CCP:

Newsletter.

July. '98

Forthcoming Meets.

11th. July: D.C.R.O. Stomp at Bull i th’ Thorn, with camping available.
18th. July: Otter Hole - limited to 5.

19th. July: Dan-yr-Ogof - leader Liam Keeley.

25 July- Lost Johns. Street collection. Buxton

1 Aug. White Scar.

15 Aug. Penyghent.

23 Aug. OFD

29/30 Aug GB-Aug-Longwood. Street collection Castleton

12 Sept Lancaster.

20 Sept. Little Neath.

26/27 Sept. Prov-Dow, Sell Gill. 10 Oct. GG_Dis.

8 Nov. Pant Mawr. 21 Nov. Notts Pot.
5 Nov. Tatham Wife. 13 Nov. Darren Cilau.

Have you got a bent one?

John Martin did have and Sharon still has!!_ On a recent trip to Link Pot John Martins Croll became
detached from the rope while climbing the tight entrance pitch. On examination the safety catch was seen to be
bent. This probably occurred while descending the tight rift causing it to protrude enough to release allowing the
cam to open as John struggled to ascend. What made matters worse is that he could not clip back onto the rope
because of the restricted nature of the pitch. This was solved by passing a second rope down the pitch. Back on
the surface John applied only moderate pressure to the catch and it snapped!! Our equipment expert (P.Ton.)
contacted Lyon Equipment and Petzl who were most helpful stating that they were aware of this rare problem
and new models of Croll (and jammers) now have a plastic safety catch.

What lessons can we learn? First of all go and check your Croll NOW. It is a good idea to give all your kit a
good "going over" on a regular basis anyway ... “when in doubt chuck it out" is a good adage. Harnesses do
wear out and Cows tails should be replaced on a regular basis since they are most likely to suffer the greatest
stresses of all (FF2) A few pound spent now is better than several weeks in hospital ... or worse.

As for John he sensibly binned the offending item (a pity really since Lyon asked for it back!) and wisely went on
a crash diet!!!

Sunday, 28th. December 1997 : Carlswark Cavern, Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire.
Actually this was planned as a trip down Peak Cavern with my big brother from Australia who was

staying with us for Christmas, but the heavy rain throughout the previous week forced us to change our plans.
The trouble with Derbyshire is that there just aren’t too many interesting holes for non-S.R.T., years out of
practice cavers to play about in !

The party, comprising David Knox, John Preston, Paul Nixon and myself arrived at the large lay-by
opposite the Lover’s Leap Cafe in Stoney Middleton on the sort of morning when sane people are at home
decorating or watching re-runs on the box. There had been rain during the night and the clouds suggested more
to come, although it wasn’t actually raining as we got changed. When planning the Peak trip we had warned
David that he would get wet, but since the change of venue I’d told him that he was in for a nice dry trip, a bit on
the dull side if anything, but the best we could manage at short notice in unsettled weather. He reminded me of
that several times later in the day !

We walked up to the Eyam Dale Shaft Entrance and rigged it with a ladder and lifeline for use later, then
wandered along to the Gin Entrance. I was doing the usual chat about the Resurgence Entrance, almost directly
below us at the base of the cliff, and about how in very wet weather water can flow out of that entrance although
Thad never seen it. David and I walked to the edge of the cliff so I could point it out, and I was amazed to see a
torrent of water rushing away down the slope towards the road ! We had been too busy gossiping to notice the
flow as we walked up the road earlier, and I quickly played down the significance of the flood we were now
witnessing, after all this was only Carlswark so it couldn’t be too bad !

The Gin Entrance rift was easy, and after a couple of photos for David we gathered in Oyster Chamber to
take more, before setting off along Eyam Passage. Paul and I had been this way a few weeks before and barely
got damp knees, but this trip was different. In places there were pools of water stretching from one wall of the
passage to the other, and plenty of trickles coming in through the roof to keep them topped up, and we had no
option but to crawl straight through ! By the time we reached Noughts and Crosses Chamber we were losing
interest in photography as we were all pretty well soaked, and no-one wanted to hang about in the draught.
Taking the right-hand passage (‘following a small stream’, the guide book says) we slithered through into North
West Passage, still wondering just how much wetter we could get on a ‘dry’ trip. We actually considered turning
left to the Eyam Dale Shaft and going out, but David was still keen to get to the bottom despite the water so we
turned right, following North West Passage down a particularly low, waterlogged, gravely crawl, which could
only be passed by squirming forward, flat-out in the water, until the passage enlarged to crawling size again.
David didn’t seem to enjoy the flat crawl, probably the smallest passage so far, which was unfortunate as the next
obstacle was even smaller, and considerably tighter ! A sharp left turn leads immediately to a boulder which
seems to almost block the passage completely, although space can be seen through a very narrow gap between
the right side of the boulder and the wall. I went first and tried to explain exactly what I was doing to get past so
David would be able to follow:

“The trick is to squirm forward, partly on your right side, until you can move up the face of the boulder
to get your head and shoulders into a small cavity in the roof, then pass your right leg through the gap at the side
and twist your body through 180 degrees as you swing your left leg into, and through the gap. Once you are
draped over the top of the boulder you can allow a sort of controlled, backwards slide, while lying with your left
side at the top of the gap, down into the passage beyond.”

