstone, and Andy (who hadn't read the book) had to put up with me squealing with glee every time we encountered a part of the mine described by Garner. The first high pitched noise of delight came when we reached the notorious Plank Shaft, which has claimed several lives over the years. It can now be crossed in a slightly safer manner than by using the eponymous plank that daunted Colin and Susan. But if you look down and see eyes looking up at you from the darkness, I’d advise making a hasty exit …
"The widest shaft they had yet come upon lay before them, and stretched across its gaping mouth was a narrow plank." Plank Shaft, West Mine. Photo taken on the 2022 trip by Linda Wilson. Unchanged from the 1991 visit, but happily different to the 1960 description quoted from Garner's book.
We were also lent the keys for Wood Mine and Brynlow Level and left to explore them by ourselves. Andy has (un)fond memories of our collective efforts to open the lock on Brynlow on our way out. When we were failing miserably, I devised a back-up plan whereby we would clear the accumulated leaf debris and mud from under the door and shove Andy under it. That spurred him on and the lock finally saw his point of view. Apparently, it’s still the same lock and still causes the same problems!
One of the first passages encountered in West Mine after coming in via the new entrance. Olly had to haul me away with promises of more green further in. I like green!
The decision to hold the British Cave Research Association’s AGM in Manchester this year provided a welcome opportunity to return to some of my favourite places, so Graham and I took the campervan north for a long weekend, and I arranged a trip on Friday into West Mine with my DCC friend Olly King. The entrance to the mine has changed from the one I knew in 1991, entering now from National Trust land a short distance away from the original, which is in private ownership. Olly and I spent a very happy three hours wombling around the mine, taking photos and identifying many of the iconic locations described in the book.
A short, fixed entrance ladder leads quickly into the huge entrance stope and from there a series of mainly large passages can be followed to even larger chambers such as Sphinx Chamber and Lion Chamber (which features in Garner’s book).
"The tunnel opened into a broad gallery; before them rose an outcrop of rock, and it was the shape of a lion's head." The Lion Rock, as described in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.
Yes, I know it looks a bit like a poodle, but allow the author some artistic licence! The rope on the right gives access to the levels above. Fenodyree, pictured on the book cover, refers to this as being in the Cave of the Svartmoot. In the book, svarts are nasty, pale goblin critters.
The Lion Rock viewed from the level above, from which Colin, Susan and the dwarves watched the Svartmoot.
The main ores mined at Alderley Edge were copper and lead, but cobalt, silver and iron were also found there, along with arsenic, nickel, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, antimony and even some gold! Malachite (the green hydrous carbonate) and azurite (blue) have left vivid colouring on the walls in many place and some darker cobalt can also be seen in places. West Mine was first worked for copper in 1857.
West Mine contains many different levels.
By 1878, the mine wasdeemed to have been commercially worked out. Attempts to reopen it between 1911 and 1919 were largely unsuccessful and in the late 1950s/early 1960s, the entrance was sealed after a series of accidents, some fatal, and the open cast workings were infilled. Official access was regained to the mines in 1975 by the DCC who have dealt with access to West Mine and others on the Edge ever since. The mine is a maze of closed loops, large passages and shafts, some equipped with ropes and one with a chain, unsurprisingly known as Chain Shaft. The mine provides a wide variety of sporting options as well as opening a fascinating window onto the past and into the rich geology of the Edge.
Descending the Blue Shaft from Engine Vein Mine to Hough Level.
On the Sunday field trip, we had a record turnout of nearly 20 people, with UBSS represented by myself, Mark Tringham and Andy Farrant, with Andy and I caving together under the Edge for the first time in 30 years. I’d long harboured a desire to do the trip that connects Engine Vein (a huge open cast scar in the landscape, now overgrown with vegetation but still instantly recognisable as a relict of mining activity) with Wood Mine via the mile-long Hough Level, which involves navigating a flooded section in a canoe or a modified bathtub (if you’re really lucky!). With that as one of the trips on offer, I immediately attached myself to that party, led by Jane from DCC, with Nigel and Billy taking another group on geological tour of Engine Vein Mine and then onto Wood Mine overground, where we finally met up with them again.
Andy Farrant (kneeling) in Hough Level.
Engine Vein leads down into the Hough Level via a series of easily negotiated fixed ladders and then there was a long walk to the flooded bit and much amusement in the unconventional transport on the water before we emerged in Wood Mine for a look around the dry passages there. It’s also possible to ascend a ladder from Hough Level into Brynlow Level, for anyone who doesn’t mind contending with knee deep mud.
