Rope Making in Peak Cavern

[langcliffe]

Another question for all you clever Peak historians...

Could this be a photograph of Bert Morrison, the last Peak Cavern rope maker? I suspect that the photograph was taken about 1949 when Morrison would have been in his mid-60s. He is wearing the same sort of gear as seen in this:

.

https://archives.bcra.org.uk/archives/clarke/peak/Clarke%207%20Peak%20Cavern.jpg

On an easier note, this photograph is described as being "Beyond Speedwell Water". Would that be Upper Gallery?

Many thanks in advance for any answers, and also for your help on previous occasions.

[AR]

Possibly - just had a look at a photo Harry Parker took of Bert about 20 years later and although I couldn't say for certain, it's likely. One minor point, the surname of the ropemaker family was Marrison, not Morrison.

[pwhole]

I believe the Peak Cavern photo is the big bend after Mucky Duck and just before Razor Blade Aven, looking upstream, so yes, Upper Gallery. If I'm right!

[Roger W]

Just had a look myself at the photo of Bert by H M Parker in Brian Woodall's Peak Cavern guidebook (1979) - the nose and ears are very similar.

[Pitlamp]

I agree with pwhole that the Peak photo is probably in Upper Gallery.

I asked Irene who worked at Peak until recently about the video and she confirmed the subject is Bert Marrison. She also mentioned there is another video on You Tube made about Bert when he retired.

[Pitlamp]

Irene adds:

"Bert's always easy to recognise by his hands rope making does some very strange things to joints"

[mikem]

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/cave-ropemaker
1963 & also on YouTube. This is in BCA library list. Otherwise you get PeteK's rope work films...

[Roger W]

I think I see what you mean, Pitlamp...

[Mrs Trellis]

The damp probably increased the "knobbly" rheumatic joints.

[Badlad]

A bit political but...

This sort of complaint was common amongst millions of manual workers during the industrial revolution.  Caused by highly repetitive work over long hours.  Often the workers had no choice but to continue working in excruciating pain to earn the money they needed to live.  It's what made Britain 'Great' and built the enormous wealth of the Victorian era.

[langcliffe]

I agree with pwhole that the Peak photo is probably in Upper Gallery.

I asked Irene who worked at Peak until recently about the video and she confirmed the subject is Bert Marrison. She also mentioned there is another video on You Tube made about Bert when he retired.

My post was misleading 'cos the link to youtube dominated it. It was actually the subject of the photograph I was interested in:

https://archives.bcra.org.uk/archives/clarke/peak/Clarke%207%20Peak%20Cavern.jpg