There was a short silence, followed by a number of comments which are unrepeatable here, but which
indicated exactly what David thought about my directions. To be fair it did look a bit awkward, but after a little
persuasion and a partial return so I could demonstrate how easy it was to get back, David allowed himself to be
talked through. Re-united in the passage beyond, which here was quite spacious, being about three metres wide
and nearly a metre high, we waited for Paul and John to come through the squeeze. We were at a low junction
and quickly moved off to the left, downstream, trying to generate some warmth, as we crawled along in a
shallow trickle of water. It wasn’t far to the next junction, a drop of about half a metre into a larger passage
crossing at right angles, which has always been dry on my previous visits. This time things were very different,
the passage was carrying a rushing torrent of knee-deep brown water, which roared off along the passage we
were intending to follow. At least initially the passage was high enough for us to stand up, but then we were
forced back onto our knees as the water entered a section of shored-up passage, with timbers supporting the roof
and walls. The constricted passage squeezed the flow of the water, making it deeper and much faster, but we
knew this section was short and led to larger passage beyond. The air-space was only a few centimetres, but we
could see it continued all the way through, so after a quick discussion John launched himself into the entrance,
and was immediately washed away down the passage with the water foaming over him as he temporarily blocked
the flow with his body as he tried to control his speed. He shouted back that he was through safely, and then Paul
followed. Although it was very intimidating David assumed that we knew what we were doing, and followed
without hesitation as soon as Paul shouted, so I had little choice but to follow, partially hampered by the camera
box. Looking back up the passage it was clear that we would not be able to get out that way against the flow,
without serious risk of drowning, but John and I had already discussed that before he entered the passage, and
we had decided on a different exit route to avoid the water.

The passage we had now joined, Dynamite Passage, was a little larger than the ones before, and we were
able to make quick progress in a kind of stooping walk as we splashed along in the stream to join another, even
larger passage at a junction. We tumed left down Stalactite Passage, leaving Cockle Passage to the right for our
drier, safer exit route, and hurried onward with the rushing water, excited and drawn by the distant roaring sound
which reverberated from the darkness ahead. In places the water we waded through was thigh deep as we passed
boulder piles which acted as natural dams, while ahead our lamp beams were filled with millions of sparkling
water droplets as we approached the source of the thunderous noise. The normal end to Carlswark is a still pool
of muddy water at the bottom of a slippery rift which cuts across the end of Stalactite Passage, but on this trip
the end bore no resemblance to normality. The torrent poured over the lip to fall like a mini-Niagara into the
foam-filled rift below, while the passage above was filled with swirling currents of moisture laden air. It was hard
to hear what anyone said near the cascade, and within minutes we were streaming with water and becoming very
cold, so we quickly moved away, back up the passage, on our way out at last.

It was a relief to leave the main flow of water and enter the drier Cockle Passage, so we had a break
there, and re-fuelled with chocolate bars. David seemed glad to be on the way out, and was relieved that we
could avoid the shored-up passage completely, in fact we all were. Cockle Passage was easy but awkward, with a
flat-out section and a squeeze to negotiate, and then suddenly we were back on our original route in, with the
boulder squeeze just ahead of us, round the corner to the left. I didn’t give David time to think about it, and went
through quickly, and on his second attempt he got the sequence of moves right and dropped through. A quick
wriggle through the gravel and we were back in North West Passage, waiting for Paul and John to join us. I
hadn’t realised how much David had been thinking about the boulder squeeze while we were further into the
system, but clearly he was very relieved to have successfully got back to the entrance side of it.

Being out of caving for many years was beginning to take its toll and David was showing signs of being
very tired, but at this point we were only about fifteen minutes from being out on the surface, and that
knowledge seemed to give him a real lift. As soon as the others joined us I led the way into the jumble of

boulders that blocks the end of North West Passage, and squirmed upwards, past a jammed log covered in dry
leaves, into a low chamber with daylight streaming down a narrow shaft in the roof above the log. The ends of
the ladder and the safety rope were snagged just above us, but it was easy to pull them down and get ready to
climb out. Having attached David to the safety rope, I climbed out with the camera box, followed by John,
leaving Paul to look after David below. The idea was to have two of us at the top of the pitch so that we could
pull David out if he was struggling on the wire ladder, but he came up without difficulty while John lifelined and I
took photographs. Paul quickly followed up the ladder, and John and I removed the gear from the shaft.
Meanwhile David was sitting on a rock at the side, obviously glad to be out, but seemingly more than pleased
with his ‘easy’, ‘dry’ trip down Carlswark.