Russell Myers in Wood Mine.
We left Wood Mine eventually via the adit for the walk back to the National Trust car park and the small DCC museum. The proximity of the Wizard Café is another big plus.
The remains of the open cast workings at Engine Vein.
Engine Vein was first worked in the Bronze Age and then again by the Romans. It’s fascinating to speculate whether a strange carved face opposite one of the Roman levels in the mine is contemporary with those workings or not.
Carved face, Engine Vein. There has been speculation that the shelf in front of it might have been used to leave offerings.
THE LEGEND OF ALDERLEY
The best known of the legends associated with Alderley Edge is the story of the wizard and the sleeping knights, which forms the basis of Garner’s novel.
So the story goes, a farmer from nearby Mobberley was crossing the Edge on his way to Macclesfield to sell his milk-white mare. Near the spot known as Thieves Hole, he was stopped by an old man who wanted to buy the horse. The farmer refused, thinking to drive a better bargain at the market. The old man claimed he would be unsuccessful there but said he would meet him at the same spot on his way back. To the farmer’s annoyance, the prophecy proved to be true and when he encountered the old man again that night, he agreed to sell him the mare. The old man led him by a lengthy route to large rock, which parted to reveal a pair of huge iron gates.
The rock hiding the Iron Gates. It was pissing down when I took this photo, hence the mist on the lens.
The farmer was terrified but allowed himself to be led through a series of caverns to one which contained many men, all asleep, each – apart from one – with a milk-white horse asleep by his side. The farmer’s mare was the last one needed to complete the company. The old man instructed the farmer to take the mare’s price from the glittering heaps of treasure in one of the caverns, telling him that there would come a day when the men and horses would wake from their enchanted sleep and would engage in a battle on the plain that would decide the fate of their country, in the time when ‘George son of George shall reign.’ So our current King Charles ends up with a great-grandson called George, it’s time to really start worrying! The farmer left the caves with his pockets stuffed with jewels and the old man and the iron gates were never seen again.
The legend first appeared in print in the Manchester Mail in 1805 and is typical of the sort of legend claimed to have many local sources and the wizard is commemorated in a carving of a face, possibly of similar age, below Castle Rock, accompanied by the words: ‘Drink of this and take thy fill for the water falls by the wizard’s will.’ The rock concealing the Iron Gates can be found by following the path west of Stormy Point. For anyone interested in locating the places referred to in The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and its sequel The Moon of Gomrath, My friend James Wright of Triskele Publishing has put together an excellent online map, and much to James’ delight, I’ve arranged for Olly King to take him down West Mine next year.
If anyone is interested in visiting the mines, let me know and I’ll see what I can arrange. There’s a large campsite in Nether Alderley with decent facilities only ten minutes’ drive away from the Edge where Graham and I park edthe van, while unbeknownst to us, Mark Tringham had also pitched his tent.
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea ...
The mines would make a great place for a weekend away and the DCC are really obliging guides. I’m calling first dibs on the bathtub next time!
Linda Wilson
References:The Alderley Edge Mines by Chris J Carlton and Nigel J Dibben, revised edition published in 2012 by Nigel Dibben. £12.
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner [available from the Evil Empire and most bookshops]
TALENTED!
Entrance to Aveline's Hole, Burrington Combe. Photo by Jan Walker.
The role of UBSS Museum Curator often involves dealing with media requests, frequently ones relating to Aveline's Hole on Mendip, the site of the Society's first archaeological excavation in 1919. Linda Wilson relates the story of the latest such encounter ...
Way back in August, when the weather was still warm and I had fewer grey hairs, I got a Facebook message from fellow UBSS member, archaeologist and rock art specialist George Nash asking me to contact him urgently. Few things in the museum world are ever urgent, so I immediately suspected the involvement of the Bane of my Life aka a film company. I groaned loudly and told George that I don't get out of bed for film companies without a hefty donation to the museum and if - as I correctly suspected - Aveline's Hole was involved, there would also need to be a donation to the Conservators of Burrington Common as a condition of permission being granted by the landowners, the Wills Estate.
Gratuitous shot of pretties beyond the gate. Photo by Linda Wilson.
