Fairy Cave Quarry. The Last 45 Years.

[Rich West]

Good to see the erudite scribblings of the Old Ruminator from long, long ago.
However - where are the other four pages of the "History of Discovery and Exploration" chapter ?  Anyone looking for a copy should note that was published by the Cerberus Spelaeological Society as Occasional Publication Number 1 in August 1977. Those interested in Mendip caving should look out for this 72 page gem which is very comprehensive and contains a four page Bibliography.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Yes. That is quite so Rich. I am trying to sneak bits on without anyone noticing. Here are the remaining history pages which take us to 1977.









Copyright remains with the Cerberus Speleological Society whom I thank for this use if its all still here next week.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

There were useful sections on hydrology, sedimentation , geology etc but a definitive work is long overdue. The whole catchment includes Stoke Lane Slocker and seems unique in formation to anything else on Mendip. We still await the survey of Withybrook Slocker which according to named sections must be five miles long now. ( In house Mendip joke ).

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The catchment pre quarrying c. 1895. Fairy Cave top right.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I am not trying to keep any of this in order. So it comes as it comes.

At The Icing Flakes. The photographer foiled on this occasion as they are under water. With the hair - Simon my brother. Nearly bald now.



Pete Rose at the top end of Pillar Chamber. A temporary barrier here to onward exploration and an early attempt at taping.



Pretty girl in Shatter early 70's. I forget where this one is.



Same pretty girl. Top of Tor Chamber.



PG and Canopy.



We fly forward forty years on the ephemeral wings of time. Tempus has fugited.  Another pretty girl ( Hi Naomi ) in Four Ways. ( Taken during Duncan Prices's post 2000 re survey. ).

 

[The Old Ruminator]

One of the earliest photos of The Pillar c 1969/70. No hand prints on it then. Look back to the 1980's view.



PG in Shatter early 70's. Note the string " taping " . Sections of this string in Withyhill was found to be quite stiff with stal after 20 years of cave closure.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Pillar Chamber c1969 showing footprints of original explorer. ( He was a WCC member ).

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Still within the catchment. Trevor Knief and Queen Victoria in Stoke Lane Slocker c. 1980.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The rediscovery of Balch Six and Seven. 1970.



Ted Popham entering Balch Six and Seven before we dug it out and fitted the oil drum.1970.



WL entrance left below the smashed remains of Maypole Chamber, Balch Cave. ( The boulder slope . Top of this the entrance to Balch Six and Seven. ) Bottom right the cemented entrance to Shatter Cave. Early 1970's.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

As stated the onward continuation of Balch Cave is now WL Cave being heavily blocked by stal at Pink Pool Chamber to continue as Shatter Cave. The WL/Shatter link is still negotiable but never used now due to restricting traffic through Pink Pool. It is very tight. We had thought of making this the official route ( it is after all the original route ) should there ever be a need to shut down the Shatter entrance. Now the area has been tidied up with the concrete tubes in place that would not be necessary. The question we always asked was - would the WL / Shatter system ever have been found if Balch Cave was left intact. Brian Prewer says no. It would have taken a huge act of vandalism to blast stal in Maypole or Crystal Chamber to finf such a link. In any case at the time it was never postulated.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Ruminator scribblings. ( Thanks Rich ).

Working at the Shatter terminal choke. Early 70's. Note the reference to the rodents skull.



Pink Pool 1972 and the massive stal blockage beyond which lay Shatter though we did not know it at the time ( pre survey ).



Only ten metres found ! Shatter terminal choke 1972.



The discovery of Withyhill and Hillwithy April 1972.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Fernhill Cave curtains after the post 2000 reopening.



Exploring side passages in Withyhill 1972.



Discovery of Viagara Rift 1999. Peter Glanvill professed to hear running water just inside Shatter entrance. As usual this was dismissed as Glanvill rubbish but hey ho we dug a hole and made the last major discovery in Shatter. The active streamway possibly an upstream section of the old Balch route now Conning Tower. A stream is also heard down the muddy rift before Tor Chamber and this may be further upstream in the same route.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Conning Tower Cave 1969. ( The former Balch Cave streamway ).

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Within the catchment.

Hunting Lodge Slocker.



Smashed remains of Balch and the way into Six and Seven.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The quarry caves.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Half and half. A novel view of Green Lake Grotto.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Much of the catchment.

 

[paulf]

Wow amazing photos considering most are pre-digital  :bow: :bow:

 

[And]

Really interesting stuff! Thanks for sharing.

 

[graham]

IIRC Paul Deakin has the most impressive photos of the Green Lake.

Never did find out who the young lady was, though.