Gaping Ghyll

[Pitlamp]

Well spotted Susie.

Incidentally I have a letter here from Dr.Farrer which spells Gaping Gill as such. As he's the landowner, presumably he know's how to spell it? The definitive history of the system by Howard Beck is entiltled "Gaping Gill; 150 years of exploration". The Ordnance survey spells it Gaping Gill.

More importantly the original explorer, Martel, called it by it's correct name in notes he made actually in Main Chamber on the first descent: "Gaping Gill is an abyss formed by erosion . . . ." etc. (Note, this was of course written in French but still spelt Gaping GILL.) The convention amongst British cavers has always been that the original explorer's names must stand.

So I'm afraid it is clear that the spelling "Ghyll" is definitely wrong.

 

[AndyF]

The word "gill" originated from the norse and means a steep ravine. The Vikings were here long before WW, so maybe we should avoid later corruptions?

I tend to agree with you Pitlamp on this issue, but how far does one take it? Do we all have to go back to fourteenth century spellings, as everything thereafter is a corruption?

<i>Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;</i>

Hmmm, but the Vikings didn't use Arabic Characters, so they they wouldn't have spelt it either way. In fact, they probably never wrote it ever, too busy pillaging etc.

And anyway, look at the spelling of the other words in this poem. He obviously wouldn't win a spelling bee, nor did he have Microsoft word's paperclip man to help him...

Got a strange feeling this thread is on a steep downhill slope.... :wink:

 

[dunc]

Got a strange feeling this thread is on a steep downhill slope....

Only a slope, we should work harder to get it to a pitch!

And to add my 1p, I think 'Gill' is the way it should be spelt!

 

[martinr]

Gill or Ghyll? Personally, I prefer GG

I can feel a pole coming (or should that be a poll?)

 

[Pitlamp]

Good point Andy F!

Spell Gaping Gill how you want folks - but do make the small effort to arrange your visit properly beforehand. No point antagonising the owner unnecessarily. He's been very good with us all.

 

[cap n chris]

Gayping Jill?

 

[Pitlamp]

Yep - I reckon Dr.Farrer would be able to work out what you're on about in your permit request.

 

[Cumbrian Neil]

Sorry Pitlamp, but my Dave Elliot SRT rigging guide, otherwise called my Bible spells it Ghyll.

Needless to say, for me it will always be Ghyll

Oh.. the infamous Dave Elliot rigging guide... someone could make a pretty penny if there was an updated SRT cave guide for all the vertical caves. Although I know there is another exhausted thread with respect to this topic on this forum.



Pitlamp and Damian - Thanks for the info on permits... my infrequent visits to the UK don't make it worthwhile to pursue insurance (but that remark in itself is opening a can of worms). Anywho... back to poetry.



CN.

 

[chriscastle46]

I have another question about this large Yorkshire cave system.
As I said, my info is out of date, although it was correct about permits.
We are going in by Stream Entrance Pot. I assume it's P-hangered, but would someone confirm this please?

I have a permit, but it says nothing about reporting to the Estate Office, as I believe you used to have to do, so why do they bother?

I met and caved with Dave Elliot several times years ago when Andy Sparrow was training for his CIC, and Dave certainly had an expert knowledge of the English language, especially when speaking of anyone who disagreed with him! Which explains something about Andy.....

 

[susie]

We are going in by Stream Entrance Pot. I assume it's P-hangered, but would someone confirm this please?

Yes - it is.

 

[danthecavingman]

Whatever you do, dont Google Image Search Gaping Jill! I warned you.....


So why not call it Gaping Dingle instead.