By way of background, the Wills family have owned the land around Burrington for several generations. Sir George Wills was in many ways responsible for the foundation of the society in 1919 as he wanted the dig at Aveline's to be done under the auspices of the university. He also gave permission for the Hut to be erected on his land. He died before my time, but many years ago, I ended up in the role of UBSS liaison with the Wills family. I never knew Sir George, but dealt a lot with Sir John Wills, who kindly performed the opening ceremony for our museum and library in the Stables (behind 21 Woodland Road) in 1992. When he died, the estate went to his eldest son Sir David. Whilst the Wills Estate own the land, the Burrington area is also a registered common, which means that there are certain 'rights of common' over it exercised by local people, eg grazing rights. These are managed by the Burrington Conservators, whilst the underground remains managed by the Estate, and because of our close relationship with the family for over 100 years (Sir David and Lady Paula were guests of honour at our centenary dinner at Wookey Hole in 2019), UBSS gives informal advice regarding the caves, and has a right to explore them, based on a licence dating back to the 1930s.
Looking up the entrance slope. We got to wear Hi Viz jackets! Photo by Linda Wilson.
So when a filming request comes in, as commercial activities require consent of the landowner, the first thing I need to do is find out what the company want to do and start the process of obtaining all necessary consents. Daft requests aren't uncommon, including one where the film makers wanted to flood the interior with smoke to make it more atmospheric. I pointed out that a) there are bats in the cave and they are protected species and b) there is a blind bend on a busy road immediately outside the entrance and that smoke drifting onto the road could well have catastrophic consequences. So in that instance the answer was NO. They said they couldn't go ahead without the smoke. I said, their problem, not mine. That one didn't go any further.
George's request was a lot more sensible. He's working with a company called Practical Magic on a series that aims to explore questions around the world's earliest art and the role art might have played in the development of symbolic thought, graphic communication and numeracy. The project is funded by the John Templeton Foundation and National Geographic. He proudly informed me that he's been taken on as one of the people the film world refers to as the Talent ie the people in front of the camera. I promptly fell about laughing as the thought of George being described as The Talent will never not be funny. Before you think I'm being cruel a) I've known him a long time and b) I've known him a long time!
Meet the Talent! Photo by Linda Wilson.
Joking apart, George has had a long association with UBSS, usually being repeatedly chased for his annual subs. Up until 2017, George taught prehistory in the Department of Archaeology at Bristol. He is currently one of the Principal Investigators with the First Art, a European-funded project looking at sampling pigments and Uranium Thorium dating techniques within selected caves and rock shelters in the Iberian Peninsula, looking for the elusive link between rock art and early modern humans and, possibly, Neanderthals.
Practical wanted access to film the fossil ammonites found with the human remains in the cave. Sadly that wasn't possible as the Stables are still closed for building works, but they also wanted to film the possible Mesolithic engraving in the back part of the cave behind the gate. I contacted the Wills Estate who agreed in principle subject to the usual conditions:
- A donation the the conservators
- A donation to UBSS Museum
- A donation to the Parish Council for the use of the toilets in the Combe.
- All activities on site to be supervised by myself (and others if needed)
- Consent to be obtained from Natural England
Various Zoom calls with the company followed the usual course. Eventually, the donations were agreed and then more Zoom calls and a bazillion emails ensued. Another thing to clear up early on is whether the filming release they will inevitably want signing looks sensible enough to put in front of Sir David. I usually end up hacking them to pieces with a red pen until we reach something likely to be acceptable. Never leave that to the end or it might all be a waste of time if an agreement can't be reached, as the company always needs a release form so that the footage can be used.
While that was being sorted, I approached my contact at Natural England regarding obtaining the necessary filming consent from them as the site is a scheduled Site of Scientific Interest. I completed the draft form, listing any potential 'threats' and measures to deal with them. In essence, it all comes down to not damaging the cave or the bats. Once that was agreed, Sir David signed the form and Natural England kindly processed the consent in record time (normally several months notice is needed, but our current contact is very pragmatic and helpful.]
What they were there to film. A series of scratched crosses believed to date to the Mesolithic. Photo by Linda Wilson.
Once all the paperwork was signed, I enlisted more help, as Practical Magic would be bringing a large crew and three presenters, including George 'The Talent' Nash. Zac Woodford, Lucy Dufall, Jan Walker and Henry Morgan kindly volunteered to help on site, with Graham Mullan supervising the cast and crew beyond the gate.