For some reason David decided that he was entitled to celebrate that night, which is probably why he
slept so well, and didn’t feel like doing much the next day, but, after all, it must have been more than twenty
years since his previous trip underground, so we thought he did well. The odd thing is, he didn’t have time for
another caving trip on this particular visit. Never mind, there’s always next time !

Colin ‘Steve’ Knox

Vespers.
A select little band of hardy individuals tackled this inhospitable hole (one for the 4" .... yes fourth time ... yes
he probably is a couple of bars short of a rack!!) The entrance was obscured with a thick network of spiders web
(a really popular trip this one!) which had to be removed with surgical precision and the entire shake hole swept
clean before Sharon would even venture near the place! Trouble began at the entrance which is best described as
"snug" Certain members needed considerable persuasion to follow Sharon and Ralph and one member opted out

there and then! The site of the bolt placements on the final big pitch discouraged our intrepid band from further
progress who beat a hasty retreat, however the cave had a sting in its tail as one of the bolts "popped" on Sharon
as she struggled up the tight first pitch. Needless to say the remaining members were glad it hadn't happened to
them but at a subsequent meeting in a local hostelry have agreed to sponsor Sharon on a course at "Weight
Watchers.")

16th. April 1998: Cascade Cavern, Monyash, Derbyshire.

John Preston and I visited Cascade Cavern to allow John to see what changes had occurred since his
previous visit way back in the seventies, and to do a little digging. The entrance-shaft top now has a water tank
jammed in it with access to the shaft through a re-cycled ‘Knotlow 210’ lid, into the tank, then out through a
hole cut through the bottom ! The pitch is about 10m., and requires a rope protector about 3m. below the tank.
We used a 1m. length of re-inforced garden hose, cut spirally from end to end to allow it to be wound onto the
rope, which we suspended from a spare jammer. This worked surprisingly well, being easy to remove and replace
by the next person.

On his last visit John photographed a miners’ ‘stowes’ (a wooden windlass over a shaft for raising ore)
mounted on two massive, timber beams set horizontally between the opposing walls of the main chamber, and
about 3m. above the rubble strewn slope below. The beams were still in place, with a couple of timber planks
joining them, but there was no trace of the ‘stowes’, so either it has been removed for conservation (P.D.M.HLS.
?) or it is buried in the rubble below. Obviously the ‘stowes’ was put in that position for a reason, but if there
was a shaft below, it is now completely hidden under the rubble. Interestingly, water falling from an immature
passage on the bedding in the wall above, disappears into the rubble where it lies against the face of the rock, so
this area would probably repay serious investigation.

On a previous visit, on 22nd. November 1997, Paul Nixon and I had seen what appeared to be the top of
a horizontal cross-cut, just visible at the level of the rubble surface at the base of the mined shaft in the floor near
the far end (north-west) of the main chamber. The shaft is about 1m. square and is about 4m. deep to the rubble,
and there is an old ladder (wooden sides and metal rungs) in place. John and I had gone prepared with a hauling
rope and a large plastic tub, and we were soon at work hauling out loads of small stones mixed with wet tailings.
We took turns, with one person hauling the material up and stacking it, while the other worked at the bottom.
The ‘top job’ was clearly favourite, as the digger had to work directly under a dribble of water falling from an
overhang on the wall above which made conditions unpleasant. Unfortunately, as we dug deeper, the curving top
of the cross-cut turned out to be only a shallow alcove in the wall. After removing about 1.5m. of material we
found that the shaft pinched in just below the alcove and became a narrow slot about 0.20m. wide, still choked
with mud and small rocks, but apparently natural. A thin vein visible in the wall at the top of the shaft is probably
the feature that the miners had followed downwards, but clearly they had stopped work at the slot we had
exposed. The small trickle of water falling down the shaft disappeared into the fill in the slot without backing up,
but further downward progress will require thinner diggers and some more dramatic persuasion to make the slot

man-sized ! It would be interesting to know if other cavers have emptied the shaft to this level during previous
digging activity, as there has obviously been considerable interest in finding a lower level by someone. Most
recent digging seems to have been concentrated in the steeply descending phreatic passage, originally choked
with mud, close to the lowest point of the main chamber.

On our way out we went beyond the foot of the entrance pitch (eastwards), into an area of old workings.
After the initial short passage, walled with stacked ‘deads’, a step down to the right led into a larger space, about
2.5m. wide, with a rubble covered floor leading to the lip of a 3m. pitch. We used the tail of the entrance pitch
rope, with a loop tied round a pillar of ‘bedrock’ as a belay, for John to descend into the passage below. As soon
as he cleared the lip of the pitch, John could see that the whole area of rubble ‘floor’, including the pillar being
used for the belay, was in fact a thin layer of debris resting on totally rotten timbers ! I retreated through to the
relative safety of the main chamber, while John quickly looked at the lower passage, finding it blocked in both
directions, then carefully prussiked out. The mined area is very unstable, and will only become more dangerous
as time passes.

