A formation in Simpson's Pot

[Lankyman]

When I was in my early teens I can remember using a book of poetry in English lessons ('Voices' I think). There was a photograph of a cave formation (untitled as far as I recall). I can't remember the poems but that photo stuck with me. A few years later, when I started caving seriously, I was stunned to encounter the actual formation which I recognised immediately. I'm pretty sure it was part way down Simpson's and it may even have been named, something like the Plumber's Nightmare perhaps? Very sadly, it was broken or vandalised and I can remember feeling upset. This was probably in the late seventies or into the eighties. Does anyone have any photos of it?

 

[georgenorth]

The plumber’s nightmare was in County Pot, and was vandalised. Maybe this:

Ease Gill Caverns Conservation Work

 

[Lankyman]

Thanks, George. Maybe I've mis-remembered the name or it was duplicated? Your Easegill example isn't what I remember. I'm reasonably sure it was in Simpson's. Anyone who saw it would have recognised it as a stand out feature.

 

[langcliffe]

I first went down Simpson Pot in 1968, and I don't remember such a feature. Arthur Gemmel mentions some "pretty straw stalactites" in the section after Lake Pot, and David Heap writing in 1964 has a couple of photographs of formations taken in Simpson Pot, one of which is recognisably from the same area. The other (opposite page 143) is of a "twisted column" which is pretty convoluted, that I don't recognise. I wonder if that could be it?

 

[Lankyman]

and David Heap writing in 1964 has a couple of photographs of formations taken in Simpson Pot, one of which is recognisably from the same area. The other (opposite page 143) is of a "twisted column" which is pretty convoluted, that I don't recognise. I wonder if that could be it?

This is possibly ringing a bell. I used to get Potholing Beneath the Northern Pennines out from the library a lot but don't own a copy and haven't seen it for decades. Would you be able to post up the photo?

 

[langcliffe]

This is possibly ringing a bell. I used to get Potholing Beneath the Northern Pennines out from the library a lot but don't own a copy and haven't seen it for decades. Would you be able to post up the photo?

Not sure of the legality of that. I'll pm a copy to you later when I get near my computer.

 

[ChrisB]

a book of poetry in English lessons ('Voices' I think).

Voices, by Geoffrey Summerfield? Copies available on eBay and online used bookstores but haven't found a scanned copy.

 

[Lankyman]

Not sure of the legality of that. I'll pm a copy to you later when I get near my computer.

Thanks, Langcliffe - that is the photo and it's the formation I remember seeing (and subsequently destroyed). It shows my young mindset how none of the poetry has stuck but that formation has almost half a century later!

 

[langcliffe]

Thanks, Langcliffe - that is the photo and it's the formation I remember seeing (and subsequently destroyed).

An unfortunate choice of phrase!

 

[Lankyman]

Voices, by Geoffrey Summerfield? Copies available on eBay and online used bookstores but haven't found a scanned copy.

I managed to find images of the covers of this but nothing of the illustrations within.

 

[Lankyman]

An unfortunate choice of phrase!

Not guilty, m'lud!!

 

[Ian Ball]

Fascinating. I do have Deavid Heap's book, I'll have to get it off the shelf, oh what a chore.

 

[alanw]

Voices, by Geoffrey Summerfield? Copies available on eBay and online used bookstores but haven't found a scanned copy.

There's a copy on archive.org. I looked earlier, and was 99% sure that it was going to be the book being referred to, but couldn't find any image of a speleothem in it. You'll need to login / register for free to view all of it.

Voices : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

3 volumes : 21 cm +

archive.org

 

[alanw]

There's more than one volume, perhaps 3? Plus "Junior Voices" and a Teacher's handbook. Possibly different revisions with different photographs? Or is my mind playing tricks with me?

Geoffrey Summerfield | Open Library

Author of Voices, First Voices, Voices, Junior Voices, Junior voices, First voices, First voices, Voices

openlibrary.org

My eye caught "Go no more a-roving" as I skimmed through, here's Leonard Cohen's version.

 

[mikem]

Not guilty, m'lud!!

Doesn't matter, as there's a written admission of guilt...

 

[Lankyman]

Doesn't matter, as there's a written admission of guilt...

Damn! I shall hand myself in to the Council of Northern Caving Cops.

 

[denis]

The plumber’s nightmare was in County Pot, and was vandalised. Maybe this:

Ease Gill Caverns Conservation Work

I think the plumbers nightmare is in Lancaster Easegill. Could be more than one

 

[mikem]

It was in Broadway, which isn't far from County entrance to Easegill (Lancaster) system