Consigned to history...
- Thread starter tim.rose2
- Start date
Lankyman
Well-known member
It's a while since I last read the original guidebook but I was thinking about the Red Sea chapter where they all get away from that Pharaoh bloke and there's this great watery ending. Have any bits of chariots been spotted in these Portland rifts? If so, then perhaps the Israelites were actually enslaved in Weymouth.
Cantclimbtom
Well-known member
But 1963 was also a long time ago in thinking too, as the consensus only shifted during the 60s away from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expanding_Earth - to some new tangled and implausible theory about tectonics plates and continents moving around
. Expanding earth theory points out that the current continents vaguely fit together to form a single land mass - super continent but covering an earth of a significantly smaller diameter. It's "proof" that the earth has greatly expanded between then and now. The planet gradually inflates causing earthquakes etc 
Forget 1863! Much has changed during the lifetime of many of the senior members of this forum.
Edit: the expanding earth theory was the theory believed at the time of that text, mosaic theory is a lesser problematic bit for me
tim.rose2
Well-known member
Something a little newer again, 1979.
I can't be certain where the rift photos are, but I'm reasonably confident they're Flagpole. The entrance shot though is very obviously Sandy Hole before the land slumped creating the 10ft climb necessary today.
Do any of these young cavers still cave today? Any on here reading this? The only name I recognise is John Tilsley from Weymouth outdoor ed centre who knew and worked with my father for many years.
For comparison this is where the ground level is today.
I can't be certain where the rift photos are, but I'm reasonably confident they're Flagpole. The entrance shot though is very obviously Sandy Hole before the land slumped creating the 10ft climb necessary today.
Do any of these young cavers still cave today? Any on here reading this? The only name I recognise is John Tilsley from Weymouth outdoor ed centre who knew and worked with my father for many years.
For comparison this is where the ground level is today.
JasonC
Well-known member
I love the Victorian flame wars!
domestos bend
Member
"Do any of these young cavers still cave today? Any on here reading this?"
I joined Hardyes CCF around 1980 hoping for some caving action but AJMcT had left by then and no one else had taken it on. There was however an option to go to Weymouth YAC on Weds afternoons which included some caving on Portland and a group of us went with the YAC to Ystradfellte where instructor Jon Lewis tried to drown us in a very wet LNRC and "gorge walk" . This re-ignited (my Dad had taken me when younger to Goatchurch etc) an interest in caving and when one of us obtained a car we spent a lot of time under Portland and Mendip. Particularly memorable was a descent in Sharbutts where one of us didnt realise you had to stick your elbows out to slow your speed and made what must have been the fastest ever descent. We all joined the Cerberus (hence user name) as entry requirements were fairly relaxed.
I joined Hardyes CCF around 1980 hoping for some caving action but AJMcT had left by then and no one else had taken it on. There was however an option to go to Weymouth YAC on Weds afternoons which included some caving on Portland and a group of us went with the YAC to Ystradfellte where instructor Jon Lewis tried to drown us in a very wet LNRC and "gorge walk" . This re-ignited (my Dad had taken me when younger to Goatchurch etc) an interest in caving and when one of us obtained a car we spent a lot of time under Portland and Mendip. Particularly memorable was a descent in Sharbutts where one of us didnt realise you had to stick your elbows out to slow your speed and made what must have been the fastest ever descent. We all joined the Cerberus (hence user name) as entry requirements were fairly relaxed.
tim.rose2
Well-known member
I managed to track down Andrew MacTavish a few years ago to discuss the discovery of Ariel, however one of the questions I asked was 'why did it all stop'. His answer was very simple "I got a job in Plymouth, moved away from the area and no other members of staff at Hardyes wanted to continue the caving".
Sharbutts - I'm always kind enough to hang a rope for handline / italian hitch, however not all do - I've heard complaints about rapid descents and even one 'blind' rapid recent as a result of glasses steaming up due to the temperature change! Definitely a place to be careful with - 16m straight down.
Sharbutts - I'm always kind enough to hang a rope for handline / italian hitch, however not all do - I've heard complaints about rapid descents and even one 'blind' rapid recent as a result of glasses steaming up due to the temperature change! Definitely a place to be careful with - 16m straight down.
tim.rose2
Well-known member
Caving clubs...
Dorset Cave Group around in the 1970's/1980's is the best known. Numerous journals published which can be found on the MCRA website https://www.mcra.org.uk/logbooks/index.php?/category/Dorset_Caving_Group
Mum stubbled across this article dated Oct 1963. Weymouth and Portland Caving and Climbing Club - I've never seen any other reference to it. Anyone on here know more?
June 1967 - Yeovil Caving Club:
Apparently they had a journal called Sump - anyone got access to these? Did they explore the caves of Portland and document anything?
Dorset Cave Group around in the 1970's/1980's is the best known. Numerous journals published which can be found on the MCRA website https://www.mcra.org.uk/logbooks/index.php?/category/Dorset_Caving_Group
Mum stubbled across this article dated Oct 1963. Weymouth and Portland Caving and Climbing Club - I've never seen any other reference to it. Anyone on here know more?
June 1967 - Yeovil Caving Club:
Apparently they had a journal called Sump - anyone got access to these? Did they explore the caves of Portland and document anything?
Attachments
tim.rose2
Well-known member
Sandy...
Another Echo article, 1972:
Which inspired what I believe to be the best thing ever written about caving on Portland by Andrew MacTavish in the DCG Journal:
Other than the obvious piss taking out of Sandy Hole, note the final sentence, which was written two years before they found Ariel Cave!
And speaking of 'Trodding' in Sandy Hole, it eventually became possible when Mike Kushy and I extended Northern Rift in 2022, story here:
To be fair, you could already 'trod' before our discovery as the first part of Northern Rift discovered by Mike Read, Derek Davey, Mark Bezzant and Gareth Jones in 1993 was 'trodable'.
Another Echo article, 1972:
Which inspired what I believe to be the best thing ever written about caving on Portland by Andrew MacTavish in the DCG Journal:
Other than the obvious piss taking out of Sandy Hole, note the final sentence, which was written two years before they found Ariel Cave!
And speaking of 'Trodding' in Sandy Hole, it eventually became possible when Mike Kushy and I extended Northern Rift in 2022, story here:
To be fair, you could already 'trod' before our discovery as the first part of Northern Rift discovered by Mike Read, Derek Davey, Mark Bezzant and Gareth Jones in 1993 was 'trodable'.
Ouan
Member
The Shepton Mallet CC library has some issues of 'Sump' - Vol 1 Nos 1-10 & 12 and a Vol 2 No 1. I expect other Mendip club libraries will also have some copies of this journal.
British Caving Library only has one issue, dated October 1978.
Mike York was on mendip by the 1970s (see how I started caving - Jeff price):
But he passed away in 1998:
Apparently joined the Wessex mid 60s:
Post from 2020 by a Yeovil CC member, about 1976:
Facebook
www.facebook.com
Only issue 2 (Jan 1978) of Sump is included in the mcra bibliography (cuckoo cleeves trip)
But he passed away in 1998:
Belfry Bulletin No 500, December 1998 - Bristol Exploration Club %
The Bristol Exploration Club, The Belfry, Wells Road, Priddy, Wells, Somerset. Editor: Estelle Sandford Committee Members Secretary: Nigel Taylor Treasurer: Chris Smart Membership Secretary: Roz Bateman Editor: Estelle Sandford Caving Secretary: Andy Thomas Tackle Master: Mike Willett Hut...
bec-cave.org.uk
Post from 2020 by a Yeovil CC member, about 1976:
www.facebook.com
Last edited:
Similar threads
