Cave for sale

[cap n chris]

It's official! You can own some underground air. The Sun has it here:-

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004601327,,00.html

 

[Titch98]

Unfortunately, that link is now dead and you have to pay to access archives...........

 

[martinr]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004601327,,00.html

AN estate agent is selling a hole in the ground — for £10,000. The
250ft-deep cave, known as Cuckoo Cleeves, lies in a 0.16-acre field
at Priddy on the Mendip hills in Somerset.

It was discovered by Wessex Caving Club in 1947, who excavated it to
a length of 1,050ft.

Despite offering no development potential, estate agent David James
and Partners is confident the plot will reach its asking price.

Wessex Caving Club enthusiast Richard Whitcombe said: "I can't see
why anyone would pour good money into the ground for a worm hole."

 

[cap n chris]

Apparently Mr. W said no such thing and is mystified how this quote came into existence. Reporters, eh?

 

[SamT]

They get such a prestigious title as "reporters" down at the sun offices then?

 

[martinr]

Here is another version, this time from The Times, and quoting a Brian Prewer

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1429220,00.html

Hard to swallet: £10,000 for a wet hole in the hillside

IT SUFFERS from rising damp, has no views to speak of and would not be suitable for the claustrophobic. A 250ft deep pothole that leads to a flooded chamber has been put up for sale with a guide price of £10,000.
The hole, known as Cuckoo Cleaves, is popular with cavers but only the smallest of them can reach the bottom. At the end of 1,050ft of narrow, winding passages is a 13ft by 4ft chamber that is partially filled with muddy water.

The limestone hole, near Priddy in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, was discovered in 1947 by Wessex Cave Club. The current owner's father left it to him when he sold the surrounding farmland. But now the son, who wants to remain anonymous, has decided to sell.
The hole comes with mineral rights and a small area of land surrounding the opening, which is at the bottom of a depression.
Brian Prewer, from the Wessex Cave Club, said: “The Mendips have many depressions that are known as swalletts and at the bottom of these there are almost always caves.”
Richard Nancekivell, of the chartered surveyors handling the sale, David James and Partners, said: “This is probably one of the most bizarre properties we have been asked to sell. It is very rare for these to come up. It is very popular with cavers but at the moment it has a manhole cover to make sure only those who know what they're doing get in.
“The current owner's father sold the land around the hole some years ago but left the cave as a novelty to his son. His son, now a commercial farmer in Priddy, has decided to cash in as it is of no practical use to him.
“It comes with mineral rights but a lot of what may have been down there would have been washed away.
“I imagine there will be three types of buyer: cavers, novelty buyers and investment buyers. It may be that someone will buy it and donate it to a caving charity. We have had one offer and three or four people who have written to ask to view.”

 

[cap n chris]

Swalletts, eh?

A lot of the ccaavveess I visit have many leeves lying on the ground.

 

[Cave_Troll]

for 10k you can dig yourself a very big hold in the grounds and then dump a load of chemicals on the surface to give some nice formations...

 

[Dave H]

for 10k you can dig yourself a very big hold in the grounds and then dump a load of chemicals on the surface to give some nice formations...

Just changing a few of the words you can get....
"For 10k you can dig yourself a very big hold in the ground" using "a load of chemicals" from "the surface" and call it Titan.

 

[Rob]

More like 4k. With 10 you could do the Titan dig, empty slack hole and still have enough to get beer for all the diggers after every trip!

 

[whitelackington]

Did it sell then :ang:

 

[cap n chris]

Yes, last year (in December). No, it didn't get its asking price.

And before you ask any more questions....

Yes. Maybe. No. No. No. Yes.

 

[whitelackington]

Well, there is of course one further question.
Is it open for caving?

 

[cap n chris]

Yes.

All this info is contained on line you know.

 

[whitelackington]

but rarely updated

 

[cap n chris]

Every three months or so - check out the CSCC online minutes. All the C&A stuff is there in black and white, printed, in words, which you can read visually using your eyes.

http://www.cscc.org.uk/Documents/CSCC_2006.02.04_Minutes.pdf

 

[Peter Burgess]

All the C&A stuff is there in black and white, printed, in words, which you can read visually using your eyes.

It's true! I have done this very thing myself!!!

 

[Tree Monkey]

Regarding Digging large holes in the ground.  Isnt there one on top of Mendip? Which cost more than that figure?

I here it floods in dry weather!!

 

[SamT]

Hi all

Ive split this topic - and put all the Cave Database stuff in a new topic - called updating Cave Access information.

 

[whitelackington]

Anymore caves up for sale at the moment? :blink: