Ogof Gam or Agen Allwed?

[Ellie]

Hi
An enjoyable trip to Aggy last night to Erse Passage - however a minor dispute was had on when Ogof Gam became Agen Allwed proper.  Is it in Baron's Chamber where the blue "keep Aggy tidy" sign is placed? And if not where? Would appreciate your thoughts.

 

[danthecavingman]

Before the first boulder choke. Agen Allwedd entrance provided a bypass to the awkward sections of Ogof Gam such as Sallys Alley etc.

Dan.

 

[mudman]

Ogof Gam is the entrance with the gate in it. The original entrance to Aggy is a bit further on. The end of Ogof Gam was blasted open (the Blasted Ducks I believe) to allow the awkward entrance series to be bypassed. I think this was after the First Choke was passed and there was a major expedition to explore and survey the newly discovered extensions.

You rejoin Aggy after the grovel in the water at the Toolshed.

 

[Duncan Price]

Both Ogof Gam (the usual entrance at path level) and Agen Allwedd (on a ledge higher up and slightly further along the cliff face) are gated.  Ogof Gam (crooked cave) joins Agen Allwedd (keyhole rift) at "The Toolshed" just after the last wet crawl as has been stated.  The way out of Agen Allwedd is up a climb on the left as you look out - it is taped off out of sight of normal caving traffic and there is a bat counter up there.  The entrance rift to Agen Allwedd is awkward but was originally improved by putting chockstones along it.  Agen Allwedd is gated by a metal pillar across it.  The two caves were connected by digging the mud sumps seperating them using school dinner trays as drag trays in the 1950's.  Later the route was enlarged for the two week surveying camp in Summertime held in the late 60's.  Sally's Alley (after David "Sally" Seagrave) is part of Agen Allwedd, not Ogof Gam.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you for your replies - I think this resolves the matter. Intrigued by the use of "school dinner trays" though.
Cheers
Ellie

 

[Duncan Price]

Thank you for your replies - I think this resolves the matter. Intrigued by the use of "school dinner trays" though.

Brian Price* (discoverer of Aggy and Ogof Gam amongst other caves in the locality) was a schoolmaster at Brynmawr.  Agen Allwedd (as far as the first BC) was discovered by him and his pupils.  The trays were used as drag trays and the ducks were known amongst GSS members (GSS and HCC were the first to pass 1st BC) as "The Trays" (certainly when I caved with them there in the late '80's).

* no relative (though my family are from the area) - its the 11th most common English surname.

 

[Wolfart]

This year is the 50th anniversary of the breakthrough the boulder choke into what is now known as Barons chamber in October.
We still have 2 members in our club that were there on that day
We plan to have a celabratory trip in October.
The original entrance is above and probably rusted up.

 

[cap n chris]

[quote author=Duncan with the common surname if you live in Eastern Mendip]
* no relative (though my family are from the area) - its the 11th most common English surname.
[/quote]

Erm,.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames#England.2C_Wales_and_Isle_of_Man

 

[andymorgan]

Isn't it a very common Welsh surname though?!

 

[Elaine]

Wow, I am 10th - beat that!

 

[nickwilliams]

No problem at all!

Nick.

 

[menacer]

Wow, I am 10th - beat that!

Im half way through reverting back to my maiden name from my married name.....which would put me at NO 1 
Oh well at least I'll be No1 at something in my life..... :

 

[Rhys]

Wow, I am 10th - beat that!

Done. Number 3.

And I'm no relation to Nick.

Rhys

 

[Les W]

Wow, I am 10th - beat that!

Done. Number 3.

And I'm no relation to Nick.

Rhys

Me too, and I'm no relation to Nick or Rhys 

 

[gus horsley]

I'm out of the running.  Mine's about 250th.

 

[ogof]

The blue Keep Agen Allwedd Tidy sign is indeed in Barons Chamber and was placed there MAAAAANY years ago by Bill Gascoigne and myself (Peter Wetton)