Edouard Martel 1897

[skyandstone]

Hi folks,

This is a long shot but does anyone happen to have a copy of Edouard-Alfred Martel's famous book 'Irlande et cavernes anglaises' published in 1897.

I believe it holds accounts of the first ever descent into Gaping Gill main shaft.

I am trying very hard to find a copy as I believe it may contain information about a sea cave that I am researching for my photographic project on the sea caves of Northern Ireland.

If anyone happens to have access to a copy could they possibly look for a reference to a 'Stalactite Cave' at Larrybane near Carrick-a-Rede on the North Antrim Coast. I would really like to know if he visited this cave. A illustration or plate would be very much of interest. I know the book also contains information about his pioneering explorations of the Marble Arch cave system in Fermanagh but it is specifically this sea cave that I am interested in

Here's a photo I took of it as part of my project along with the link to my project pages.

If anyone could help me with this, I would be very grateful indeed.

Great Sea Caves of Antrim

 

[graham]

There are a fair number of copies about. Mine is currently being rebound & so is unavailable for another couple of weeks, but the UBSS library has a copy & I can look this up when I get back near the Library next week, if nobody else does it sooner.

 

[skyandstone]

Graham,

Thank you very much for your help with this.

Let's see if anyone has a copy handy, but if not I would be very grateful if you could help me check for this reference.

Andy

 

[graham]

My pleasure.

If you haven't had any luck by this time next week, send me a PM.

 

[skyandstone]

I have just made an interesting discovery this afternoon in a French journal, La Nature, dated 1896.

I had come across this paper before but I have only just noticed the author, M.-A Martel !!!!
So he did come to North Antrim and did survey the cave in 1895.

And even more exciting. I now find he also explored the Cathedral cave

Which is a view of the great pillar of which only one 'leg' now remains (photo looking from a opposite diection). The other leg can be seen as the jumble of boulders on the left hand side. I find it very exciting to think that Martel also visited this great cave.

I am still very interested in what is contained within his book, 'Irlande et cavernes anglaises'. Perhaps his photographs on which these etchings are based are even contained there.

 

[graham]

We also have, back at the ranch, a bibliography of his published writings. I'll take a look in there as well, if you remind me.

 

[librarian]

Hi, there's a copy in the British Caving Library, I'll gladly look up any information you require tomorrow morning, otherwise, if you're anywhere in the area, you're very welcome to call in and read/copy the bits you need.

Thanks

Janet Nash

http://caving-library.org.uk

 

[skyandstone]

Janet, I would love to pop in but unfortunately I'm in Northern Ireland. 

I would be very grateful if you could take a peek and see if there are any etchings or photographic plates of the Antrim Sea caves. If it isn't too much bother it would be great if you could scan any that you find.

Much obliged.

 

[librarian]

No problem.  If you pm or email me your email address I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[cap n chris]

I've taken the liberty of cropping both pictures, having previously done a negative/reverse image of your most recent (nice, BTW!) photo and then put them together for comparison just to prove they are indeed of the same cave....

 

[skyandstone]

A nice illustration Cap'n Chris,

They are surely the same cave as there is no other cave like this in Ireland. Here's a photo taken by R.J. Welch in c1890

You can see how he has struggled with the contrast compared to the modern digital blending techniques.

Also, if you like a bit of detective work then check out the mystery of the Great Pillar of Cathedral Cave at the bottom of this chapter.
http://www.andymcinroy.com/5port1.htm

 

[Ed W]

Just seen this thread, and had a look at my copy.  There is an entire chapter on "La Cote d'Antrim".  On page 226 there is the same picture you have posted from "La Nature" and on p.242 there is the picture inside the cave, which is titled "interieur de Fern-Cave".  There is a description of the caves of "Larry-Bane" on p.241 to p.246, this states that Stalactite Cave and Fern Cave are alternative names for the same site (if my French is correct of course).  There is also another photo of the entrance to Fern Cave on p.245.

My French isn't great, but happy to try a translation or to scan the appropriate pages for you if you want (I will be away for a few days however).

Cheers,

Ed

 

[skyandstone]

Ed,

Thank you very much indeed for checking this one out. I am most intrigued by the 2 pictures you mention ("interieur de Fern-Cave" p242 and "entrance to Fern Cave" on p.245). A scan of the pages and / or images would be wonderful. I can share my public email address with you here. If you could send me some of the scans I would be very grateful.

info@skyandstone.com

From my understanding, the Fern Cave and Stalactite Caves are different caves on the same shore and separated by about 400m. They could be classed as being at the same site certainly. That info is very interesting. The strange thing is that there are no ferns in what I currently know as fern cave. However there are ferns in Stalactite Cave but I would say the stalactites are more worthy of its naming. I can only assume that Martel was accompanied by knowledgable local guides and might well be correct on this. Many of these cave names have been lost to history so it is interesting to cross reference them back to this written material.   

Thanks again for checking this for me. The illustrations are certainly very intriguing to me.

 

[skyandstone]

Many thanks to Janet for scanning and sending me Chapter XV of the book. I am very grateful indeed.

It is clear that Martel has refered to what I know as Cathedral Cave as 'Fern Cave'. I think he has probably made a simple mistake here as Cathedral Cave is at White Rocks and these photographs should really have belonged in that chapter. I'll have to translate the page to see if I can work out his thinking on that one.

Unfortunately there is no interior etching of the Stalactite cave. Still, I am very pleased to now be able to link my project to this great pioneer of cave science.

Thanks again Janet and also everyone else who offered their help.