On the day, the layby beyond the cave was full of cars, vans and gazebos and more people than I could easily count. They'd all be warned not to approach the cave until I'd given the obligatory Health and Safety briefing. This mainly consists of saying very loudly: DON'T STEP BACKWARDS ONTO THE F***ING ROAD! as this is one of the most dangerous aspects of the filming. For most of the day, Jan was stationed outside the cave making sure this instruction was followed as from past experience, camera crews in particular get so engrossed in their shots that taking one step too far backwards to the road could have unfortunate consequences.
Setting up for some filming at the bottom of the slope. Photo by Linda Wilson.
Zac, Lucy, Henry and I helped carry large amounts of kit up and down the slopes, which had been roped as a handline for the non-cavers and generally made sure that everyone was being sensible and not harming either themselves or the cave. Graham supervised a very limited number of people beyond the gate, mostly George and his co-presenters, also rock art specialists.
Their own H&S adviser kept everyone liberally supplied with snack bars and during the lunchbreak, they even had a security guard positioned at the entrance to safeguard the kit. As it happened, it was a petty quiet weekday for walkers/cavers in the area and we didn't have to explain to any passing cavers why Aveline's was currently unavailable for visits.
All the lighting was done from outside the gate. Photo by Linda Wilson.
The crew were incredibly easy to work with and consulted me at all times about operations underground. I subsequently learned from their location manager that given the initial impression on Zoom and by email that I was a fire-breathing dragon who would call a halt to the entire thing if anyone put a foot wrong! I was most chuffed.
The whole thing took up about two full days of my time in total. One devoted to zoom calls, phone calls, emails, form filling, negotiation and other admin tasks plus another on site, together with most of a day from five other UBSS members. That's the reason we don't do this sort of thing without a donation. The filming netted us £700. Many thanks again to everyone who helped with this!
So that, dear readers, is a look at some of the lesser known things that go on behind the scenes in UBSS. And when our very own Talent returns from his world tour, I'll return the favour and message him on Facebook asking for a reprise of his exposition underground in the form of a field trip for anyone who's interested. George, darling, you have been warned!
Entrance to Aveline's Hole, Burrington Combe. Photo by Jan Walker.
The role of UBSS Museum Curator often involves dealing with media requests, frequently ones relating to Aveline's Hole on Mendip, the site of the Society's first archaeological excavation in 1919. Linda Wilson relates the story of the latest such encounter ...
Way back in August, when the weather was still warm and I had fewer grey hairs, I got a Facebook message from fellow UBSS member, archaeologist and rock art specialist George Nash asking me to contact him urgently. Few things in the museum world are ever urgent, so I immediately suspected the involvement of the Bane of my Life aka a film company. I groaned loudly and told George that I don't get out of bed for film companies without a hefty donation to the museum and if - as I correctly suspected - Aveline's Hole was involved, there would also need to be a donation to the Conservators of Burrington Common as a condition of permission being granted by the landowners, the Wills Estate.
Gratuitous shot of pretties beyond the gate. Photo by Linda Wilson.
By way of background, the Wills family have owned the land around Burrington for several generations. Sir George Wills was in many ways responsible for the foundation of the society in 1919 as he wanted the dig at Aveline's to be done under the auspices of the university. He also gave permission for the Hut to be erected on his land. He died before my time, but many years ago, I ended up in the role of UBSS liaison with the Wills family. I never knew Sir George, but dealt a lot with Sir John Wills, who kindly performed the opening ceremony for our museum and library in the Stables (behind 21 Woodland Road) in 1992. When he died, the estate went to his eldest son Sir David. Whilst the Wills Estate own the land, the Burrington area is also a registered common, which means that there are certain 'rights of common' over it exercised by local people, eg grazing rights. These are managed by the Burrington Conservators, whilst the underground remains managed by the Estate, and because of our close relationship with the family for over 100 years (Sir David and Lady Paula were guests of honour at our centenary dinner at Wookey Hole in 2019), UBSS gives informal advice regarding the caves, and has a right to explore them, based on a licence dating back to the 1930s.
Looking up the entrance slope. We got to wear Hi Viz jackets! Photo by Linda Wilson.
So when a filming request comes in, as commercial activities require consent of the landowner, the first thing I need to do is find out what the company want to do and start the process of obtaining all necessary consents. Daft requests aren't uncommon, including one where the film makers wanted to flood the interior with smoke to make it more atmospheric. I pointed out that a) there are bats in the cave and they are protected species and b) there is a blind bend on a busy road immediately outside the entrance and that smoke drifting onto the road could well have catastrophic consequences. So in that instance the answer was NO. They said they couldn't go ahead without the smoke. I said, their problem, not mine. That one didn't go any further.