Back at the entrance pitch we spent some time taking photographs and messing about with multiple
flashes (quite successfully it turned out later from the results). We also found a couple of lost ‘cavers’ and
rescued them! The first was a frog that had clearly been on an enforced diet, and the other was a large, fat toad.
They were treated to a ride out in a digging tub, and were liberated in the marshy ground near the water pumping

station, which put them back at a similar level to the point they were found at, which may well mean that they
have their own way in !

Colin ‘Steve’ Knox 20th. April 1998

DCA Meeting. 4 April '98
C.C.P.C. was represented at the meeting by Steve Knox, John Preston and Paul Nixon.

The following notes were taken and subsequently read to the Club meeting by Steve Knox:

(a) _D.C.A. may purchase entrance to Ashford Marble Mine if the insurance issue can be sorted out.

(b) Danger notice in Winnats Head Cave has not been put in yet (by Eldon).

(c) | C.C.P.C. was thanked for prompt attention to the ‘air shaft’ at Hillocks Mine.

(d) Discussion about if there is any deterioration in White River Series, and whether conservation
measures need to be taken. Cave conservation plan is being prepared which will be implemented by

T.S.G., and which will include ‘record’ photos for comparison later.

(e) Letter of thanks from Trevor Ford after election as hon. Life Member.

(f) Insurance is being sorted for D.C.A. equipment, e.g. Cement Mixer and Compressed Air Drill.

(g) S.U.S.S. + Individual, elected as members.

(h) _Treasurer’s report highlighted chance of getting funding from Peak Park or English Nature if they

are approached before a project is started. A quote of about £1200 has been prepared for English Nature for the
replacement of the Nettle Pot lid and cap.

(i) Travel expenses raised from 10p. to 15p. per mile.
(j) Conservation and Access report:

Lathkill Head access is waiting for confirmation from Chatsworth estates. Garden Gate entrance lock
has been changed and English Nature are angry at being denied access, as they paid out over £800 to Ben
towards the work. Upper Entrance is padlocked but Ben has finally provided a key to Tony Gibbs.
D.C.A. intend to purchase new locks for both entrances and deny Ben access.

Knotlow/Fourways Shaft - bolt on lid is seized and needs attention.

Ricklow - gate is ineffective and needs whole closure system to be revised.

Manifold Valley - active badgers have thrown out human remains from a silted up cave.
Darfar Ridge - N.T. are funding a cave conservation plan.
Old Tor, Winnats - attempts are being made to improve access.
Cumberland Cavern - totally sealed, but bat group want to work with D.C.A. and this may bea way to
get the system reopened as it is a known bat roost.
Hillocks / Whalf Mine - English Nature are happy about the actions taken. They recognise the —_ need to
make information about location of $.S.S.I.s more easily available.
: R.1.G.S. - Work continues to identify and publicise sites.
Mandale Mine - Scheduled as an ancient monument on March 31st., but no details yet.
(k) | D.C.A. Handbook: new edition in preparation, A5 loose leaf, like Northern Caving Assoc..
r()) Training officer’s report: Revision of training and assessment is underway and new version is like
canoeing ‘Star’ awards. There are 21 modules, costing a minimum of £60/day, so the complete range
will cost a minimum of £1260 !!!
(m) Equipment Officer: The fitting of 6 ‘P’ bolts in the new Whalf Mine Climbing Shaft route was
approved. The bolts are in stock and resin will be purchased straight away.
(n) Cave Discovery Fund will pay 50% of the costs of the Whalf shaft.
(0) Working party days: 9th May - Nettle Pot lid. (- Oxlow, date to be arranged.)
(p) Nettle Pot: Pull through has not been fitted yet.
(q) _ Slitherstones Mine: some holes have opened and need attention.
(r) Mountbatten Pot: needs work on a loose slope.
(s) Eldon Hole: A winch will be in place on the 13th./14th. June for work to stabilise the route
through to the second chamber.
(t) N.C.A/A.G.M. : quiet meeting. Discussed making levy paid to N.C.A. compulsory for all regions, as it is
already in D.C.A..
(u) Next Meeting: 18th. July 1998.
(v) AO.B.- The Barclaycard VIP award recently won by the D.C.A. included a number of medals for
presentation by the D.C.A. to individuals in recognition of outstanding volunteer contributions to the sport, in
this case ‘caving’. Being present, Steve Knox accepted the first medal on behalf of the Whalf Mine Project
team, and C.C.P.C. in general, for their contribution to Derbyshire caving. Five other clubs also received medals.
Several medals were awarded to officers of D.C.A., then Steve Knox proposed Ralph Johnson in
recognition of his major personal contribution to the Derbyshire bolting programme. This proposal was
unanimously supported by all present, and Steve Knox agreed to present the medal at the next C.C.P.C.

meeting. Several other individuals were also named to receive medals.
Cae Tha maatina claced at 115 nm
Possible Digging Sites ?

