Castleton Youth Hostel; two questions

Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
We're trying to put together a new CDG Peak District Sump Index - please can I ask the following two questions in connection with this:

1. The YHA, in its "wisdom", has chosen - as usual without asking its members - to close another fine hostel (Castleton). Can anyone tell me when this happened? (All I want to know is which year - roughly when in the year would be a bonus but not essential. I seem to remember it was late in 2012 but would welcome confirmation.)

2. There is a well in the basement of the youth hostel building. I've never seen it but I remember being told about it a number of years ago. We'd like to include a brief note in the new index just to mention its existence. Can anyone tell me more information? (I wonder if DanTheCavingMan might have useful contributions here?)

If anyone can help - thanks!
 
Thanks Paul - but I really wanted to know when the real Castleton youth hostel closed rather than when the substitute one opened. (Then again maybe the two coincided?)

"Help" please someone.
 
I think I remember that YHA Castleton closed it's doors in the last month or so of 2011. YHA Losehill Hall opened Feb 2012.
I'm not sure when, or indeed, if the YHA has sold off the old hostel buildings. The current manager (Alistair) at YHA Losehill Hall is the former Castleton manager and is probably the best person to speak to, he's a nice chap and should be able to answer your query.
Sorry I can't be more helpful despite working for the YHA at Edale since 2007!
 
Yup, it happened at virtually the same time. When the YHA took possession of Lose Hill from the PNP, they just moved up the road from the old place, I don't know if or when they disposed of the building, they also had Bean Hill barn, don't know what happened to that either.

(Posts crossed with Pete)
 
The hall was sold off shortly after the move out to Losehill as I recall. There's planning and listed building applications in at the moment to convert the hall into two houses (planning app here:http://pam.peakdistrict.gov.uk/?r=NP%2FHPK%2F0713%2F0551&q=&s=2079365) but the plans with it show no indication of a well in the cellar. Lurking under a flagstone, perhaps?
 
Thanks all.

I think the well was a bit more obvious that being concealed under a flag. Someone in the caving community told me about it several years ago. I think they'd actually been to see it; I remember a verbal description of it being ginged with limestone blocks. Trouble is I can't remember who it was (but it could have been DanTheCavingMan?).
 
The new owner's details are on the planning app, you could always contact them and ask to go have a look?
 
Naive question - what makes this well notable enough to be included? Does the index cover all known wells?

Chris.
 
ChrisJC said:
Naive question - what makes this well notable enough to be included? Does the index cover all known wells?

Chris.
Click to expand...

That's an entirely sensible question Chris. In this particular case the well is just on the edge of the limestone and it's in very close proximity to the Peak System. Knowledge of it may be useful to others in future, for example if the opportunity to place detectors in it arose it might be possible to make future dye tests more comprehensive. The aim is to produce an index which is useful to cavers generally and not just cave divers. So a very brief mention of its existence seems justified. That's the thinking in this particular case. Most wells wouldn't qualify. Makes sense?

Don't ask where we'll draw the (arbitrary) line though!

 
AR said:
The new owner's details are on the planning app, you could always contact them and ask to go have a look?
Click to expand...

A good suggestion AR - and thanks. But I'm hopeful that the caver who has already inspected it might eventually see this topic and elaborate first. I can think of several reasons why it may be better not to bother the owner about it until it really matters.
 
danthecavingman said:
Sorry John,

Wasn't me - I do recall hearing something about it in the back of my mind but can't think who or when.

D.
Click to expand...

I reckon it was some time in the 1990s and I think it was someone associated with the TSG and who lived or worked locally. I wish I'd made a note at the time. Anyway thanks for responding Dan; that narrows it down (a little bit!).

 
Pitlamp said:
AR said:
The new owner's details are on the planning app, you could always contact them and ask to go have a look?
Click to expand...

A good suggestion AR - and thanks. But I'm hopeful that the caver who has already inspected it might eventually see this topic and elaborate first. I can think of several reasons why it may be better not to bother the owner about it until it really matters.
Click to expand...
I see your point John - but I also wonder whether - if even limited access would be the 'what really matters', it should be sooner rather than later - for example if the new owner decides to make use of the basement in such a way that they decide to pour loads of concrete into the well and screed over it and lay a mahogany floor?
 
Fair comment - but I'm not aware of anything going on at the moment which makes it important enough to bother the owners. All we want to do is simply mention the well's existence in the new sump index so it doesn't get forgotten about in future - it's no big deal really.
 
AFAIK the old YHA closed after the Xmas/New Year stays in early 2012, there was a hiatus of about 6 weeks whilst all the gear that was needed was carted off to Losehill Hall.

We use Losehill YHA through school and I know most of the people there. I'll ask a few questions about a well when I see them. I've stayed there quite a few times but didn't know about a well - mind you why should they have said anything!

The YHA had the main hall, the barn round the back and the old rectory next door. There were sold off as 3 separate lots and apparently raised as much money through the sales as Losehill was to purchase.

The basement of the old rectory was used by YHA to entertain school kids with archeological digs! Interesting enough it also showed the original floor level around the rectory as I understand it was built on the foundations an older building - the surrounding land to the rectory is a good 6' higher than medieval times.
 
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