The history of caving in Cardiff

Standard Unit of Tom

Standard Unit of Tom

Active member
I'm looking to do a write up on the history of caving in Cardiff (mostly focusing on the university club) and ask that if anyone has any information, pictures, key dates or just anything they think is interesting and should be included to send them to me at: thomas.jackson22240@gmail.com

My searching online hasn't yielded very much and the earliest reference I can find to the club being around is from 1974 but I have a feeling it existed before then so any help would be very much appreciated!

Thank you
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
I suppose one fairly important aspect associated with Cardiff and caving is that Descent was produced from there for many years (when Chris & Judith lived at Roath).
 
M

Martin Laverty

Member
The University College, Cardiff [Caving Club] were at a meeting to set up the Cambrian Cave Registry early in 1966 - SWCC n/l 52, p.21...

There were some prominent caving academics such as biologists G.T.Jefferson and Ann Mason/Williams/Edington, and psychologist Hywel Murrel... At least some of Jefferson's papers are in the Geology Department's library in the National Museum (which has a caving section).

Bear in mind there was also a University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology - they might have had a club as well?
 
Ali M

Ali M

Active member
Standard Unit of Tom said:
I'm looking to do a write up on the history of caving in Cardiff (mostly focusing on the university club) and ask that if anyone has any information, pictures, key dates or just anything they think is interesting and should be included to send them to me at: thomas.jackson22240@gmail.com

My searching online hasn't yielded very much and the earliest reference I can find to the club being around is from 1974 but I have a feeling it existed before then so any help would be very much appreciated!

Thank you
Click to expand...
My husband, Pete Moody was in Cardiff Uni Caving Club in 1969,1970 & 1971 and was Caving Secretary for a while during that period. I will send you a PM with his email address.
 
Standard Unit of Tom

Standard Unit of Tom

Active member
Martin Laverty said:
The University College, Cardiff [Caving Club] were at a meeting to set up the Cambrian Cave Registry early in 1966 - SWCC n/l 52, p.21...

There were some prominent caving academics such as biologists G.T.Jefferson and Ann Mason/Williams/Edington, and psychologist Hywel Murrel... At least some of Jefferson's papers are in the Geology Department's library in the National Museum (which has a caving section).

Bear in mind there was also a University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology - they might have had a club as well?
Click to expand...
Yeah I have thought that the precursors to the current uni might have some history, I've briefly had a read through the transcripts from the Cardiff Naturalists Society who've been around since 1867 (before any form of the uni existed in 1883) and they have a geology section which has records of them caving and studying Porth yr Ogof and Lesser Garth in the early 20th century
 
Rhys

Rhys

Moderator
My dad, Idris Williams, who is on this forum was caving with Cardiff Uni in the early 1960s (so was my mum). Perhaps he'll comment shortly.
 
J

Jenny P

Active member
I have checked our holding at the British Caving Library and find we have only one item and this is an unbound photocopy of the University College of Cardiff Caving Club, Club Log Book, 1981/82. It comprises a hefty stack of unumbered sheets running from 17/18 October 1981 to 26 June 1982.

29 Nov. 1981 records a photographic trip in Swildons with Chris Howes and his name appears in several other write-ups. The caves explored are in Wales, Mendip, Yorkshire and Derbsyshire and there is a record of a trip to Belgium in company with members of Hades in March/Aoril 1982. There are numeros illustrations and copies of parts of surveys, also mentions of digging trips. There are lots of different names mentioned throughout so it seems to have been a flourishing club during this period.

Hope this information is helpful. SUoT is welcome to get in touch with the Library via caving-library.org.uk.

Jenny P.
Library Co-ordinator
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top