Goatchurch Cavern

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chriscastle46

Member
A colleague and I were discussing the date that Goatchurch became a short-lived showcave. He thought it was 1901, I thought I'd read an article saying it was later, 1913. However, I can't find the article, it's not in the UBSS Proceedings but the article giving 1901 is. Did I dream it or make it up? I'd be grateful if someone can shed some light on this matter of earth-shaking importance.

Chris
 
ZombieCake

ZombieCake

Well-known member
In the cave there is a shed load of engraved graffiti, some very faint and small. Instead of going left down the Giant's Steps go over the stal and there's loads there.  Maybe there's some dates - must admit I was looking for other things.  Not sure if the Cap'n has noticed anything?
 
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chriscastle46

Member
Thanks for that. There are written records back to 1736 and doubtless many visited it before then, but there seems to be little or nothing recorded about the showcave project. There is a photograph of a lady in her long dress sitting at the top of the Giants Stairs but I can't find that either. This article I thought I'd seen, it must have been a dream!
 
tony from suffolk

tony from suffolk

Well-known member
I don't think you're dreaming Chris, I've seen that photo somewhere myself. Just checked "Mendip, Its Swallet Caves and Rock Shelters" but it isn't in there. I'll check some of my other stuff later.
 
F

Fulk

Well-known member
According to an old copy of Mendip Underground that we have (dated 1977):

'The remains of iron railings in the main entrance passage are all that is left of an attempt, by a prvious owner around 1900, to establish Goatchurch as a show cave.'

This is reiterated in a later edition (1999), which also contains a photograph of 'Interior scene of showcave, c.1903'.

The photogrtaph depicts a group of 5 people ? (as far as I can make out): a bearded bloke, 2 ladies in dresses and hats, and two girls, also in dresses and hats, with a small boy in shorts and without a hat off to one side.

The photo is credited to Harry Bamforth. Could be the photo you're thinking of. Maybe I'll scan it and try to post it here.
 
tony from suffolk

tony from suffolk

Well-known member
Well found Fulk!

goatchurch.jpg
 
tony from suffolk

tony from suffolk

Well-known member
Found it my book too Falk. Worth reading some of these early Mendip guide books, I've just been through my 1964 ?Caves of Mendip?.
 
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chriscastle46

Member
Fascinating, thanks for finding that, I'd not seen it before. I've remembered where I saw the picture I'm thinking of, it was in a collection of old photographs taken in and around Cheddar but I don't have a copy. I bet someone on the forum does. It was much better quality than the Bamforth one so probably later.

It looks like the Showcave dates back to around 1901 and I was (cough, splutter) wrong.
 
M

mikem

Well-known member
That is the one I was thinking from Mendip underground, but I have also seen another with a lady sat closer to giant's stairs (presumably same as Chris')

Mike
 
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Fulk

Well-known member
Peter Johnson, in The History of Mendip Caving states that 'At the end of the 19th century, James Gibson of Langford, the owner of the cave, had the idea of turning the place into a show cave'.
 
ZombieCake

ZombieCake

Well-known member
Peter Johnson, in The History of Mendip Caving
Click to expand...
Same book also says the first part of the cave was well decorated with stalactites but visitors had removed them by 1867.  So I guess that Mr. Gibson wouldn't have done very well on a Victorian version of Dragon's Den.

Interestingly the print, Plate 20, on page facing p145 shows both entrances with absolutely no trees whatsoever around, just low grassy scrubland.  Book was published in 1967, so piccie must have been taken a bit before that. Anyone still alive that remembers a deforested Burrington?
 
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