George's request was a lot more sensible. He's working with a company called Practical Magic on a series that aims to explore questions around the world's earliest art and the role art might have played in the development of symbolic thought, graphic communication and numeracy. The project is funded by the John Templeton Foundation and National Geographic. He proudly informed me that he's been taken on as one of the people the film world refers to as the Talent ie the people in front of the camera. I promptly fell about laughing as the thought of George being described as The Talent will never not be funny. Before you think I'm being cruel a) I've known him a long time and b) I've known him a long time!
Meet the Talent! Photo by Linda Wilson.
Joking apart, George has had a long association with UBSS, usually being repeatedly chased for his annual subs. Up until 2017, George taught prehistory in the Department of Archaeology at Bristol. He is currently one of the Principal Investigators with the First Art, a European-funded project looking at sampling pigments and Uranium Thorium dating techniques within selected caves and rock shelters in the Iberian Peninsula, looking for the elusive link between rock art and early modern humans and, possibly, Neanderthals.
Practical wanted access to film the fossil ammonites found with the human remains in the cave. Sadly that wasn't possible as the Stables are still closed for building works, but they also wanted to film the possible Mesolithic engraving in the back part of the cave behind the gate. I contacted the Wills Estate who agreed in principle subject to the usual conditions:
- A donation the the conservators
- A donation to UBSS Museum
- A donation to the Parish Council for the use of the toilets in the Combe.
- All activities on site to be supervised by myself (and others if needed)
- Consent to be obtained from Natural England
Various Zoom calls with the company followed the usual course. Eventually, the donations were agreed and then more Zoom calls and a bazillion emails ensued. Another thing to clear up early on is whether the filming release they will inevitably want signing looks sensible enough to put in front of Sir David. I usually end up hacking them to pieces with a red pen until we reach something likely to be acceptable. Never leave that to the end or it might all be a waste of time if an agreement can't be reached, as the company always needs a release form so that the footage can be used.
While that was being sorted, I approached my contact at Natural England regarding obtaining the necessary filming consent from them as the site is a scheduled Site of Scientific Interest. I completed the draft form, listing any potential 'threats' and measures to deal with them. In essence, it all comes down to not damaging the cave or the bats. Once that was agreed, Sir David signed the form and Natural England kindly processed the consent in record time (normally several months notice is needed, but our current contact is very pragmatic and helpful.]
What they were there to film. A series of scratched crosses believed to date to the Mesolithic. Photo by Linda Wilson.
Once all the paperwork was signed, I enlisted more help, as Practical Magic would be bringing a large crew and three presenters, including George 'The Talent' Nash. Zac Woodford, Lucy Dufall, Jan Walker and Henry Morgan kindly volunteered to help on site, with Graham Mullan supervising the cast and crew beyond the gate.
On the day, the layby beyond the cave was full of cars, vans and gazebos and more people than I could easily count. They'd all be warned not to approach the cave until I'd given the obligatory Health and Safety briefing. This mainly consists of saying very loudly: DON'T STEP BACKWARDS ONTO THE F***ING ROAD! as this is one of the most dangerous aspects of the filming. For most of the day, Jan was stationed outside the cave making sure this instruction was followed as from past experience, camera crews in particular get so engrossed in their shots that taking one step too far backwards to the road could have unfortunate consequences.
Setting up for some filming at the bottom of the slope. Photo by Linda Wilson.
Zac, Lucy, Henry and I helped carry large amounts of kit up and down the slopes, which had been roped as a handline for the non-cavers and generally made sure that everyone was being sensible and not harming either themselves or the cave. Graham supervised a very limited number of people beyond the gate, mostly George and his co-presenters, also rock art specialists.
Their own H&S adviser kept everyone liberally supplied with snack bars and during the lunchbreak, they even had a security guard positioned at the entrance to safeguard the kit. As it happened, it was a petty quiet weekday for walkers/cavers in the area and we didn't have to explain to any passing cavers why Aveline's was currently unavailable for visits.
All the lighting was done from outside the gate. Photo by Linda Wilson.
