Robin Hood's Mill - references?

Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
I'm just trying to locate a reference I once saw, about when Robin Hood's Mill (between Giggleswick and Stainforth) was excavated - particularly as I think it refers to some bones that were found. (This is partly on behalf of someone else who is also interested in the bones.) Can anyone point me in the right direction for this original exploration account? It's long collapsed and covered over, so it's not possible to go look directly.

Also, does anyone know who did the excavation - and when?

(Beardy - the reference I remember seeing isn't either of the two in the NC database; if the one I'm thinking of emerges I'll add it to the database.) I've definitely read it somewhere but I'm blowed if I can remember where.

Thanks
 
mch

mch

Member
There is a mention of pre-war excavation on the site by cavers in the following link http://www.jacksoneditorial.co.uk/tag/little-stainforth/
 
M

mikem

Well-known member
Not sure which are in the database, but there are these older refs:
https://www.irhb.org/wiki/index.php/Robin_Hood%27s_Mill_(Stackhouse)

http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/lgaz/lk14513.htm

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A29631.0001.001/1:8?rgn=div1;view=fulltext

Mike
 
M

mikem

Well-known member
& one of the risings by Ingleborough showcave also seems to have been known as robin hood's mill.
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Thanks both - I'll have a browse through those tomorrow.

I don't think they're the contemporary account of the main excavation but there may be items of interest in there anyway.

Mike - yes - if you go past Ingleborough Cave and through the gate just past Clapham Beck Head, there's a low undercut cliff off to the left. You can hear the main river from the surface there - I think that's what was formerly called Robin Hood's Mill. It wasn't till the BPC dug open an entrance a little further up valley from this cliff (early 1950s I think) that the water was accessed in what is known to most these days as "Beck Head Stream Cave". However, the Bradford team which found this cave actually named it "Beck Head Stream Passage" - so I think that's the cave's real name!

But that's not the Robin Hood's Mill of interest to us . . . .
 
A

Andy C

New member
There is a mention of the cave in the Bulletin of the Speleological Society 1940 Volume 1
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7JxPAAAAYAAJ&q="robin+hood's+mill"
not sure if that is relevant to tracking down the excavation report
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Thanks for suggesting that; I never expected the NSS to be a source of information on a (relatively) obscure cave in the Dales!
 
M

Martin Laverty

Member
Google Search is a wonder, but isn't always as accurate as Andy C's post suggests.

The NSS Bulletin does indeed have an entry for Robin Hood's Mill Cave, but:
- it is in Bulletin 8 from 1946 (rather than No.1, from 1940) [ http://caving-library.org.uk/catalogue/BCL/code/php/library.php?action=search&lib=&type=any&search=author&search_string=Robert%20E.%20Morgan%20and%20Frank%20Solari ]
- it the name only in a long list of 'Caves of the British Isles', with references (and surveys for Goyden and Lost John's), where available
- that particular entry is from a personal list compiled by Frank Solari, and noted as having no further information available.
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Hm, none of these is the original excavation reference though. I spoke to a mate this evening and he remembers reading it too - somewhere. So it must exist.

But thanks, anyway.
 
AR

AR

Well-known member
If there were bones found, might the write-up be in an archaeological journal? Just a thought...
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Thanks - it may be - but none of the likely local archaeological folk consulted so far know of any such report.

The one I've seen was definitely in a caving publication.
 
M

mikem

Well-known member
Can't find anything in Gerald Platten collection at Wells museum, but you might find other stuff of interest:
http://www.mcra.org.uk/logbooks/index.php?display=Gerard%20Platten%2FPage%2021.JPG

Mike
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Oo - that looks like interesting resource!

Cheers for looking into the Gerard Platten archive for us.
 
M

mikem

Well-known member
It's a load of scrapbooks with articles published from all over the world, mostly between the wars. Unfortunately some are missing.
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Finally found it! The text I'd remembered reading is in Albert Mitchell's "Yorkshire Caves and Potholes" North Ribblesdale book. I knew I'd seen it somewhere. In the 1948 edition it's on pages 11 & 12.

It doesn't mention any bones but it does confirm that the excavation of RHM near Stainforth was done by members of the Craven Pothole Club in 1930 (when the club was just a year old). It also gives details of the legend of the disappearing mill.

I'll put a note in the NC database about this.
 
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