Buying Mendip surveys

[mikem]

The MCSS is still running (despite rumours to the contrary), here's the (well-hidden) details from CSCC website:

Mendip Cave Survey Scheme

The Mendip Cave Survey Scheme is an informal working relationship between the BEC, CSS, MCG, MNRC, SMCC and the WCC. Copies of the original surveys are deposited at a central location and are then always available to member clubs of the scheme.

The obvious main advantage of such a scheme is that the survey remains accessible long after the surveyor has given up caving, moved away to another area or lost their originals. Cave surveyors are therefore requested to always forward a copy of the survey for inclusion within the scheme and arrangements can be made to have copies produced. The scheme is not entirely restricted to Mendip caves and a full list of available surveys and the prices is available from The Cave Survey Scheme, Joan Goddard, The Meadows, Cheddar Road, Axbridge, Somerset, BS26 2DL. In the Access Guide section of this (CSCC) web site the cave name is followed by an (S) in some instances. This indicates that a survey is available through the Mendip Survey Scheme.

There are surveys of many Mendip caves not included in the Survey Scheme. Copies of these can be inspected in the various club newsletters and journals. The appropriate references will found by consulting the guidebooks:

Mendip. The Complete Caves and A View of The Hills by N. Barrington and W.I. Stanton (ISBN 0 9501459 2 0) published 1977. (Out of Print)
Mendip Underground, A Caver?s Guide by D.J. Irwin and A.R. Jarratt, (ISBN 0 95361 0 6) published 1999

Or by checking through the annually produced Speleological Abstracts now incorporating Current Titles in Speleology available from BCRA Publication Sales

Additionally, MCG are also clearing their stock of surveys: Goatchurch ?2, Pinetree Pot ?2 and Longwood/August ?3.60 - contact via http://www.mendipcavinggroup.org.uk/sections/contact/contact.html

Mike

 

[martinr]

Hi Mike

What you say is basically correct.

However, Joan has also said that the scheme is almost defunct now - the only person who ever ordered any surveys was Tony Jarratt.  Joan intends to speak to the other club reps to decide what to do about the scheme and where to lodge the survey masters. 

(This does not affect the MCG surveys which continue to be available from either Joan or MCG)

 

[mikem]

I think that the main reason it is defunct is because most cavers don't know that it still exists, so I thought I would post the info so we could see what interest there is.

If you google "pinetree pot survey" you get referred to MCG history (rather than info on the survey itself), but otherwise links are pretty random,
and although "swildons cave survey" will take you to the Wessex, there is no mention of MCSS.

Mike

 

[maxb727]

Its good to know how to get surveys, as a member of the BEC i take it it means I can order a survey for my usage and others who I cave with?

Max

 

[Cookie]

As Mike says the scheme is still going, although much under-used.

Recently the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive have been discussing with Joan bringing the MCSS under the wing of the MCRA.

If that happens, as looks likely, it should raise the profile of the MCSS.

 

[mrodoc]

I think that the main reason it is defunct is because most cavers don't know that it still exists, so I thought I would post the info so we could see what interest there is.

If you google "pinetree pot survey" you get referred to MCG history (rather than info on the survey itself), but otherwise links are pretty random,
and although "swildons cave survey" will take you to the Wessex, there is no mention of MCSS.

Mike

i would be inclined to agree. Perhaps something in Descent would help or Andy Sparrow's shop might be another source of information to new cavers. I cannot remember now how I find out how to get cave surveys originally but I know that I always got them through the cave survey scheme, then run by Bryan Ellis. That was 40 years ago mind you! 

 

[Mr Boost]

I didnt realise that you could purchase Surveys this way . It is great to know you can . I was under the impression that they were kept under lock and key  :-[     

Am I able to order any survey that exist in their library for my own personal use , not club orientated that is ??

 

[graham]

I didnt realise that you could purchase Surveys this way . It is great to know you can . I was under the impression that they were kept under lock and key  :-[   

Hardly! With a couple of exceptions which are either contentious or secret for other reasons  surveys are produced in order that other users might be able to see them. Note that UBSS surveys are virtually all available gratis via our website, although Mr Sparrow does also sell the nicely printed and laminated versions of some.

Am I able to order any survey that exist in their library for my own personal use , not club orientated that is ??

Clue, if Mr Jarrett used to sell 'em over teh counter ...

 

[mikem]

The master surveys are all kept at the printers, so unlikely to be an order and receive the next day job - they would rather have an order for a number of copies, but Joan would be happy to find out who wants what & then put orders together. She can also be contacted via MCG website.

Mike

 

[Mr Boost]

I didnt realise that you could purchase Surveys this way . It is great to know you can . I was under the impression that they were kept under lock and key  :-[   

Hardly! With a couple of exceptions which are either contentious or secret for other reasons  surveys are produced in order that other users might be able to see them. Note that UBSS surveys are virtually all available gratis via our website, although Mr Sparrow does also sell the nicely printed and laminated versions of some.

Am I able to order any survey that exist in their library for my own personal use , not club orientated that is ??

Clue, if Mr Jarrett used to sell 'em over teh counter ...

I didnt mean literaly "lock and key" , just thought you may have to track down all the individual "owners" of the rights / surveys and ask them nicely ect .
Which following up that , I didnt think that it would be easy to obtain them unless you were a member of the relevant club .


Cheers for clarifying that Graham 

 

[martinr]

MCG's survey of Upper Flood Swallet can be viewed here

Double-click to zoom in, left=click and hold to pan. Or use navigation bar at top left

This is an on-going project and updates are added regularly as pasages are surveyed. The survey is not avaliable for purchase yet - hopefully it may be available for purchase as a single A1 or A0 sheet next year.