Happy New Year! Caving got off to a fine start with UBSS members celebrating the turn of another year on Mendip and in South Wales, with caving going on the following day in both locations. This was followed by a trip to Yorkshire and a long-planned trip to Rowten Pot (details to follow next month) and then to South Wales again for Burns' Night. We've also had rescue training in Gloucester and have regained the use of the stairwell in the Richmond Building for SRT training following a delay while the SU went through the risk assessments (again) and reminded themselves of the existence of the structural engineer's report that they commissioned several years ago.
Jess Brock has taken a trip down Memory Lane and brings us a selection of her favourites from past Newsletters. We'd love to receive some of your favourites, too, so follow the usual link at the bottom of this editorial and dive in to see what tickles your fancy. There's also endless entertainment to be had in old log books if you'd like some extra amusement.
As ever, we're open to articles, trip write ups, nostalgia, cartoons, drawings, puzzles, caving songs, photos .... you name it, we'll be pleased to get it, with the possible exception of the zombie fungus that has been found on cave spiders in Scotland recently!
If you would like to check out previous issues, you can find them all here, including the scanned archive of all our paper issues.
Jess Brock has taken a trip down Memory Lane and brings us a selection of her favourites from past Newsletters. We'd love to receive some of your favourites, too, so follow the usual link at the bottom of this editorial and dive in to see what tickles your fancy. There's also endless entertainment to be had in old log books if you'd like some extra amusement.
As ever, we're open to articles, trip write ups, nostalgia, cartoons, drawings, puzzles, caving songs, photos .... you name it, we'll be pleased to get it, with the possible exception of the zombie fungus that has been found on cave spiders in Scotland recently!
If you would like to check out previous issues, you can find them all here, including the scanned archive of all our paper issues.
Linda and Billy
PS As ever, if the text is in blue and underlined, it's a clickable link, so go on, venture in, you know it makes sense ...
AGM & ANNUAL DINNER
To sign up you need to fill in the google form and include your menu choices. Don’t forget you must secure your spot by paying the £10 deposit to the usual club bank details by 15th February. If you don't have these, contact Graham. And if you have problems with Google Forms, email me direct.
A 20% discount will apply to current ticket prices, subject to the total headcount exceeding 30 people. The more, the merrier so SIGN UP NOW.
Looking forward to celebrating the start of another successful year of UBSS, filled with more adventures.
As I always say - Be there, or be square!
Poster by Joshitha Shiv
Yes, it's that time of year again! The AGM will be taking place in the Stables on 8th March 2025 at 2.30pm. Highlights will include officers' reports, the election of the next committee and a short talk (This year we will be having some words of wisdom from President Elaine.) This will be followed by the annual dinner at 7.30pm with a return to the Square Club. This is our yearly chance to posh up and go out to play, so make sure you sign up NOW! And don't forget our annual Awards, so if you'd like to make any nominations, contact Joshitha ASAP with details of your nominee and what they've done to go down in history as an award recipient.To sign up you need to fill in the google form and include your menu choices. Don’t forget you must secure your spot by paying the £10 deposit to the usual club bank details by 15th February. If you don't have these, contact Graham. And if you have problems with Google Forms, email me direct.
A 20% discount will apply to current ticket prices, subject to the total headcount exceeding 30 people. The more, the merrier so SIGN UP NOW.
Looking forward to celebrating the start of another successful year of UBSS, filled with more adventures.
As I always say - Be there, or be square!
Your sincere Social Sec,
Joshitha Sivakumar
Joshitha Sivakumar
SOUTHERN CHECC - SIGN UPS OPEN
If you'd like more information about Southern CHECC, contact either James Hallihan or Jess Brock! Alternatively, join the group chat from the UBSS Community on WhatsApp. Tickets can be purchased here, but make sure you have transport before signing up.
If you'd like more information about Southern CHECC, contact either James Hallihan or Jess Brock! Alternatively, join the group chat from the UBSS Community on WhatsApp. Tickets can be purchased here, but make sure you have transport before signing up.
SWILDON'S HOLE GOODWILL FEE
The Council of Southern Caving Clubs (CSCC) has passed on the news that the goodwill fee for crossong the land to reach the entrance of Swildon's Hole, Priddy, Somerset has been increased after many years to the sum of £2 per person.
Please ensure that you take £2 in cash with you whenever you visit the cave. This small fee helps to maintain the good relationship between cavers and the landowner that is essential for us all to be able to enjoy access to one of the finest cave systems in the region. Please do not attempt to abuse this system as we all depend on the necessary goodwill that our activities depend on. Remember it is the landowner who maintains the gates, walls and stiles on the land as well as allowing access to the changing barn on Priddy Green.
The money should be put in the black postbox by the residential door at Manor Farm round to the left of the changing barn. It is clearly labelled Swildon’s. Alternatively, if going via the Wessex CC HQ, there is a box on the wall in their changing room.
