Blast From The Past

[AR]

Gone.

Jackdaw Cave at Cannington near Bridgwater.

Photo of me by Peter Glanvill. Important bat roost and archaeological site. Thousands of botryoidal stalagmites. We tried to save it . I went to see the County Minerals Officer but got nowhere. So much for conservation. The quarry company had 1948 long term extraction rights so nothing could stop them. An intact auroch skull was found here. The anti chamber beyond had a big talus cone of material.
There is another deep shaft remaining in the quarry corner but they wont give us access to it.

I take it that the destruction was before the Review of Old Mineral Permissions (ROMP) regulations came in? These days, I think you'd have enough evidence to make the case for stopping the permission under those regs but prior to that, the authorities wouldn't want to act because stopping an allowed permission potentially laid them open to a compensation claim from the mineral owners.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Yes pretty much what they said.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Its the wear and tear damage that tells over time.

Shatter 1969. The Porridge Basin.



In recent times.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Withyhill c 1972.

You will never see Withyhill as I first saw it. From the entrance to Helectite Corner was pristine gravel floor and clean washed walls. Now its all covered in mud. Certainly because flood water backs up to roof level here in major floods. The flood stream just cannot get across to Hillwithy now as the quarry floor is too high and Hillwithy part blocked. Add to that work at Withybrook Slocker has increased flood pulses despite the silt traps there.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Pete again c 1970.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

One of my earliest photos of Pete c 1967. Is it Clapham ???

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Another young fellow from the 1960's. He is an old man now.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Prior to conservation taping Pete and I pushed every nook and cranny in W L. Shatter and Withyhill. Some places never seen by cavers again.
Pete got the horrible bits and sometimes got a bit stuck. Maybe we were choking him trying to haul him out.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Just sometime I think it best for secrets to be kept. This is my discovery in Withyhill. Only three people have seen it. Its not on the survey and not easy to find. Pink Pillar Chamber as dried sediment floors . The wide cracks now filled with calcite crystals. The floors would be easy ruined. So for the moment thats how things are.

 

[Lankyman]

One of my earliest photos of Pete c 1967. Is it Clapham ???

Looks like Clapham. I think the New Inn is just off to the right. I think I made my first visit a year or two later when the family visited Ingleborough Cave which back then had no electric lighting.

 

[martinr]

One of my earliest photos of Pete c 1967. Is it Clapham ???

Def. Clapham

 

[alanw]

Looks like Clapham. I think the New Inn is just off to the right. I think I made my first visit a year or two later when the family visited Ingleborough Cave which back then had no electric lighting.

Yes, a few yard to the left of the cross.

On the subject of electric lighting; Alan Whicker on Clapham's.

And at 0:42 seconds there is almost exactly that view.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Pete and I were fearless in finding new chambers in Withyhill and Shatter. This was the total stal blockage beyond the pillar in Withyhill. Pete's plaster just about made it passable into another large well decorated chamber.

You could just make it then as an awkward uphill thrutch now slightly modified but off route.



Another pretty chamber beyond here in Shatter. Never visited now and anyway I cant get in there now anyway.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Willie Stanton in Chain Chamber Reservoir Hole. 1970's The cave became his great legacy. Oddly few photos of him in caves seem to exist. Although he kept copious logs he did not seem to take photos either. We followed his team up to the dig at the top of Golgotha. They had a canister of cider which fell on me soaking me with the stuff.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Maybe one a day for 100 days or until I pop off ?

Trevor Franklyn in Sump Two, Stoke Lane Slocker c 1969.

If I remember right Tony was driving the mini down to Mendip c 1970 when it crashed killing Trevor.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Oh go on lets do two. Trevor in Diccan c 1969.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

As noted on Facebook. " Good illustration of the time - workmans boiler suit - Texolex helmet - Edison light - rolled electron ladder. "

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Pant Mawr c 1969.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Otter Hole 1970's.

 

[mrodoc]

A photo of the OR taken March 1969 with my old school chums David Higginson and Michael Stower. Cascade Chamber in Afton Rift Cave. I had just turned 18.