The crew were incredibly easy to work with and consulted me at all times about operations underground. I subsequently learned from their location manager that given the initial impression on Zoom and by email that I was a fire-breathing dragon who would call a halt to the entire thing if anyone put a foot wrong! I was most chuffed.
The whole thing took up about two full days of my time in total. One devoted to zoom calls, phone calls, emails, form filling, negotiation and other admin tasks plus another on site, together with most of a day from five other UBSS members. That's the reason we don't do this sort of thing without a donation. The filming netted us £700. Many thanks again to everyone who helped with this!
So that, dear readers, is a look at some of the lesser known things that go on behind the scenes in UBSS. And when our very own Talent returns from his world tour, I'll return the favour and message him on Facebook asking for a reprise of his exposition underground in the form of a field trip for anyone who's interested. George, darling, you have been warned!
Linda Wilson
PHOTOS FROM THE FOREST
Slaughter Stream Cave otherwise known as Wet Sink is the longest cave system in the Forest of Dean. Sioned Haughton recently took a trip there with Si Hadfield and Elaine Oliver. These photos by Si show two highlights from their pleasant womble around some of the dry passages, leaving the streamway for next time.
Snow garden, at the end of a long section of fossil passage past the Dog's Graveyard.
The cave contains many archaeological remains, including those of 'Norman' a dog who sadly became trapped and died in the cave, possibly thousands of years ago. It's not known where he entered the cave.
Elaine, Si and Sioned did not become trapped in the cave!
Slaughter Stream Cave otherwise known as Wet Sink is the longest cave system in the Forest of Dean. Sioned Haughton recently took a trip there with Si Hadfield and Elaine Oliver. These photos by Si show two highlights from their pleasant womble around some of the dry passages, leaving the streamway for next time.
Snow garden, at the end of a long section of fossil passage past the Dog's Graveyard.
The cave contains many archaeological remains, including those of 'Norman' a dog who sadly became trapped and died in the cave, possibly thousands of years ago. It's not known where he entered the cave.
Elaine, Si and Sioned did not become trapped in the cave!
WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT, FAKE ELAINE'S ABOUT!
One of the first things new committee members learn is not send money, when asked, to Fake Elaine. Messages like the one below are a fairly frequent occurrence.
Note the actual email address, not the fake one. It seemed unlikely that Fake Elaine was trying to pay for her Xmas Dinner. Strangely, the request for a nude selfie went unanswered. The record for keeping one of these conversations going is still held by Mia Jacobs, who conducted an increasingly hilarious conversation with a bemused scammer who thought she was their new best friend.
One of the first things new committee members learn is not send money, when asked, to Fake Elaine. Messages like the one below are a fairly frequent occurrence.
Note the actual email address, not the fake one. It seemed unlikely that Fake Elaine was trying to pay for her Xmas Dinner. Strangely, the request for a nude selfie went unanswered. The record for keeping one of these conversations going is still held by Mia Jacobs, who conducted an increasingly hilarious conversation with a bemused scammer who thought she was their new best friend.
RUFUS READ TO THE END, THEY HOPE YOU DID, TOO!
Rufus was created using the Midjourney AI art program from the key words cave and cartoon creatures wearing glasses. Ah, procrastination techniques, how we love thee!
And the winner in last month's read to the end, much to Chloe the Cave Critter's delight, was new student member Daniel Levy! A prize will be winging his way shortly! He made nice comments, and we like him lots, preciousssss. We can confirm that Cat Henry is nearly the most improved on the leader board, but hasn't quite beat Dave Hardwick's score of being two years behind with one issue! If anyone else wants to rise to the challenge, please feel free to let us know what a slow reader you are!] Now, without further ado, here's last moth's kind entrants ...
- You clearly put a lot of work into the newsletters, and I appreciate that. It's really nice getting a nice general overview of everything's that happened each month, and I think it's a great idea. You nailed it 🙂 [Daniel Levy]
- Read to the end before it was even released! [Zac Woodford] [Disqualified again as editors don't get to call dibs, but keep trying, mate!]
- Aw, Chloe is adorable! Some fine caving this time, and another congratulations to Graham for his Tratman win! My personal award for the greatest line in this one, by Elliot McCall: “After some brief confusion as to the relative locations of Simon, who had gone on ahead, and the exit, which definitely couldn't have moved, we came back out into the sunlight happy and content”.Superb newsletter, as always. [Jan Walker] [Rufus hopes they're adorable, too!]
