pwhole
Well-known member
One interesting bonus of the recent Eldon Hole drop was the discovery of some carved graffiti in the Main Chamber - this was a few metres above the floor on the 'north' wall, roughly above the left-hand anchor for the triangular pull-through hauling cord, and it possibly involved a rigid ladder to carve, as the climb is up very steep and slippery flowstone, to use a hammer and chisel in candlelight. I've been in there many times before and never noticed it, but we did spend a lot more time staring at stuff. The carving is 'JT 1873', which is wonderful, as that confirms it to be the work of John Tym, documented as visiting with Rooke Pennington in that year. There's more information on this and other historical explorations in a great article by Mike Higgins in Derbyshire Caver 140:
https://thedca.org.uk/publications/newsletters/send/3-derbyshire-caver/27-derbyshire-caver-140
There's a close-up shot below, and on the wider shot of the large flowstone cascade going up the wall, the carving is just visible at the bottom-right corner (I hadn't noticed it at this point).
https://thedca.org.uk/publications/newsletters/send/3-derbyshire-caver/27-derbyshire-caver-140
There's a close-up shot below, and on the wider shot of the large flowstone cascade going up the wall, the carving is just visible at the bottom-right corner (I hadn't noticed it at this point).