Memorials - research enquiry.

[Jenny P]

Afraid I can't recall the details of the GG skeleton I read about, other than that I believe it wasn't long after the end of the 2nd. World War and there was a suggestion that the person could have been a wartime spy who was thrown down the pothole after his identity was discovered.  I think the police were involved in the investigation but the body was never identified and certainly wasn't "ancient".

Perhaps someone else can come up with the appropriate references for this tale because I've come across it in several histories of Gaping Gill but can't now remember where I read it.

I'd always been given to understand the skeleton in OFD was that of a travelling pedlar who had either fallen or been pushed into the open pothole which then existed, near the road and further down the hill from the current Top Entrance.  The surface opening is now closed and, even if alive, the person would not have been able to climb out so would have died miserably.  The "pedlar" theory was supposed to have come about because among the remains were found the small metal tags which seal the ends of laces, which would have been part of a pedlar's stock in trade.  Again, this may be an apocryphal tale but I'm sure one of the SWCC historians can come up with the truth (or otherwise), of this one.

 

[Martin Laverty]

Restriction of access, usually involving gating,  is often the contemporary practice in response to discovery of remains deemed historic or archaeological (not to mention 'dangerous'). Nig Rogers (https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=23849.0) would have been familiar with the Gwyn Nicholls Memorial Gates to Cardiff Rugby Club but was determined there should never be a memorial gate to any cave (and certainly not in his memory, although such was the joke amongst his friends). A weakening of resolve did result in the concrete portal now left at Drws Cefn (Rogers' Folly?), but he dedicated much of the last decade to ensuring it remained free of its short-lived gate, or any other obstruction.

However, Nig is immortalised directly in the naming by Oxford UCC of the Rogered Senseless  area of Draenen, and indirectly in the Last Sandwich (sandwich boxes were prominent on his exploration trips, filled with comestibles or otherwise). His taste in music is also commemorated in his own naming of two passages he discovered: Hearts of Olden Glory in Draenen and Precious Years in Carno Adit - both songs by Runrig, the latter being played at the Committal during his funeral, a month ago today.

 

[Bob Mehew]

Afraid I can't recall the details of the GG skeleton I read about, other than that I believe it wasn't long after the end of the 2nd. World War and there was a suggestion that the person could have been a wartime spy who was thrown down the pothole after his identity was discovered.  I think the police were involved in the investigation but the body was never identified and certainly wasn't "ancient".

Perhaps someone else can come up with the appropriate references for this tale because I've come across it in several histories of Gaping Gill but can't now remember where I read it.

As I recall (from reading - not witnessing), it was found during a post war Craven winch meet.  https://www.cravenpotholeclub.org/index.php/about-gaping-gill/gaping-gill-further-reading provides a bibilography.  Try the Librarian at https://www.cravenpotholeclub.org/index.php/contact-us who will almost certainly have other detail.

 

[Pitlamp]

The Gaping Gill skeleton was found in 1947 on the first post war CPC winch meet. There will be an article about this, including contemporary newspaper references, in the October edition of the CPC Record (due out soon).

For general information about skeletal material found in caves in the Dales, look for Phil Murphy's gazetteer on the subject.

 

[langcliffe]

There is also the skeleton found in Body Pot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trow_Ghyll_skeleton

 

[martinr]

For the origin of cave and passage names on Mendip pre 2008, Liv could just get herself a copy of "Who was Aveline Anyway" (subtitle "Mendip's Cave Names Explained) by Richard Witcome (published by Wessex Cave Club)

 

[andybrooks]

One of the better known skeletons would be "Cheddar Man" in Gough's Cave.

 

[Graigwen]

There is also the skeleton found in Body Pot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trow_Ghyll_skeleton

There is also a trial for copper ore in Cwm Bychan near Aberglaslyn known as Gwaith Body because a body had once been discovered in there. (An interesting combination of English and Welsh.)

.

 

[Joel Corrigan]

Burnie's Pot (-600m) in the Dachstein was named in honour of Ian Burnell who died in a climbing accident jut before we discovered it. 

 

[Giorgiogents]

Late to this thread but i recently caved Oxlow cavern and was interested in the sad story of Stephen Nunwick.
Only just created an account to add the little information i found available online!

Edit
Sources:

https://pcjclark.wordpress.com/2018/02/03/memorial/
http://everything.explained.today/List_of_UK_caving_fatalities/#Ref-82
Student dies in pothole . Birmingham Daily Post. 23 February 1976.