Goatchurch dig

[Cookie]

still no news why we shouldn't dig.... :halo:

I suspect the UBSS will expect a more formal approach than this forum.

Write to their Secretary.

 

[cap n chris]

Unlike many clubs, the UBSS Secretary can read and write so you should be in with a good chance of getting a reply.

 

[Burt]

The Ladder and rather wet dig is to the right of the small chamber just before the entrance chamber to the drainpipe

Thanks. It may be easier to find in the real world than on the survey! X marks the spot?

From the drainpipe itself (upper end) go through the smallish chamber and at the T junction, instead of going up toward water chamber, go down and you'll find it.

 

[cap n chris]

The clue is the view:

 

[tony from suffolk]

That looks a tadge - snug! :blink:

 

[Sumpy]

That looks a tadge - snug! :blink:

 

[rhychydwr1]

Went down Goatchurch today.  I was the only one there.  Is this a record?  As I was walking back to the car I passed four Outdoor Pusuits Centre groups.  A lucky escape?

 

[Burt]

Very lucky. normally we wait for unsuspecting individual cavers to appear, then we all pile in like lemmings.

 

[graham]

Went down Goatchurch today. 

Dare I ask why?  :doubt:

 

[rhychydwr1]

Went down Goatchurch today. 

Dare I ask why?  :doubt:

My new job, Cave Guide 

 

[Andy Sparrow]

Was in Goaters today (again!) and just for a change went down to the ladder dig / soakaway below the entrance to the drainpipe.

I know UBSS were digging in this area years ago but can anyone tell me how far they got to? At present the passage (phreatic and quite large looking) goes about 3 metres on from the bottom of the fixed ladder then chokes out. It looks as if it should go on. There's a lot of loose fist size rocks in there and the small stream can be heard gurgling away.

Any clues?

Sorry to pick this thread up so late but we were off trekking when this was posted and missed it at the time.    The dig was a more or less solo effort by a BEC member called John Knott in the mid 70s.  He excavated the entire shaft with the fixed ladder and the passage below.  He was initially encouraged when the Water Chamber stream was intercepted but another group then did a short excavation in the pit in the first chamber beyond The Drainpipe and discovered the same stream.  This proved that the dig was just another parallel route on the major bedding and it was consequently abandoned. 

If anyone does have the time and energy to dig in Goatchurch I would suggest two possible sites.  The best and most obvious is the final boulder choke in the terminal chamber which has never had a sustained effort.    Another possibility is revealed by the 3d Burrington master survey.  The main axis of Pierre's Pot aligns with a major joint in Goatchurch which runs through the Water Chamber.  If you follow this joint down-dip the passage swings right (east) into a blind crawl sometimes known as the Smartie Tube.  It is possible that there is a concealed continuation of the joint going north on the corner.  However, I am not a great enthusiast for any link being excavated towards the Hanging Garden's of Pierres Pot from Goatchurch for what I think will be obvious reasons.

 

[graham]

Andy, I've now got Sidcot onto the master survey (and it'll be in the right place soon, now that I've explained the niceties of calibration to Menacer). It seems that Sidcot is on another bedding between Goaters and Pierre's and slightly off to one side. I'm not convinced that either Goatchurch or Sidcot will drop into Pierre's near the hanging gardens. The version you've seen also has an uncorrected error in the Pierre's streamway which slightly muddies the picture.

I'll send you an up-to-date 3D file when I've corrected these points.

How's the Bath/Rod's survey going?

 

[ninjacaver]

it would be great to dig... so good luck to all the diggers

i hope the project goes just to plan.