During recent walks in the Peak District I have begun to take special note of potentially
interesting sites for cavers. No doubt most of them have been investigated before, probably by every man and his
dog, but checking in various editions of ‘Caves of Derbyshire’, or in the latest version, ‘Caves of the Peak
District’ there is often no mention. There may be information already recorded in the Derbyshire Cave Registry,
and eventually I’ll get round to checking there, but in any case I'll pass on anything noted, in the hope that it will
add to the overall body of knowledge and perhaps save wasted effort. If you actually intend to have a go at any
of these locations please let me know, as there are a couple that I already have plans for.

Colin ‘Steve’ Knox

SK 13257520 [See: ‘Caves of the Peak District’, Page 244: Monks Hole - SK 134750]

On the east side of Monk’s Dale, above the meadow where the dale reaches the minor road linking
Tunstead and Hargatewall with Tideswell.

An obvious slope of boulders spills out from the trees, and leads to a shallow ‘ravine’ leading uphill for
about 25m. to an open entrance at the foot of a small limestone cliff. The entrance is arched, about 1.5m. wide
and 1.5m. high, and reveals a 5m. long stooping-height passage which slopes gently down, until at the limit of
daylight the lip of a pitch is reached. A timber beam holds back rubble, etc. from a vertical drop of about 5m.(?),
and there is a hanger in-situ on the wall up to the left over the pitch head. Without gear, and with a fading head
torch, I didn’t check any further, but it seems this must be Monks Hole (see above) despite the slight difference
in grid refs.. There are large patches of barytes and calcite on the passage walls and at the entrance.

A further search of the hillside, uphill and about 30m. to the right (south), revealed a similar, but smaller
arched opening, about 1m. wide and silted up to within 0.25m. of the roof. By squirming headfirst into the
opening it was possible to see for about 1.5m. to a gentle curve to the left, still open, but well littered with dead
twigs. The floor appears to be fine, dry soil, but there is no way to tell how big the passage is without actually
digging.

There is plenty of evidence of badger activity on this hillside but they are not currently using either of the
two cave entrances, although it is possible that the opening through the fill of the second entrance may have been
created by badgers in the past.

C.S.K. 2-5-1998

SK 12007360 (Flag Dale Rift)

On the south side of Flag Dale, where the footpath linking Hassop Farm, Wormhill with Mosley Farm
above Blackwell Halt crosses the dale.

Climbing the footpath up the slope, south-west from the dale bottom, a small terrace and vegetated
buttress is visible on the right near the first left turn. Closer investigation reveals an obvious triangular opening
1.5m. high at the foot of the buttress, with a similar, but smaller opening to the left. The larger opening gives
access to a rift about 1m. wide, rising inside to about 3m. high at the far end, where it is possible to climb up into
a higher level floored by earth and rubble, lit by daylight streaming in through a hole 0.75m. by 0.5m. at the top
of a narrow shaft, about 4m. high, directly above. The upper level narrows almost immediately but another, much
smaller, hole to daylight is visible at the far end. The upper level is infested with enormous spiders, which scuttle
around the walls as soon as the light is shone anywhere near them, and seem to use the added light to enable
them to attack their neighbours ! The roof above is festooned with silk egg-globes almost the size of table tennis
balls. Back in the entrance passage, a low slot under the left wall (going in) gives access to a small chamber
about 2m. square, with a possible way on down a rift (?) at the far side. This slot needs a small quantity of soil
and some rubble clearing from it to allow easy entry to the chamber, which was not entered.

The smaller entrance, only about 1m. high by 0.5m. wide, led into a blind passage only 2m. long and
1.5m. high by 1m. wide. The rubble floor may conceal the way on, and it is possible that this will link with the
end of the small chamber if cleared.

C.S.K. 2-5-1998

SK 12507305 (Chee Tor Sink)

Both in the River Wye, and on the south bank, about 10m. upstream of the footbridge carrying the
Monsal Trail footpath from the north bank to the south bank of the river (when travelling from west to east),
upstream of the Chee Tor railway viaduct.

Note: There is a second footbridge almost below the viaduct, taking the path back to the north bank.

There are three apparently associated features at this point, all of which seem to indicate a substantial sink
below river level.
(a) Close to the river bank, in an obvious ‘bay’ in the bank line, there were two whirlpools with open funnel
centres. The water was being drawn into visible openings _in the bed of the river, about 0.40m. deep at this
point, and the surface of the river — showed the effect of the suction for up to 2m. from the whirlpool centres.
(b) | Onthe marshy bank, about 4m. from the river, there was an obvious shallow, funnel shaped depression.
about 3m. across and 0.75m. deep lined with fine mud and ‘swirled’ vegetation, ‘and with floating litter, e g.
polystyrene, settled in the mud. onal
(c) The bank area is backed by a limestone cliff with an undercut running along the face of the cliff close to
the land surface. At the left hand side (east) the cliff is masked by a slope of rubble and debris from the hillside
above, but the undercut feature continues into the slope as an open, although constricted, passage, with obvious
signs of taking a considerable quantity of water when the river level is higher (probably less than 1m.).

