Essential Reading??

T

TomSouthCoast

New member
So, I've read Mendip Underground, The History of Mendip Caving by Peter Johnson, and The Mendip Caves by Balch.

Please can anyone recommend any other mendip caving books ?

Thanks

Tom
 
Pioneer under the Mendips by Willie Stanton

The Complete Caves of Mendip and a view of the Hills by Willie Stanton & Nick Barrington

Swildon's Hole by Ali Moody, Andy Farrant & Dave Irwin

Wookey Hole by Jim Hanwell, Duncan Price & Rich Whitcombe

Netherworld of Mendip by H.E. Balch & E.A. Baker

Lots of others if your interest spreads towards the archaeology as well.
 
The all new Mendip Underground - due soon...

Have you read all 3 of Balch's Mendip books?

Mike
 
To avoid confusion, Balch's 3 Mendip books are combined in The Mendip Caves that Tom has read.

Another one to add to the good suggestions so far:
Caving: Episodes of Underground Exploration by E.A. Baker
It has some chapters about exploring Mendip caves, and the whole book is definitely worth reading as well.
 
Excellent. Thanks for all your replies. Will read the the Willie Stanton books next and then the Limestones and Caves of the Mendip Hills. D. I. Smith and D. P. Drew book.

That'll be plenty to keep me going for a while and I'll have a proper read of the Swildon's book (which i've already had a brief flick through) and the St Cuthbert's books (if there are any left!) in the future!!

Thanks Again!
 
The Complete Caves of Mendip and a view of the Hills (1977) by Willie Stanton & Nick Barrington
and
The Limestones and Caves of the Mendip Hills (1977). D. I. Smith and D. P. Drew

are still, in my opinion, the most up to date books that give, between them, the most information generally on the Mendip caves and karst.

Remember that they are both 35 years out of date now, but mostly the information within is reasonably accurate and still very relevant.
I would hope that there are plans to update the the Limestones and Caves of the Mendip Hills book and the (promised in 2013) new Mendip Underground is supposed to be the most comprehensive yet. Until then these two, between them, are still the best reference source on the caves, and should be in every Mendip caver's library.  :thumbsup:
 
twiglet said:
A Man Deep in Mendip, the Diary of Harry Savory, is a good read if you can
still get hold of a copy.
Click to expand...
Ten years ago they were everywhere at about 50p a copy.
 
Netherworld of Mendip:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/53063/53063-h/53063-h.htm

Andy Farrant's east & west Mendip walkers guides to geology.

4 books Somerset Underground is currently replacing the Complete Caves.
 
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