Source: CSCC.
The Council of Southern Caving Clubs (CSCC) has passed on the news that the goodwill fee for crossong the land to reach the entrance of Swildon's Hole, Priddy, Somerset has been increased after many years to the sum of £2 per person.
Please ensure that you take £2 in cash with you whenever you visit the cave. This small fee helps to maintain the good relationship between cavers and the landowner that is essential for us all to be able to enjoy access to one of the finest cave systems in the region. Please do not attempt to abuse this system as we all depend on the necessary goodwill that our activities depend on. Remember it is the landowner who maintains the gates, walls and stiles on the land as well as allowing access to the changing barn on Priddy Green.
The money should be put in the black postbox by the residential door at Manor Farm round to the left of the changing barn. It is clearly labelled Swildon’s. Alternatively, if going via the Wessex CC HQ, there is a box on the wall in their changing room.
Source: CSCC.
ALL TIED UP AND READY TO GO
Andrew Atkinson recently spent an evening passing on some his impressive knowledge of rescue techniques. Thanks to him for running the session, and thanks to Jess Brock for being our roving reporter.
Nine of us went to the Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group (GCRG) to learn some belay techniques and rescue techniques.
Andrew Atkinson recently spent an evening passing on some his impressive knowledge of rescue techniques. Thanks to him for running the session, and thanks to Jess Brock for being our roving reporter.
Nine of us went to the Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group (GCRG) to learn some belay techniques and rescue techniques.
The GCRG training facility (left) with Isaac and Ben Morgan assisting 'casualty' Dan Rose (right). Photos by Jess Brock.
Andrew covered rigging ladders and methods of belaying, fall factors and how the top of the pitch is the most dangerous place, how useful pulleys are in rescue scenarios, and some other bits and bobs.
Participants: Jess Brock, Ben Morgan, Daniel Rose, Billy Evans, Joshitha Sivakumar, Grace Smith, Ben Pett, Isaac Neale, James Hallihan.
Andrew covered rigging ladders and methods of belaying, fall factors and how the top of the pitch is the most dangerous place, how useful pulleys are in rescue scenarios, and some other bits and bobs.
Participants: Jess Brock, Ben Morgan, Daniel Rose, Billy Evans, Joshitha Sivakumar, Grace Smith, Ben Pett, Isaac Neale, James Hallihan.
Jess Brock
SKYHOOKS, SALUBRIOUS AND SNOW
The Trident. Photo by Joshitha Sivakumar.
Joshitha Shivakumar recently got her first taste of caving in Wales and tells the tale of her adventures in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu (OFD).
After a brief New Year’s trip to East Twin Swallet, I was ready for a proper underground exploration. Burrington caves hold a special place for me, but it was time to explore somewhere I could actually stand upright for more than 90 seconds.
The plan was to tackle OFD 2 on Saturday after a good night’s rest at the SWCC. After an hour of faff, untangling our disarrayed SRT kits, we finally made it underground. Entering via Top Entrance, we moved through the Big Chamber near the Entrance and into Gnome Passage. At first, it felt like GB; I was surprised by how much of it involved walking and scrambling over boulders, which was a nice change. We took a left into Salubrious Passage, which lived up to its name with a nice streamway walk. From there, we peeked at stunning formations: the Trident and the Judge (a personal favourite).
Pressing on, we navigated through President’s Leap, keeping our heads low as we moved into a tunnel well-decorated with helictites at every turn. Soon, we reached the Shattered Pillar and Cross Rift, and headed down Midnight Passage towards Skyhook.
Isaac Neale at the top of the Skyhook. Photo by Joshitha Sivakumar.
This was my first SRT ascent in a cave. It was a lovely climb until I reached the end of the rope and glanced down to see quite the fall beneath me! Hooking my crabs onto the traverse line, I tried to keep my eyes on my footholds and not the massive drop down the lovely 11m pitch head.
After Skyhook, we found ourselves in a long crawl, with the walls taped for conservation purposes. I tried my hardest not to flop onto these delicate formations while crawling with my SRT kit still on. Nonetheless, it was worth every bit of effort when we spotted OFD’s biggest crystal pool - simply breathtaking. We spent some time exploring formations and pools before making our way to the Loft for a sweet treat.
Pretties in Swamp Creek.
Pictures can never do justice to the magnificence of these caves, but I tried. Recharged, we ran through the passage on our way out. Descending Skyhook was harder than the ascent; hand cramps are not fun. After some rope management, I did make it down :) Maybe a Petzl Simple is the way forward after all?
Kenneth MacIver in OFD. Photo by Josthitha Sivakumar.
On our way out, we took a quick peek at Swamp Creek. Back at the entrance, we were greeted by snow. Unfortunately, my wellies had other ideas about traction, and I slipped no fewer than six times on the way down. The return was a very pleasant walk, I just wish I hadn’t been horizontal for a good chunk of it.