C.S.K. 2-5-1998

SK 108818 P.8 / Jackpot

(a) Finding the main downstream sump [A / V] very low, with the diving line appearing from sand
just below the water surface, Paul Nixon and I checked the upstream sumps:

Top Sump [B / III] was well down, with the water surface about 2 metres below the lip of the shaft, so
obviously there was no flow in Main Stream Passage.

The Overflow Passage Sump [C /II] was dry, and the gravel crawl through to the passage downstream of
the Second Pitch was open but constricted.

Sump [D / I], the left branch sump from Overflow Passage Sump, was open and passable at least as far as
the tight descending rift. This sump passage leaves C / II as a horizontal tube in the left wall, about 1.5 metres
above the level of the gravel crawl. The tube is small, but not tight, and leads after about 2 metres to a narrow
cross-rift, which drops steeply down to the right for about 4 metres, turning slightly to the left where it enlarges
before dropping again into a low stream passage. John Preston and I reached this point on a previous trip. On
that occasion John went through into the stream passage and found that the stream

(b) — Just as we were about to exit the cave I noticed a passage I had not seen before, to the right of
the concrete supporting the entrance, as you look at the falling water from Cascade Chamber. Crawling forward
into this passage leads after about 2 metres to the lip of a drop down of about 1.5 metres into a small bouldery
chamber. Under the right wall is a low, gently sloping bedding plane, with a flowing stream visible about 3
metres away, and perhaps a metre lower. This stream seemed to be lower than the main stream leaving Cascade
Chamber and flowing towards Idiot’s Leap, but appeared to be flowing towards Cascade Chamber ! Paul
crawled around in Cascade Chamber and in the passage below, but could not see the stream entering, but we
found a voice connection through a small hole under the giant rectangular boulder that partly blocks the normal
exit from Cascade Chamber (either up and through the cleft between the boulder and the wall, or down and past
the boulder at stream level). I didn’t squeeze down the bedding as we were already short of time, and this is too
obvious not to have been fully investigated before, but it isn’t shown on the survey, which puzzles me. Surely this
isn’t the way to the original entrance, as that is higher, not lower, than the present entrance ?

The description of the original entrance doesn’t fit either: ,

“Old entrance leads to a muddy chamber with short crawls, a rift, and tight crawl to Cascade

Chamber.”

SK 10547186 Churn Holes; Marl Dale, off Deep Dale, Nr. Buxton.

(See page 49 : Caves Of The Peak District.)
This is described as:
“Two pothole entrances drop into a chamber, with 200ft (60m) of
partly excavated low passage, passing a number of cross joints.”
As you approach the head of Marl Dale along the footpath from Topley Pike, a cove of broken limestone
cliffs seems to bar the way forward, but the path climbs easily up a sloping ramp through the tumbled boulders to
reach the level top above the cliffs.

7
Over to the left in the cliff face is an obvious, large cave entrance, approx. 5 metres high and 5 metres
wide. There is a step up of about 2 metres at the threshold, and the cave then narrows to 3 metres wide but the
height inside increases to about 6 metres. The passage quickly reduces in size until about 10 metres from the
entrance it becomes a 0.30 metre diameter hole at head height. Small holes in the roof are occupied by jackdaws.
About 6 metres in from the entrance, the top of what could be a rubble filled cleft is visible at floor level. Two
drilled holes were noted in the left wall at about waist height, but there was no evidence of blasting.

About 20 metres away, just below the ascending path, two openings were seen between the boulders
which gave access to a large cavity, but this was not entered due to not having a lamp ! These openings must be
Churn Holes, but the much larger cave is not mentioned in caves of The Peak District.

C.S.K. 27-5-98

SK 10657155 and SK 10687155 Upper Marl Dale, Nr. Deepdale, Buxton.

The public footpath due south from Churn Hole crosses an area of open pasture, with a dry-stone wall
alongside the path on the left-hand side. After passing the end of a collapsed wall, at right angles to the sound
wall, an obvious vein working comes into sight a short distance away in the field over the wall to the left. On
closer examination this turned out to be about 2 metres wide and about 6 metres long, cutting into a shallow
rock outcrop. It was no more than 1 metre deep, lined with rubble and with no sign of an opening. Directly in
line with the first feature, and further up the slope of the field was another similar cutting into a more prominent
outcrop of limestone rock. The second cutting was about 2 metres wide, and about 8 metres long, leading over a
rubble floor to a pile of rocks which almost concealed an opening where the working continued into the base of
the outcrop. The opening was an irregular arch, about 1 metre wide, and about 0.75 metre high, with a soil floor
visible in a passage or chamber beyond. No attempt was made to enter.

