Author Topic: Nancy Camel's Hole, Thursday 29th November 2007 (Read 5317 times)

Cap'n Chris · « **on:** November 29, 2007, 04:24:02 pm »

Witchetty-grubbing after the famous eponymous resident of this cave, Nancy, who disappeared during a storm one evening in 1703. So the story has it, during that fateful night, an enormous tempest swept the area, with "flashes and streams of fiyer [that] melted the bells in the steple". During the tumult, a loud, piercing shriek was heard, along with the cracking of a whip, the creaking of wheels, and devilish laughter... The following morning local folk visited Ham Woods to see how Nancy had coped during the night but she, her donkey and her cart were missing; across the stone slab laying in front of her cave were burnt two ruts, as if made by burning wheels, and the impression of hoofs were also burnt into the ground - clearly the devil had visited and taken Nancy away!

So, Bruce and Viv were keen to meet up for a spot of rummaging in this hellhole and a 2:00pm RV was organised; the fantastic summer weather added to the occasion and a pleasant walk soon brought us to the lair of satan.

The rocky outcrop in which is hidden Nancy's Cameltoe or somesuch.

The stomach churning aroma of badger/fox wee'n'poo soon led us to the spot whereupon we managed to avoid the freshly curled territory-marking turds besplattered around; this is not a place for the faint-hearted.

The alluring entrance to this fabulous cave is quite a classic and evocative sight.

Bru n Viv get kitted up for the onslaught...

The low entrance quickly enters the main chamber, dominated by a dull-thudding floor of detritus, no doubt piled up by the denizens of this lair - most likely foxes or badgers, judging by the sweetly scented air - an exquisite perfume which is something of an acquired taste, so it is said. The place is a-buzzin' with moss squits and the walls are thickly adorned with evaporitic vermiculations giving a distinct tigery effect - small phreatic avens and some ancient flowstone, including some sadly unloved stalactites are to be found hereabouts; also on the wall is a nicely engraved set of initials, EH, obviously meaning "Evil Hole".

Beyond this impressive gallery is a low arch leading to the abyss chamber which, since rope had been thought unnecessary, it was not possible to descend. Some more rummaging around and gasps of awe and wonder resumed before we gradually made our approach back to daylight and the fresh woodland air. Tired, weary but somewhat exhilarated, we found the oppressive realm of evil hadn't scathed us irredeemably and we managed a smile and a cheery return walk.

Peter Burgess · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:36:53 pm »

That will be the well-documented storm of 1703, written about by Daniel Defoe, and generally accepted as being far worse that the 1987 storm, or the one a year or so later. Dozens of ships sunk, many hundreds if not thousands of people died.

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:43:09 pm »

... and Nancy "done a runner" presumably to avoid getting lynched, given that Witchcraft trials continued in Britain until 1712 (albeit with the last recorded Witchcraft execution, in 1685, in Devon). I guess there's a possibility that her cart/horse was struck by lightning and she shat herself and then waddled off to find some bog roll but got distracted and couldn't be arsed to go home. [This last part is conjecture, BTW].

8,000, apparently, Peter.

26th November 1703.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/east/series4/great_storm.shtml

Peter Burgess · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:51:33 pm »

Thank you for that well-disguised Global Warming BBC link, Chris.

Cookie · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:53:22 pm »

It must have been a great storm. It has swept some poor unfortunate caver in with all that mud and twigs.

You can just see his cap lamp pointing up through the mud in the second picture.

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:56:31 pm »

It's not a cap-lamp, Cookie; it's one of two ghost orbs visible in the picture, thus proving the satanic nature of the cave.

For further absolute irrefutable proof visit these esteemed sites:

http://theshadowlands.net/ghost/orbs.htm
http://www.ghostorbs.com/
Dust particles? - bollocks; it's supernatural - even Wiki states that!....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orb_(paranormal)

Cookie · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2007, 05:19:17 pm »

Yes, I saw the other orb.

It is clearly the ghost of the now dead cap lamp rising to meet its maker.

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2007, 05:21:44 pm »

Yes; yes, it is. Clearly.

mrodoc · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2007, 08:45:24 am »

According to the old Caves of Mendip it was always thought to be a good potential dig site.

graham · « **Reply #9 on:** November 30, 2007, 09:01:09 am »

Quote from: mrodoc on November 30, 2007, 08:45:24 am

According to the old Caves of Mendip it was always thought to be a good potential dig site.

Agree, it certainly looks a good prospect.

mrodoc · « **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2007, 09:23:21 am »

so why hasn't anybody dug there?

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #11 on:** November 30, 2007, 03:31:17 pm »

`cos it's full of poo and wee and evil. Mostly poo, though.

whitelackington · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2007, 05:34:50 pm »

Has SCG got a dig $:-\$

Tree Monkey · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2007, 06:15:13 pm »

Keep up Whitelackington!!

It was talked about earlier!

whitelackington · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2007, 10:11:32 am »

Quote from: Tree Monkey on November 30, 2007, 06:15:13 pm

Keep up Whitelackington!!

It was talked about earlier!

When?

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2007, 04:23:02 pm »

Yes.

whitelackington · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2007, 07:47:16 am »

Quote from: cap 'n chris on December 01, 2007, 04:23:02 pm

Yes.

good luck with it,
where ever it may be,
is it a secret

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2007, 08:07:22 am »

twiglet · « **Reply #18 on:** December 26, 2016, 05:31:10 pm »

Reading the story of Nancy from Shepton Mallet town council`s website, her cave was supposed to be in
Ham Woods, not Darshill Wood !!!!! So should Ham Hole really be Nancy Camels Hole ?

rhychydwr1 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 27, 2016, 10:36:15 am »

No, it is definatley Darshill. I have been there

References:
see under Surveys for the map of the cave.
Date of visit 12th August 2016
Allison, C 2015 Nancy Camel’s Hole / An Initial Report into the Engravings in an 18th Century Home. (377) 3-12 S May 2015.
Armstrong, Keith 2007 (2nd ed) The Story of Croscombe 111-112)
Kenney, C H May 1954 An 18h Century Cave Dweller. WCC Jl 3 (45) 4
MC 2 (12) 9
MC5 435
Smith, D Ingle 1975 Limestones and Caves of the Mendip Hill. 218.

ZombieCake · « **Reply #20 on:** December 27, 2016, 08:38:47 pm »

Ham Hole, Ham Woods, and Nancy Camel's are all very different places, although geographically not that far apart. MCG (Mendip Caving Group) article on Nancy Camel's is the most recent investigation (and apparantly a follow up article is due..), as well as the odd caving song reference! Access details and survey available in that article and also in Tony Oldham's e-book. It is indeed in Darshill and not Ham Woods. Shepton Council's version could perhaps be considered a little fanciful.