Snow-covered mishaps aside, it was a fantastic day underground. I can’t wait to return for a through trip in this gorgeous, gorgeous cave. Issac said it was, surprisingly, a much better experience caving without a hangover for once!
The Trident. Photo by Joshitha Sivakumar.Joshitha Shivakumar recently got her first taste of caving in Wales and tells the tale of her adventures in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu (OFD).
After a brief New Year’s trip to East Twin Swallet, I was ready for a proper underground exploration. Burrington caves hold a special place for me, but it was time to explore somewhere I could actually stand upright for more than 90 seconds.
The plan was to tackle OFD 2 on Saturday after a good night’s rest at the SWCC. After an hour of faff, untangling our disarrayed SRT kits, we finally made it underground. Entering via Top Entrance, we moved through the Big Chamber near the Entrance and into Gnome Passage. At first, it felt like GB; I was surprised by how much of it involved walking and scrambling over boulders, which was a nice change. We took a left into Salubrious Passage, which lived up to its name with a nice streamway walk. From there, we peeked at stunning formations: the Trident and the Judge (a personal favourite).
Pressing on, we navigated through President’s Leap, keeping our heads low as we moved into a tunnel well-decorated with helictites at every turn. Soon, we reached the Shattered Pillar and Cross Rift, and headed down Midnight Passage towards Skyhook.
Isaac Neale at the top of the Skyhook. Photo by Joshitha Sivakumar.
This was my first SRT ascent in a cave. It was a lovely climb until I reached the end of the rope and glanced down to see quite the fall beneath me! Hooking my crabs onto the traverse line, I tried to keep my eyes on my footholds and not the massive drop down the lovely 11m pitch head.
After Skyhook, we found ourselves in a long crawl, with the walls taped for conservation purposes. I tried my hardest not to flop onto these delicate formations while crawling with my SRT kit still on. Nonetheless, it was worth every bit of effort when we spotted OFD’s biggest crystal pool - simply breathtaking. We spent some time exploring formations and pools before making our way to the Loft for a sweet treat.
Pretties in Swamp Creek.Pictures can never do justice to the magnificence of these caves, but I tried. Recharged, we ran through the passage on our way out. Descending Skyhook was harder than the ascent; hand cramps are not fun. After some rope management, I did make it down :) Maybe a Petzl Simple is the way forward after all?
Kenneth MacIver in OFD. Photo by Josthitha Sivakumar.
On our way out, we took a quick peek at Swamp Creek. Back at the entrance, we were greeted by snow. Unfortunately, my wellies had other ideas about traction, and I slipped no fewer than six times on the way down. The return was a very pleasant walk, I just wish I hadn’t been horizontal for a good chunk of it.
Snow-covered mishaps aside, it was a fantastic day underground. I can’t wait to return for a through trip in this gorgeous, gorgeous cave. Issac said it was, surprisingly, a much better experience caving without a hangover for once!
Joshitha Sivakumar
THERE AND AND BACK AGAIN
Photographic proof that someone knows their way to the Columns. Isaac Neal wearing a crown on top of his caving helmet.
Joshitha wasn't the only one who experienced the delights of OFD at New Year, which also saw Billy Evans take his first steps, venturing into Top Entrance on a Columns Open Day and playing follow-my-leader with Isaac Neale and Teddy. Here' a few photos to prove they made it to their destination, however history does not appear to relate why Isaac was wearing a crown!
Billy and Teddy made it there, too!
The King of the Gnomes is a UBSS member!
Photographic proof that someone knows their way to the Columns. Isaac Neal wearing a crown on top of his caving helmet.
Joshitha wasn't the only one who experienced the delights of OFD at New Year, which also saw Billy Evans take his first steps, venturing into Top Entrance on a Columns Open Day and playing follow-my-leader with Isaac Neale and Teddy. Here' a few photos to prove they made it to their destination, however history does not appear to relate why Isaac was wearing a crown!
Billy and Teddy made it there, too!
The King of the Gnomes is a UBSS member!
UNDERGROUND IN MID-WALES
Zac Woodford by a well preserved water wheel in the copper mine. Photo by Lydia de Brett.
In December, Zac Woodford spent a weekend in mid-Wales with his friend Lydia de Brett (formerly of Bangor University) exploring some of the region's numerous old mine workings.
We stayed at an old and poorly insulated and equally poorly heated but LARGE cottage in Trefeglwys. On Saturday 14th. we went to Cwmystwyth to a lead mine. We had a good systematic explore finding many artifacts included some well preserved ore-chutes. We made an SRT ascent on in-situ aids to a higher level with a large wall of 'deads' (waste stone cut and stacked underground) and a “coffin passage”. On this higher level that we found a surface shaft entrance. I had to C-rig my descender on the way down.
Zac having fun on a rope in the lead mine at Cwmystwyth (left) and next to a wall of neatly stacked 'deads'. Photo by Lydia de Brett.
