pwhole
Well-known member
After some below-stairs discussion at Cave Registry headquarters, we've decided that the name 'Youd's Level', as applied to Ringing Rake Sough in Matlock Bath, is no longer an appropriate name for this system - at least for our purposes. As future editions of COPD will be derived from the new and ever-expanding database being built, it seems appropriate to maintain correct names throughout - this name was applied affectionally but temporarily for the guy who accidentally discovered the level in 1977, and it's hardly accurate today.
Also it means that Gentlewoman's Pipe, an arguably more important (and more popular) system currently has no entry of its own, and the only way you can find out about it is by reading 'Youd's Level' backwards uphill, which is silly really, as Gentlewoman's is actually part of the Great Masson system topographically and geologically - though it has some important differences. It's also part-natural throughout, with valuable sediment deposits in places, and this should be recognised, not least so that future visitors respect and don't damage it.
We think that the best solution is to create two entries, one for Gentlewoman's Pipe, with the direction of travel downhill to the connection with Old Jant Mine. The other would be for Ringing Rake Sough, connecting (via the coffin-level of Masson Sough) to Old Jant Mine, as that was the sough's destination. Gentlewoman's was earlier, and was pumped dry to surface. As the usual Gentlewoman's shaft entrance is still blocked, this is a good opportunity to revise the system whilst folks aren't visiting. This also makes trips that are started from the river trapdoor more clear to those who've never been before - and they will almost certainly not exit via the quarry shaft at the top of Masson Hill! Naturally we will inform PDMHS of our name change as it will have nostalgic connotations for many, but I think we need to maintain clarity as we go forward.
Any serious objections? Other than nostalgia?
Also it means that Gentlewoman's Pipe, an arguably more important (and more popular) system currently has no entry of its own, and the only way you can find out about it is by reading 'Youd's Level' backwards uphill, which is silly really, as Gentlewoman's is actually part of the Great Masson system topographically and geologically - though it has some important differences. It's also part-natural throughout, with valuable sediment deposits in places, and this should be recognised, not least so that future visitors respect and don't damage it.
We think that the best solution is to create two entries, one for Gentlewoman's Pipe, with the direction of travel downhill to the connection with Old Jant Mine. The other would be for Ringing Rake Sough, connecting (via the coffin-level of Masson Sough) to Old Jant Mine, as that was the sough's destination. Gentlewoman's was earlier, and was pumped dry to surface. As the usual Gentlewoman's shaft entrance is still blocked, this is a good opportunity to revise the system whilst folks aren't visiting. This also makes trips that are started from the river trapdoor more clear to those who've never been before - and they will almost certainly not exit via the quarry shaft at the top of Masson Hill! Naturally we will inform PDMHS of our name change as it will have nostalgic connotations for many, but I think we need to maintain clarity as we go forward.
Any serious objections? Other than nostalgia?