- Congratulations on the Tratman award and also the launch of the publication of The Caves of Mid-West Ireland. It’s encouraging to see how engaged the UBSS members are in the activities, as well as some impressive cave photographs. I was intrigued by the CO2 readings taken in Banwell Bone cave and will have to do a bit of ‘googling’! [Wendy Russ]
- The Tratman award sculpture is amazing! Wowee! Chloe is a bit scary though. [Mia Jacobs] [Chloe wishes to point out the typo in Mia's response. Mia clearly meant to say that Chloe was lovely but her fingers must have been muddy and slipped while typing.]
- I did it 🙂 I am a worm and I wriggled all the way to the end. Wiggle wiggle wiggle. [Ash Gregg]
- No kidding-- [Hans Friederich] [By which we are sure that Hans read to the end and thinks Chloe is a very fine cave critter!]
- I am still waiting for the money an iTunes vouchers you promised me. [Fake Elaine]
- Great newsletter again. Thanks and keep up the good work (oops - I meant fun)! [Patricia Hill]
- Maybe not the first but maybe the most improved? Incredible pictures of Coolagh River cave by Yi-Chun Chen! Have a random gratuitous baby caving picture as I'm faffing while Adam works out how to fix the boiler (it's a picnic we had today in Ashford black marble mine - of note we were with Alex Crow and Jess and their son Jon too was an excellent trip they organised!). [Cat Henry]
[And what better way to end than with a piccie of a Next Generation Caver? Thanks, Cat!]
I did, Rufus, I did read to the end! Will you take me caving?
THE END
Rufus was created using the Midjourney AI art program from the key words cave and cartoon creatures wearing glasses. Ah, procrastination techniques, how we love thee!
And the winner in last month's read to the end, much to Chloe the Cave Critter's delight, was new student member Daniel Levy! A prize will be winging his way shortly! He made nice comments, and we like him lots, preciousssss. We can confirm that Cat Henry is nearly the most improved on the leader board, but hasn't quite beat Dave Hardwick's score of being two years behind with one issue! If anyone else wants to rise to the challenge, please feel free to let us know what a slow reader you are!] Now, without further ado, here's last moth's kind entrants ...
- You clearly put a lot of work into the newsletters, and I appreciate that. It's really nice getting a nice general overview of everything's that happened each month, and I think it's a great idea. You nailed it 🙂 [Daniel Levy]
- Read to the end before it was even released! [Zac Woodford] [Disqualified again as editors don't get to call dibs, but keep trying, mate!]
- Aw, Chloe is adorable! Some fine caving this time, and another congratulations to Graham for his Tratman win! My personal award for the greatest line in this one, by Elliot McCall: “After some brief confusion as to the relative locations of Simon, who had gone on ahead, and the exit, which definitely couldn't have moved, we came back out into the sunlight happy and content”.Superb newsletter, as always. [Jan Walker] [Rufus hopes they're adorable, too!]
- Congratulations on the Tratman award and also the launch of the publication of The Caves of Mid-West Ireland. It’s encouraging to see how engaged the UBSS members are in the activities, as well as some impressive cave photographs. I was intrigued by the CO2 readings taken in Banwell Bone cave and will have to do a bit of ‘googling’! [Wendy Russ]
- The Tratman award sculpture is amazing! Wowee! Chloe is a bit scary though. [Mia Jacobs] [Chloe wishes to point out the typo in Mia's response. Mia clearly meant to say that Chloe was lovely but her fingers must have been muddy and slipped while typing.]
- I did it 🙂 I am a worm and I wriggled all the way to the end. Wiggle wiggle wiggle. [Ash Gregg]
- No kidding-- [Hans Friederich] [By which we are sure that Hans read to the end and thinks Chloe is a very fine cave critter!]
- I am still waiting for the money an iTunes vouchers you promised me. [Fake Elaine]
- Great newsletter again. Thanks and keep up the good work (oops - I meant fun)! [Patricia Hill]
- Maybe not the first but maybe the most improved? Incredible pictures of Coolagh River cave by Yi-Chun Chen! Have a random gratuitous baby caving picture as I'm faffing while Adam works out how to fix the boiler (it's a picnic we had today in Ashford black marble mine - of note we were with Alex Crow and Jess and their son Jon too was an excellent trip they organised!). [Cat Henry]
[And what better way to end than with a piccie of a Next Generation Caver? Thanks, Cat!]
I did, Rufus, I did read to the end! Will you take me caving?
THE END