On Sunday 15th, we went to a copper mine at Ystrad Einion. The road there was blocked so we had to park and hike the last two miles. When we got there we found many surface workings and a gated shaft. We then spent ages looking for the adit. We found one adit but after exploring it found it wasn’t the right one. We continued searching and were just about to give up when we found the adit we were looking for!
A river of copper stained stal. Photo by Lydia de Brett.
Inside, we found an incredibly well preserved water wheel and other artifacts. There were also some blue formations (from the copper). We then found the bottom of the gated shaft where there were a couple of frogs in need of rescue! So I hurried out post haste with them in hand. After which we trudged back to the car.
Zac Woodford by a well preserved water wheel in the copper mine. Photo by Lydia de Brett.
In December, Zac Woodford spent a weekend in mid-Wales with his friend Lydia de Brett (formerly of Bangor University) exploring some of the region's numerous old mine workings.
We stayed at an old and poorly insulated and equally poorly heated but LARGE cottage in Trefeglwys. On Saturday 14th. we went to Cwmystwyth to a lead mine. We had a good systematic explore finding many artifacts included some well preserved ore-chutes. We made an SRT ascent on in-situ aids to a higher level with a large wall of 'deads' (waste stone cut and stacked underground) and a “coffin passage”. On this higher level that we found a surface shaft entrance. I had to C-rig my descender on the way down.
Zac having fun on a rope in the lead mine at Cwmystwyth (left) and next to a wall of neatly stacked 'deads'. Photo by Lydia de Brett.
On Sunday 15th, we went to a copper mine at Ystrad Einion. The road there was blocked so we had to park and hike the last two miles. When we got there we found many surface workings and a gated shaft. We then spent ages looking for the adit. We found one adit but after exploring it found it wasn’t the right one. We continued searching and were just about to give up when we found the adit we were looking for!
A river of copper stained stal. Photo by Lydia de Brett.
Inside, we found an incredibly well preserved water wheel and other artifacts. There were also some blue formations (from the copper). We then found the bottom of the gated shaft where there were a couple of frogs in need of rescue! So I hurried out post haste with them in hand. After which we trudged back to the car.
Zac Woodford
FIND THE CAVE!
This illustration came to light while sorting through the late Tony Boycott's coolection of framed photos. Linda Wilson appeals for help to solve a puzzle.
This gorgeous illustration of two daring ladies venturing underground was almost certainly removed from a book at some point and sold separately. Tony often collected items like this and framed them. This was in a simple clip frame, which held no clues whatsoever to its orgin. Fittingly, it left Tony's house with Mia and Jess, two of our favourite Ladies who Cave, although it's doubtful they've ever gone caving quite so elaborately dressed and with so little reliable light.
The challenge is to find the cave and where this illustration came from. If you'd like to hazard a guess, do give it a go, giving the reasons for your choice! And before anyone asks, no I don't know the answer to this puzzle, but I would love to know what everyone else thinks! It's at times like this that I definitely miss just being able to phone up the late, great Dave Irwin (Wig to his friends) and draw on his encyclopedic knowledge of caving and cave literature.
I will personal award some form of prize to anyone who can solve this mystery, but in the meantime let's start to list the pros and cons for various sites of spelaeological interest.
This illustration came to light while sorting through the late Tony Boycott's coolection of framed photos. Linda Wilson appeals for help to solve a puzzle.
This gorgeous illustration of two daring ladies venturing underground was almost certainly removed from a book at some point and sold separately. Tony often collected items like this and framed them. This was in a simple clip frame, which held no clues whatsoever to its orgin. Fittingly, it left Tony's house with Mia and Jess, two of our favourite Ladies who Cave, although it's doubtful they've ever gone caving quite so elaborately dressed and with so little reliable light.
The challenge is to find the cave and where this illustration came from. If you'd like to hazard a guess, do give it a go, giving the reasons for your choice! And before anyone asks, no I don't know the answer to this puzzle, but I would love to know what everyone else thinks! It's at times like this that I definitely miss just being able to phone up the late, great Dave Irwin (Wig to his friends) and draw on his encyclopedic knowledge of caving and cave literature.
I will personal award some form of prize to anyone who can solve this mystery, but in the meantime let's start to list the pros and cons for various sites of spelaeological interest.
Linda Wilson
A WEEK WITH RAKING LIGHT
Mia Jacobs crawling through to the Crypt of Dates beyond the Lake in Kents Cavern. Photo by Linda Wilson.
It's January, so it must have beeen time for another week at Kents Cavern in Torquay! This year, Mia Jacobs joined the team and tells of her adventures.
This month I had the fantastic opportunity to join the all-female research group from Raking Light, for a week in Kents Cavern – the team includes our very own speleologists Linda Wilson and Jan Walker along with the archaeologist Rebecca Ireland and medieval/historic graffiti researcher Anthea Hawdon.
