Useful timeline of major events across the country from the Craven website:
http://www.cravenpotholeclub.org/cavingcentury.aspx

& if anyone thinks access problems are a recent phenomenon:

1902  Swildon?s Hole was closed by the Lord of the Manor who forbade any access.  Work began to dig a way into Eastwater Cavern and in April the entrance boulder choke was passed and much of the cave explored.

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Mike

1934 [...] The first attempt was made to dive Swildon?s Sump 1, this was the first cave dive on Mendip but unfortunately neither FG Balcombe nor  J Sheppard managed to pass the sump.

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Was the sump significantly different back then? I must admit to being a northern caver by heart, but I've done sump 1 and beyond a number of times before, and although not spacious you can basically feel the air on the other side (with your head in the water). Any ideas why they didn't make it through? It's ironic that later on:

1939 [...] The first attempt to dive Alum Pot Sump was made using a garden hose and a car foot pump.

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As stupid as it sounds, this technique probably would have worked at swildons 1

That's more or less how Swildon's S1 was originally passed in the end. Have a look at a book called The Darkness Beckons by Martyn Farr, where there's considerable detail. The same idea was used by members of the Bradford Pothole Club in the late 50s or early 60s to pass the sump at the end of Lake Avernus in Inglebrough Cave.

Yes, Swildon's S1 was considerably modified (roof removal) and is now much shorter than originally; in low water you can shove your feet through into airspace with your head still in airspace on this side of it. Mind you, It still apparently took Kate Humble umpteen seconds to haul herself through on that "Extreme Caving" film a couple of years ago . . . .  (But never let it be said that TV types like to embellish reality  )

The excellent "Swildons' Hole - A Hundred Years of Exploration" published by the Wessex Cave Club goes into considerable detail about the historic nature of Sump 1.
If you want a virtual encyclopedia of facts there is
"Swildon's 2 & 3 Mendip, England Its Exploration 1900 to 1930" by Dave Irwin in 2004.
British Cave Research Association Cave Studies Series 14.

Nowadays Swildon's Sump 1 regularly has airspace. It has had for the past 2 weeks.