Stalactites in (near) Hensler's Master Cave

[langcliffe]

Perusing through some of Adrian Clarke's photographs, I came across this one showing the stals in Hensler's Master Cave. It was probably taken in the late 1940s.

[Pitlamp]

Nice one Langcliffe!  I'm not familiar with the name Adrian Clarke; could you tell us a bit about him?

For anyone wanting a view of these stals taken in the opposite direction, see Jack Myers' photograph in Underground Adventure (1952, Gemmell & Myers) opposite page 38. (Sadly, these formations were damaged a very long time ago.) I think (from memory) there may also be an image of them in that article on the discovery of Hensler's Passages in one of the late 1930s BSA Caves & Caving journals.

[langcliffe]

Nice one Langcliffe!  I'm not familiar with the name Adrian Clarke; could you tell us a bit about him?

For anyone wanting a view of these stals taken in the opposite direction, see Jack Myers' photograph in Underground Adventure (1952, Gemmell & Myers) opposite page 38. (Sadly, these formations were damaged a very long time ago.) I think (from memory) there may also be an image of them in that article on the discovery of Hensler's Passages in one of the late 1930s BSA Caves & Caving journals.

I'm afraid that I can't tell you anything about Mr. Clarke 'cos he was a Derbyshire caver, and outside my ken.

Here's the BSA Journal photograph of the mackintosh you were referring to:

[Pitlamp]

Brilliant - no flashy specialised caving gear in those days!
I bet that coat was just great for reversing along narrow passages (not).

[langcliffe]

Brilliant - no flashy specialised caving gear in those days!
I bet that coat was just great for reversing along narrow passages (not).

No easy way in, then!

[langcliffe]

Perusing through some of Adrian Clarke's photographs, I came across this one showing the stals in Hensler's Master Cave. It was probably taken in the late 1940s.

I can now be almost certain that the photograph was taken in June 1946 on a trip down Disappointment Pot. So on this occasion it wasn't necessary to lug the camera equipment through Long Hensler's.

[Pitlamp]

The first post-war winch meet at GG was organised by the BSA in June 1946. I wonder if he took his photographs whilst staying in camp?

[Ian Ball]

They were a great feature.

[langcliffe]

The first post-war winch meet at GG was organised by the BSA in June 1946. I wonder if he took his photographs whilst staying in camp?

I'm sure they did - this is a picture of the winch taken at the time:

However, I am now wondering about the original owner / photographer - I think that Adrian Clarke may be the son. As I have repeatedly said, I am ignorant about anything south of Skipton.

[langcliffe]

I am happy to say that it was not Adrian Clarke, who presumably is the son, but J.G. Clarke. An identical photograph of the winch to that above may be found in the Simpson archive:

https://archives.bcra.org.uk/archive.php?level=image&collection=simpson&document=gapinggill&item=165

It seems that he was with the Midland Group of the BSA from the post-war years to the mid-1960s.