I immediately caught the graffiti bug upon coming face-to-face with the history that was etched into rock all around us; there is a captivating materiality to tracing the ridges of strangers’ declarations of “I was here” from hundreds of years ago (spanning the 16th to the 20th centuries).
As for myself, I was dubbed the group’s sherpa, covering the ‘safety side of things’, which involved a bit of rigging, belaying, and carrying kit back and forth. Our daily commute was via the gift shop which had a fantastic array of cuddly cave animals (and even older creatures) including ammonites, belemnites, mammoths and very soft woolly rhinos that I had to resist touching with my muddy hands each time I passed by.
It was very pleasant to experience caving in another dimension – that is, stationary. Kents Cavern proved to be a very peaceful place to while away the hours with no concerns about missing a callout or getting hypothermia – and there was a café attached to it, as well.
There are just so many names signed in this cave (not only carved or chiseled into the rock, but also written with smoke marks, several-hundred-year-old chalk markings, and even pencil in later years), and it is great fun to learn their stories. The general method of this project is to photograph as much as possible, decipher (where possible) the names and dates of the inscriptions we find, then research them further, uncovering interesting stories about the individuals who inscribed their names in this cave and the lives they led.
FATHER JOHN MACENERY - A ROMANTICISED DEPICTION
Father John MacEnery (1796 - 1841).
I felt like we were playing a puzzle or detective game all week, trying to decipher which etchings belonged to what word, and figuring out what those words actually said.
A personal highlight for me was the uncovering of Father John MacEnery’s story – a well-known character to all those interested in Kents (although we’ve yet to find his signature in there!).
MacEnery has often been portrayed as a deeply conflicted Catholic priest, torn between his faith and the archaeological findings he was researching in Kents Cavern. The Raking Light team has discovered that, in reality, MacEnery was fully committed to publishing his discoveries despite the controversy and ostracism it would cause - his only obstacle was a lack of funding (highly relatable).
As the new Kents Cavern Guidebook explains, Father MacEnery carried out the first systematic exploration of Kents Cavern in 1825 when he discovered human tools alongside the remains of mammoth and woolly rhinoceros, coming to understand that humans must have lived with extinct animals in the past. This would mean that humanity has lived for longer than what was dogmatically accepted in Christian belief. Despite this, MacEnery recorded everything that he found objectively – and he did it well. Importantly, he was making these findings several decades before Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution.
Through their research this week, Linda and Rebecca found that MacEnery’s views were considered perhaps too liberal for Ireland, resulting in his reassignment to minister in England. It was also confirmed that he was indeed editing his research with the intention of publishing, which was never fulfilled due to lack of funding.
J. Braham 189(?) (top left), Fran Parker (middle). Photo by Linda Wilson.
That same week, I came across an engraving apparently reading ‘IBRAHAM 189(?)’ near the pitch-head that leads to the Crypt of Dates, which was our focus that week. Linda’s further investigation found that this ‘Ibraham’ could, in fact, be Mr Braham, who accompanied MacEnery into the cave on one occasion. I was initially excited that this could be a Hebrew or Arabic name, conjuring up images of a liberal Catholic priest in the 1800s who not only meticulously researches the antiquity of man, but is also friends with people of different faiths. I was somewhat disappointed that ‘Braham’ is an English surname and it is not so likely to be an anglicised version of ‘Abraham’ or ‘Ibrahim’. Nonetheless, it’s worth further investigating the J Braham of Kents Cavern and his origins and whether this might have been James Braham the jeweller of 8, The Strand, Torquay or a relative of his.
In context, it is worth noting that J entered the English alphabet as a separate letter comparatively recently, only becoming distinct from I in the 17th century. The crossed I, often found in medieval and early modern names and initials often stands for J, which can be a source of confusion.
CLIMBING TO THE CRYPT OF DATES
Moving on from MacEnery, my favourite piece of graffiti from this trip is ‘John Percy’, as he carved his name in impressively neat cursive script, although he neglected to write a date.
John Percy. Photo by Linda Wilson.
John Percy and I. BRAHAM are both situated on the same boss (I understand the term ‘boss’ to mean an impressive stalagmitic formation that doubles as a hotspot for inscriptions) as a ‘Fran Parker’ who was discovered on a previous trip. I thoroughly enjoyed imagining Fran scrambling and crawling her way through the un-dug cave in her long skirts, perhaps wearing little heeled shoes. Alternatively, Fran could have been Francis, but there are undeniably women's names in the cave, including Jane Pride and Mildred Torkinton (on the Inscribed Boss at the entrance to Clinnick's Gallery), so my thoughts might not be too fanciful!
On the final day, I decided to have a go at climbing a possible original way to the Crypt of Dates, a route that has been little touched for two hundred years. This involved the added challenge of navigating the overhang that was dug out when William Pengelly lowered the floor of the cave by several metres – for context, Pengelly led the ‘Great Excavation of Kents Cavern’ in 1865-1880.