There is no public access to the field with the sites of interest. The footpath field contains ancient field
boundaries and traces of an early settlement, but no sign of a spring or other surface water.

C.S.K. 27-5-98

SK 09957000 Bullhay Dale, Nr, Chelmorton, Derbyshire.

Leaving the A5270 (Brierlow Bar to Taddington by-pass link road) by the public footpath due north into
Horseshoe Dale, the junction with Bullhay Dale is reached after only 200 metres. Turning east into Bullhay Dale,
a massive rocky cutting comes into veiw on its southern flank, with two enormous openings one above the other,
into the cliff at the end of it. The cutting is about 4 metres wide with rock walls (slickensided in places) which
increase in height as it progresses into the hillside, until the end wall is reached, which is about 12 metres high.
The lower entrance opens directly into a passage about 3 metres wide and 4 metres high, with a level floor,
which ends after about 25 metres at a rubble slope leading upwards to an opening in the roof through to the

upper level, which was not entered. There are other regular openings through the roof, beween the threshold and
the rubble slope, which also connect with the upper level. From out side the upper entrance appeared to be about
4 metres high and 3.5 metres wide, with a square-cut channel in the floor, which may have been the sole of an
earlier ‘coffin’ level. A third, much smaller opening was visible in the cliff face, high up to the left, which would
require a rope to gain access from outside.

C.S.K. 27-5-98

Whalf Shaft.

Only those who have been living on another planet will be unaware of the new entrance to Hillocks (correct
name Whalf Mine) The new entrance (now capped) lies in the copse on the opposite side of the green lane to the
usual entrance quite close to the permanently sealed engine shaft. It enters Hillocks , after 2 pitches (One of 140')
and two climbs, close to the foot of the engine shaft. There appeared to be problems initially with English Nature
(SSSI) and DCA but these were ironed out eventually after Steve, John P. and Paul N. attended a DCA meeting
which is chronicled elsewhere. Lots of members were involved at various times the driving force(s) being Steve,
John and Paul. Well done lads, the finished article is a credit to everyone concerned with its installation.

As a follow up (and after some wrangling!) the shaft was bolted by Brian and Ros but it now looks as though
further bolts may be required as the "short" climbs at the foot of the pitch get longer as debris is removed.(No
doubt further wrangling!!)

Several possible digs have come to light as a result of increases interest in this mine ..

. Watch this space!
Results of Rope tests.

Yes we finally got the rope test results back from Owen Clarke (NCA). You may recall some months ago Ralph
tested some ropes at Whitehall (80kg FF!) One batch of rope gave some "unusual" results ... some samples
passing the test and some failing. The ropes in question were put out of service, samples sent to NCA and Ralph
returned to Whitehall for his lonely vigil on the outdoor test rig. The results were the same i.e. inconclusive ..
some samples passing (Two FF! tests) some failing. The ropes were put out of service permanently.

Meanwhile Ralph received some results back from NCA that did not relate in any way to those sent for testing!!
But that's another story!!

Eventually Ralph received results back from NCA (Their test is two FF1s with 100kg mass followed by 1FF 1.25
then IFF 1.55, 1FF 1.85) If a rope passes the two FF 1 tests it is deemed safe. Further test give an indication of
its expected life. All ours passed the two FF1 test and some passed the FF1.25 as well!!! However, not
knowing that all these samples were off the same rope the recommendations were: "Rope suitable for continued
use but should be retired as a matter of prudence." in the first case and "Rope suitable for continued use." In the
second.

It would appear that we were correct in our decision to retire these ropes which incidentally were from the batch
we queried with Edelrid shortly after it was purchased (unexplainable abrasion to sheath.)

A discussion took place at our June meeting and it was agreed we scrap this batch of rope in addition to all rope
remaining from the '91 Berger trip. It was also felt that we should be retiring our ropes after five years as a
matter of course.

If anyone wishes to see the actual test figures or wishes to read Owens comprehensive document give Ralph a
ring.

Thanks must go to Tim who, despite all the barracking and hilarity, livened up one of our recent
meetings with an impromptu slide show of the "97 Berger trip. All I can say is "it's no wonder
they didn't get to the bottom!!"

For sale second hand Crolls and jammers. Nothing to do with the article elsewhere (i.e. "have you got a bent
one?") Do you carry some means of "rescuing" yourself should one of your jammers fail to operate while you are
actually on a pitch. Perhaps you should consider carrying a spare. If you are intertested, contact Ralph who has a
small number of jammers for sale at £5, one careful owner with a "moderate" number of miles use, There are not
recommended for regular use but would definitely get you out of a hole (no pun intended)

Interested in bondage? John Martin and Ralph may be able to supply your needs. Just let them know how
many meters of 10mm rope you require. Hurry ... stocks may not last.
A VISIT TO HOLME BANK CHERT MINE, BAKEWELL

stones are conveyed on trucks drawn by
small ponies. A horse 15 or 16 hands high
would have no chance of passing through
the crevices where, even bending as low as
I could, my headgear got crushed. But
generally speaking the roof is a fair height.

