We have in the British Caving Library just one copy of the Brigantes Rover Crew Log Book for 1956. They were the Brighouse District Rover Scout Group and they were keenly interested in caving. Below is their report of a trip to Pikedaw Calamine Caverns, on a snowy weekend in January 1956, under conditions which would make some of our current hard men think again.
If there are any more issues of these Log Books out there, we would love to have copies for the Library so, if you know anyone who was once associated with the Brigantes Rover Crew, it would be great if you could ask them to get in touch. Please just PM me.
Extract From
Brighouse District (Brigantes) Rover Crew
1956 Log Book
Pikedaw Calamine Mine (Depth 75?) January 14/15
P. Patchett P.Manning D. H. Thompson R. Drew A.Best
Transport: Bus (Patch & Guzzle were to have gone by car but it broke down.)
Food: Own - 2 primuses.
Gear: 2 thirty & 1 twenty foot ladders. 100 foot rope.
About 12? snow lay in Malham and buses were just about getting through, but little else.
Rodney, Pymie and I went up to the Stockdale track and tried to follow it as far as the first gate, but without success. We found conditions very bad for travelling with gear. Dumping rucsacs at the gate onto the road we returned to Malham. Around 6.30 p.m. the two Peters turned up with lots of gear - after a very hectic journey.
We had egg and chips in Malham and then off up the road. It was impossible to follow the track, but we tried! After missing our way once we decided to follow the walls. Snow was up to about two feet deep in parts. Periodically we rested and had tea from the thermoses. At about 12 p.m. we arrived at the gate which is 50 yards above the shaft.
The shaft was all covered up, so we spaced out about every 5 yards and walked forward. After five minutes we found the hole and kicked snow off the covering timbers, hitting them to break them free of ice. The wind was bitter and our finger-ends almost frozen. We stamped snow down and erected a lightweight tent.
After making the ladder secure we searched for the water pool, but gave it up later and used snow instead.
As soon as we had beaten some warmth back into our fingers off we went down the hole. Once down it felt quite warm.
Patch had a pound of candles which lit up the shaft bottom well. By the time Rodney was down we had brewed some tea on a Primus and turned to arranging bedding (!) in a suitable alcove.
There was just head-room and we sorted out food and had a meal. This revived us wonderfully, and so we did some exploring before turning in for the night. There are five passages radiating from the entrance chamber and Lord?s Chamber. We left the long westerly one for the morrow.
There were three of us with blankets - and two without! We slept spasmodically and I arose about 5.30 to fetch some more snow and have a brew of coffee. (Snow takes up three times the volume of water!) There was still a bitter wind outside and I was glad to get down again.
We had lots of food with us so breakfast was a very good meal. We explored many side passages - Pymie and I doing a particularly interesting bit just off the Great Shake. Rodney had twisted his ankle and so exploration for him was unfortunately reduced.
After re-charging the thermoses and burning all our litter we emerged at about 8.30 a.m. The sun was shining and the wind had died. There was a marvellous view over to Wharfedale and beyond.
We could just discern the track due to a slight thaw and went over the track to Settle. After a drink in the milk bar we made our way home.
If there are any more issues of these Log Books out there, we would love to have copies for the Library so, if you know anyone who was once associated with the Brigantes Rover Crew, it would be great if you could ask them to get in touch. Please just PM me.
Extract From
Brighouse District (Brigantes) Rover Crew
1956 Log Book
Pikedaw Calamine Mine (Depth 75?) January 14/15
P. Patchett P.Manning D. H. Thompson R. Drew A.Best
Transport: Bus (Patch & Guzzle were to have gone by car but it broke down.)
Food: Own - 2 primuses.
Gear: 2 thirty & 1 twenty foot ladders. 100 foot rope.
About 12? snow lay in Malham and buses were just about getting through, but little else.
Rodney, Pymie and I went up to the Stockdale track and tried to follow it as far as the first gate, but without success. We found conditions very bad for travelling with gear. Dumping rucsacs at the gate onto the road we returned to Malham. Around 6.30 p.m. the two Peters turned up with lots of gear - after a very hectic journey.
We had egg and chips in Malham and then off up the road. It was impossible to follow the track, but we tried! After missing our way once we decided to follow the walls. Snow was up to about two feet deep in parts. Periodically we rested and had tea from the thermoses. At about 12 p.m. we arrived at the gate which is 50 yards above the shaft.
The shaft was all covered up, so we spaced out about every 5 yards and walked forward. After five minutes we found the hole and kicked snow off the covering timbers, hitting them to break them free of ice. The wind was bitter and our finger-ends almost frozen. We stamped snow down and erected a lightweight tent.
After making the ladder secure we searched for the water pool, but gave it up later and used snow instead.
As soon as we had beaten some warmth back into our fingers off we went down the hole. Once down it felt quite warm.
Patch had a pound of candles which lit up the shaft bottom well. By the time Rodney was down we had brewed some tea on a Primus and turned to arranging bedding (!) in a suitable alcove.
There was just head-room and we sorted out food and had a meal. This revived us wonderfully, and so we did some exploring before turning in for the night. There are five passages radiating from the entrance chamber and Lord?s Chamber. We left the long westerly one for the morrow.
There were three of us with blankets - and two without! We slept spasmodically and I arose about 5.30 to fetch some more snow and have a brew of coffee. (Snow takes up three times the volume of water!) There was still a bitter wind outside and I was glad to get down again.
We had lots of food with us so breakfast was a very good meal. We explored many side passages - Pymie and I doing a particularly interesting bit just off the Great Shake. Rodney had twisted his ankle and so exploration for him was unfortunately reduced.
After re-charging the thermoses and burning all our litter we emerged at about 8.30 a.m. The sun was shining and the wind had died. There was a marvellous view over to Wharfedale and beyond.
We could just discern the track due to a slight thaw and went over the track to Settle. After a drink in the milk bar we made our way home.