Mia at the top of the overhang up to the back way into the Crypt of Dates. Photo by Linda Wilson.
This overhang was followed by an underwhelmingly wide squeeze (a body-sized tube at least) that pops straight out into the Crypt of Dates. It was a very simple and straightforward route, which will be more efficient for transporting kit to the Crypt rather than up the ladder and across the ‘lake’ (Pengelly drained this from, at a guess, 1.5m max depth by 4m wide to a mere muddy puddle). Of course, when the PR staff member asked me to redo the climb for their social media, I did not succeed, and now they have a blooper reel of me scrambling up and sliding down the rock face repeatedly.
Mia emerging into the Crypt of Dates by the 'Pengelly Route'. Photo by Jan Walker.
At the end of the trip I bade farewell to John Percy, Fran Parker, and I. BRAHAM. I look forward to coming back to Kents to get my hands on a cuddly woolly rhino and seeing what else there is to be discovered on the rock faces and stal flows.
Mia Jacobs crawling through to the Crypt of Dates beyond the Lake in Kents Cavern. Photo by Linda Wilson.
It's January, so it must have beeen time for another week at Kents Cavern in Torquay! This year, Mia Jacobs joined the team and tells of her adventures.
This month I had the fantastic opportunity to join the all-female research group from Raking Light, for a week in Kents Cavern – the team includes our very own speleologists Linda Wilson and Jan Walker along with the archaeologist Rebecca Ireland and medieval/historic graffiti researcher Anthea Hawdon.
I immediately caught the graffiti bug upon coming face-to-face with the history that was etched into rock all around us; there is a captivating materiality to tracing the ridges of strangers’ declarations of “I was here” from hundreds of years ago (spanning the 16th to the 20th centuries).
As for myself, I was dubbed the group’s sherpa, covering the ‘safety side of things’, which involved a bit of rigging, belaying, and carrying kit back and forth. Our daily commute was via the gift shop which had a fantastic array of cuddly cave animals (and even older creatures) including ammonites, belemnites, mammoths and very soft woolly rhinos that I had to resist touching with my muddy hands each time I passed by.
It was very pleasant to experience caving in another dimension – that is, stationary. Kents Cavern proved to be a very peaceful place to while away the hours with no concerns about missing a callout or getting hypothermia – and there was a café attached to it, as well.
There are just so many names signed in this cave (not only carved or chiseled into the rock, but also written with smoke marks, several-hundred-year-old chalk markings, and even pencil in later years), and it is great fun to learn their stories. The general method of this project is to photograph as much as possible, decipher (where possible) the names and dates of the inscriptions we find, then research them further, uncovering interesting stories about the individuals who inscribed their names in this cave and the lives they led.
FATHER JOHN MACENERY - A ROMANTICISED DEPICTION
Father John MacEnery (1796 - 1841).
I felt like we were playing a puzzle or detective game all week, trying to decipher which etchings belonged to what word, and figuring out what those words actually said.
A personal highlight for me was the uncovering of Father John MacEnery’s story – a well-known character to all those interested in Kents (although we’ve yet to find his signature in there!).
MacEnery has often been portrayed as a deeply conflicted Catholic priest, torn between his faith and the archaeological findings he was researching in Kents Cavern. The Raking Light team has discovered that, in reality, MacEnery was fully committed to publishing his discoveries despite the controversy and ostracism it would cause - his only obstacle was a lack of funding (highly relatable).
As the new Kents Cavern Guidebook explains, Father MacEnery carried out the first systematic exploration of Kents Cavern in 1825 when he discovered human tools alongside the remains of mammoth and woolly rhinoceros, coming to understand that humans must have lived with extinct animals in the past. This would mean that humanity has lived for longer than what was dogmatically accepted in Christian belief. Despite this, MacEnery recorded everything that he found objectively – and he did it well. Importantly, he was making these findings several decades before Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution.
Through their research this week, Linda and Rebecca found that MacEnery’s views were considered perhaps too liberal for Ireland, resulting in his reassignment to minister in England. It was also confirmed that he was indeed editing his research with the intention of publishing, which was never fulfilled due to lack of funding.
J. Braham 189(?) (top left), Fran Parker (middle). Photo by Linda Wilson.
That same week, I came across an engraving apparently reading ‘IBRAHAM 189(?)’ near the pitch-head that leads to the Crypt of Dates, which was our focus that week. Linda’s further investigation found that this ‘Ibraham’ could, in fact, be Mr Braham, who accompanied MacEnery into the cave on one occasion. I was initially excited that this could be a Hebrew or Arabic name, conjuring up images of a liberal Catholic priest in the 1800s who not only meticulously researches the antiquity of man, but is also friends with people of different faiths. I was somewhat disappointed that ‘Braham’ is an English surname and it is not so likely to be an anglicised version of ‘Abraham’ or ‘Ibrahim’. Nonetheless, it’s worth further investigating the J Braham of Kents Cavern and his origins and whether this might have been James Braham the jeweller of 8, The Strand, Torquay or a relative of his.