T found the whole place perfectly dry.’ The
men, numbering about 40 hands, were at
work in a rather open place, well lighted up
with candles. I had a hearty reception all
round, and was very cheerfully initiated
into the mysteries of chert getting so far as -
my ability to grasp things would permit on
so short a visit. The sounds of bar, sledge
hammer etc were to be heard on all sides,
mingled with laughter and conversation
now and then.

1 A large block of the chert, which would
weigh about 20 tons, was blown down
shortly before my arrival. Men were
engaged cutting it into smaller blocks prior
to removal. I was informed that
occasionally blocks of 100 tons are got
down. Powder is the principal thing in use,
and occasionally dynamite.

Business at this mine, I find, has very
much improved of late years, and I
sincerely trust that it will go on improving,
so that the owners will be able to have a
fair profit, and allow their men who work
very long hours underground a trifle more
money than from 17s. to 18s. per week.
What would a collier think of this?
Wouldn't he strike hard and very often
until it would be at least doubled?

The men at Messrs. Smith's Chert Mine
on Holme Bank are a_ hard-working
industrious body, nearly all having wives
and families to support, and I hope that
next time I visit the mine to find them one
and all earning better wages. With the
Chert business in the flourishing state it is
now, I have no doubt that the owners will
soon attend to this very important point.

Mr. Brunt is a man who, it may be said,
has risen from the ranks by hard work
and perseverance to the responsible
position which he now occupies, and as I
wanted to get posted on the chert mining
business a little, his presence would, I
thought, have been invaluable. Things,
however, went on very well without him.

Noticing of late the great piles of chert to
be seen formerly in the yard at Bakewell
Railway Station had grown beautifully less
by degrees until they have nearly
vanished, I resolved to find out the cause,
and for this purpose paid a visit to the
chert quarries at Holme Hall and Holme
Bank, on Saturday last.

On presenting myself at the quarry
belonging to Mr. Alsop, I found that
gentleman coming out of the yard and
learned from him that work had altogether
ceased there for some time. This was at
Holme Hall. The water, which had since
the opening been a great preventative to
the successful working of the mine, at
length gained the mastery and,
notwithstanding the employment of heavy
and costly machinery, caused the men to
retire from the place. The machine,
engine, etc. are now partially idle.

The general appearance of the places
connected with the mine at the outside
pre-possessed me in its favour. Strict
regard is evidently paid to order and
regularity in all things, even the
workshops where the tools are repaired
and sharpened being neatly swept up, the
tools to be operated upon being placed in
tows, not thrown about carelessly, and
the whole outside concern betokening
attention.

The man in charge of this shop
courteously provided me with a lighted
candle and a workman as a guide, and
thus furnished I entered the mine. The
guide informed me that I would have to
stoop very low at intervals, and I found
this very salutary advice, otherwise my
head might unawares have come into
disagreeable contact with the limestone
roof.

The chert runs in veins between the
rocks of limestone, which is allowed to
remain above, and thus the depth of the
cutting depends upon the height of the
chert to be removed. The distance from
the entrance to the spot where the men
were at work on Saturday is over a
quarter of a mile. A line of rails is laid
down throughout, and over this the chert

I find on enquiry that some of the men
have worked in this mine for the past 25
years, and during all that time ‘they could
only remember two slight accidents having
occurred.

Mr. Alsop has opened another quarry on
the off side of the river Wye, and by
running pipes across is able to operate a
little with the engine still in the way of
keeping the newly opened mine free from
water—a less difficult task than at Holme
Hall. He has also, I find, opened out three
other similar quarries in Flintshire and the
chert, a sample of which he exhibits,
appears to be of good quality.

The whole concern, I noticed, is worked
on very careful lines, and in the hands of a
very practical man, Mr Brunt, in whom
the men have every confidence, a like
immunity from accident may reasonably
be anticipated in future. I wish success
both to the men and the mine generally.

There are almost innumerable roads and
turnings in this extensive mine. Many are
not now in use, but the whole length, I
gathered from what I saw and heard, would
amount to several miles. The material,
which is used in the manufacture of white
ware, is now in great demand, and this
explains the cause of the small show in the
Bakewell Railway Station yard.

T next presented myself at the extensive
chert mine on Holme Bank belonging to
Messrs. Smith, of Burton-on-Trent, and
found to my regret that the manager, Mr.
Page Brunt, had paid his men and left
the place a few minutes prior to my
arrival.

The supply is good, but the demand is
better. The Chert mainly goes to
Staffordshire, and not infrequently there
are very large orders from Scotland.

Derbyshire Advertiser,
29" April, 1892