In context, it is worth noting that J entered the English alphabet as a separate letter comparatively recently, only becoming distinct from I in the 17th century. The crossed I, often found in medieval and early modern names and initials often stands for J, which can be a source of confusion.
CLIMBING TO THE CRYPT OF DATES
Moving on from MacEnery, my favourite piece of graffiti from this trip is ‘John Percy’, as he carved his name in impressively neat cursive script, although he neglected to write a date.
John Percy. Photo by Linda Wilson.
John Percy and I. BRAHAM are both situated on the same boss (I understand the term ‘boss’ to mean an impressive stalagmitic formation that doubles as a hotspot for inscriptions) as a ‘Fran Parker’ who was discovered on a previous trip. I thoroughly enjoyed imagining Fran scrambling and crawling her way through the un-dug cave in her long skirts, perhaps wearing little heeled shoes. Alternatively, Fran could have been Francis, but there are undeniably women's names in the cave, including Jane Pride and Mildred Torkinton (on the Inscribed Boss at the entrance to Clinnick's Gallery), so my thoughts might not be too fanciful!
On the final day, I decided to have a go at climbing a possible original way to the Crypt of Dates, a route that has been little touched for two hundred years. This involved the added challenge of navigating the overhang that was dug out when William Pengelly lowered the floor of the cave by several metres – for context, Pengelly led the ‘Great Excavation of Kents Cavern’ in 1865-1880.
Mia at the top of the overhang up to the back way into the Crypt of Dates. Photo by Linda Wilson.
This overhang was followed by an underwhelmingly wide squeeze (a body-sized tube at least) that pops straight out into the Crypt of Dates. It was a very simple and straightforward route, which will be more efficient for transporting kit to the Crypt rather than up the ladder and across the ‘lake’ (Pengelly drained this from, at a guess, 1.5m max depth by 4m wide to a mere muddy puddle). Of course, when the PR staff member asked me to redo the climb for their social media, I did not succeed, and now they have a blooper reel of me scrambling up and sliding down the rock face repeatedly.
Mia emerging into the Crypt of Dates by the 'Pengelly Route'. Photo by Jan Walker.
At the end of the trip I bade farewell to John Percy, Fran Parker, and I. BRAHAM. I look forward to coming back to Kents to get my hands on a cuddly woolly rhino and seeing what else there is to be discovered on the rock faces and stal flows.
Mia Jacobs
INTERESTING THINGS FROM DAYS GONE BY
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
Jess Brock recently embarked on a top-secret mission into the UBSS newlestter vaults, looking at 106 years of history, legacy, jokes, and tales of the underground. So get ready for some of the things she's unearthed. We'll count this as an entry for our 100 Memories Project, as well!
Using the website I was able to lay my eyes upon each and every UBSS newsletter issue uploaded onto the online database. My eyes, soon to become square, absorbed so many black squiggles that the only things that stood out were the fascinating drawings on a multitude of themes.
While some showed great artistry and creative minds, others were risque and ribald.
There were puzzles of caver difficulty including crosswords, word searches and committee member name anagrams.
I came across several t-shirt designs, comics and posters dotted in amongst the endless accounts of speleo-explorers gone abroad to swallow baguettes, stalactites, and other objects.
One thing remained constant though and through the drawings, it became clear that tales of committee struggles were never new, just cyclical.
You may think that the UBSS logo has been the same all 106 years long. That’s not the case, there have been dozens of designs made by UBSS members through the years. Here are some of my favourites.
Maybe it is time for ‘Caption competition’ or the Wessex Challenge to return. Or perhaps it is time for our cavers to put down their phone and pick up their pens?
So, captions by email, please, with a bonus point for all entrants who can name this esteemed past president!
(Please don’t ask which specific issue these are from. It’s Hide and Seek, find ‘em yourselves!)
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
Jess Brock recently embarked on a top-secret mission into the UBSS newlestter vaults, looking at 106 years of history, legacy, jokes, and tales of the underground. So get ready for some of the things she's unearthed. We'll count this as an entry for our 100 Memories Project, as well!
Using the website I was able to lay my eyes upon each and every UBSS newsletter issue uploaded onto the online database. My eyes, soon to become square, absorbed so many black squiggles that the only things that stood out were the fascinating drawings on a multitude of themes.
While some showed great artistry and creative minds, others were risque and ribald.
There were puzzles of caver difficulty including crosswords, word searches and committee member name anagrams.
I came across several t-shirt designs, comics and posters dotted in amongst the endless accounts of speleo-explorers gone abroad to swallow baguettes, stalactites, and other objects.
One thing remained constant though and through the drawings, it became clear that tales of committee struggles were never new, just cyclical.
You may think that the UBSS logo has been the same all 106 years long. That’s not the case, there have been dozens of designs made by UBSS members through the years. Here are some of my favourites.
Maybe it is time for ‘Caption competition’ or the Wessex Challenge to return. Or perhaps it is time for our cavers to put down their phone and pick up their pens?
So, captions by email, please, with a bonus point for all entrants who can name this esteemed past president!
(Please don’t ask which specific issue these are from. It’s Hide and Seek, find ‘em yourselves!)
Jess Brock
DOWN, DOWN, DEEPER AND DOWN!
If you'd like to see the amazing lengths Mendip cavers will go to in pursuit of a cave, click the link above to watch the latest video from Michael Perryman and Nick Thorne of the Mendip Caving Group (MCG) exploring the extreme depths of Templeton Pot. We're happy to place a bet that this will appeal to anyone who played with Meccano as a kid!
INCY WINCY GOT THIS FAR, DID YOU?
Graham Mullan claimed the right to nominate this month's cave critter (but we drew the line at including the zombie fungus because we like spiders!). If you'd like to nominate a critter to star in this spot, please let us know! As ever, thanks to all the lovely people who dropped us a line last month. It's great to hear from you all. Kenneth MacIver wins a UBSS buff so if you'd like to have a chance of following in his footsteps, don't forget to use the link at the end to get in contact!
- Fabulous newsletter, lovely first visit to Ireland (I will be going again!), some scary and amazing caving trips by members, and I have to say that Jess Brock is an absolute star! [Jan Walker]
- Hello, my foxy friend, nice to meet you! [Kenneth MacIver]
- Memories of getting stuck trying to exit from Charterhouse Warren Bone Cave (as it was known when we descended soon after the breakthrough) all came back, with the evil narrow entrance shaft ... [Chris Howes}
- Insane stuff, as usual. [Megan Malpas]
- I've made a new year's resolution to not miss reading a single one of the 2025 newsletters. I thought this one was well up to the usual standard, with some great photos. Keep up the good work! [Carol Walford]
- Thanks to Linda, Billy and all the roving correspondents and photographers for excellent newsletters all through 2024. I'm feeling very nostalgic for Ireland after reading this issue. And now I want porridge after reading Stanley's recipe! Happy new year to everyone. [Sharon Wheeler and the blessed FT Bear]
- Love your Ireland pics! [Elliott McCall]
- Happy New Year. Good to see so much being done. And thanks for an excellent New Year’s Eve dinner, only my 2nd in 50 years. The helping of turkey and trimmings was big enough to last for a few more (well, days anyway). Thanks for the link to Rick Shulting’s paper – fascinating. I went down the swallet during the initial excavations, acting as gopher to Pete Smart, making a high-grade survey to assist the excavation recordings. Moving around was tricky because we had to be incredibly careful not to tread on any bones. Happy days. [Dick Willis]
- Thanks for another fun newsletter. Happy New Year! [Hans Friederich]
Nice to meet you, Incy Wincy Spider!
THE END
Graham Mullan claimed the right to nominate this month's cave critter (but we drew the line at including the zombie fungus because we like spiders!). If you'd like to nominate a critter to star in this spot, please let us know! As ever, thanks to all the lovely people who dropped us a line last month. It's great to hear from you all. Kenneth MacIver wins a UBSS buff so if you'd like to have a chance of following in his footsteps, don't forget to use the link at the end to get in contact!
- Fabulous newsletter, lovely first visit to Ireland (I will be going again!), some scary and amazing caving trips by members, and I have to say that Jess Brock is an absolute star! [Jan Walker]
- Hello, my foxy friend, nice to meet you! [Kenneth MacIver]
- Memories of getting stuck trying to exit from Charterhouse Warren Bone Cave (as it was known when we descended soon after the breakthrough) all came back, with the evil narrow entrance shaft ... [Chris Howes}
- Insane stuff, as usual. [Megan Malpas]
- I've made a new year's resolution to not miss reading a single one of the 2025 newsletters. I thought this one was well up to the usual standard, with some great photos. Keep up the good work! [Carol Walford]
- Thanks to Linda, Billy and all the roving correspondents and photographers for excellent newsletters all through 2024. I'm feeling very nostalgic for Ireland after reading this issue. And now I want porridge after reading Stanley's recipe! Happy new year to everyone. [Sharon Wheeler and the blessed FT Bear]
- Love your Ireland pics! [Elliott McCall]
- Happy New Year. Good to see so much being done. And thanks for an excellent New Year’s Eve dinner, only my 2nd in 50 years. The helping of turkey and trimmings was big enough to last for a few more (well, days anyway). Thanks for the link to Rick Shulting’s paper – fascinating. I went down the swallet during the initial excavations, acting as gopher to Pete Smart, making a high-grade survey to assist the excavation recordings. Moving around was tricky because we had to be incredibly careful not to tread on any bones. Happy days. [Dick Willis]
- Thanks for another fun newsletter. Happy New Year! [Hans Friederich]
Nice to meet you, Incy Wincy Spider!
THE END