Author: mendipgeoarch

20th September 2015: A personal account of today’s trip.

With Paul Brock. Also Caroline Allen, Dave Fear and Duncan Simey.

After a trip down to Draycott, then return hame to deliver eggs and do some prep for today’s trip made my way up to Wigmore Farm. The others were already there so quickly changed and headed over the fields to the cave entrance.

Survey above as Published in the Wessex Cave Club Journal.

Paul set off to rig the pitch while I followed on, Duncan helped to carry a bag into the cave for me. While Paul and myself went on to the dig site the others went for a tour around the rest of the cave.

Survey of the crawl along to the dig (Roaring Waters) by Nick Hawkes, et. al.

Got to the end of the crawl (it hasn’t got any less squalid) and drilled 6no. holes, charged and retired laying out the wire. Back at the pitch there were still people on the rope so went for a tour around the cave with Paul to pass the time. Eventually we returned to the pitch Paul went up the rope and I completed the task in hand – a fine resounding echo! Up the pitch and out of the cave. After securing the entrance we left for refreshments and a natter at the Queen Vic.

I’ve been working on an archaeological evaluation down in Dorset recently and Trench No. 28 had some interesting features – 2 linear ditches, one at each end of the trench, and a possible pit just off centre of the trench. One of the linear ditches is pictured below, a rather fine example. The underlying geology is chalk.

The pit-like feature after excavation turned out to be a ‘Bell Pit’.

‘Bell Pits’ start out as pits that have been dug out to store grain and successive clearing events then give them their distinctive shape – narrow at the top and widening towards the base, when they are no longer of use they are backfilled. This particular pit was excavated to 1.20 metres below existing ground level, unfortunately due to Health & Safety constraints the excavation was terminated at this depth. Augering at the base proved the pit to be 2.20 mbgl revealing a basal layer c.100mm thickness of mottled red, purple and grey clay that had signs of reworking and is thought to be the original capping layer that once sealed the grain store. The fill material contained some good chunky pottery sherds mostly of Black Burnished Ware but also Samian and possibly New Forest Ware. Among the sherds was this rather nice jug with coil made neck and burnished bowl (possibly wheel thrown).

The existence of the bell pit and linear ditches might suggest that there was a settlement nearby. The finds seem to suggest Roman period date possibly 1st-2nd century AD.

12th September 2015

With Pete Bolt and Phil Thomas

Down the main streamway to Riflemans Choke. Fairly steady trip down the fine streamway to the choke, a quick snack before the rather aqueous crawl at stream level to the dig started by Pete, Rich Blake and myself a number of years ago. It’s still an awkward scrambe from the stream up a muddy climb to gain access via a squeeze to a narrow passage between the choke and wall. We had a look around, shifted a few rocks and mud, formulated a [sort of] plan of action – return with more persuasive kit! Then decided to make our way out of the cave. An enjoyable 4.75 hours of caving.

Lamb & Fox for some refreshments and managed to catch up with Brian and Carol, our old hosts from years past.

6th September 2015: A personal account of today’s trip.

Underground with Nick Hawkes and Paul Brock. We were joined later by Claire Cohen and Matt Clarke, while Chris Batstone was at the top of the pitch waiting to de-rig.

Cleared the debris from last week’s ‘little effort’ with Nick and Paul dragging the rocks [and gloop] up into the sizeable chamber at the end of the crawl. The chemical persuasion had the desired effect and there is still some fractured rock to remove although some of that will need splitting. Another strategically placed effort might well reveal what lies ahead after clearing. Marvellous stuff!

At the surface we enjoyed the sunshine with Tony, Caroline and Alice drinking tea and eating cake before retiring to the Queen Vic for more refreshment.

30th August 2015 : A personal account of today’s trip.

With Nick Hawkes, Paul Brock and Tony Audsley at the surface.

My second visit to this cave. Today’s plan was to start opening up the slot beyond which can be glimpsed space and the sound of falling water can be heard. Usual struggle through narrow passages with the bags, just seem to have gotten out of the habit over the last few years, still it will come back. Down the 80 foot pitch using SRT and with bags dangling. It is a fine pitch although damper today. Nick took the drill bag along the crawl for me, Paul had gone ahead with a new skip and hauling rope, I followed with my second bag. The crawl was more squalid than last time and by the time we got to the end we were suitably coated with mud. While I took a little time to formulate a plan of action and clean mud from the rock surface, Nick and Paul set up the skip and cleared digging spoil to a chamber up beyond. I drilled 6no. holes and managed to keep my drill relatively clean and dry. Just as I completed my task the others returned and took my bags out through the crawl while I reversed out laying the wire as I progressed, there was just enough wire to get to the end of the crawl. The morning was brought to a very satisfying conclusion with a resounding and reverberating echo. Paul and Nick had made their way up the pitch and I followed soon after. At the surface de-kitted and a chinwag with others who had appeared before walking back to the van to change and then head off to the Queen Vic for refreshments – too late for the Hunter’s.

Paul Brock photographed by Tony Audsley after Sunday’s digging trip in Home Close Hole.

29th August 2015

With Tav, Nick, Alan Gray and Pete Flanagan.

Eventually managed to open the gate which was blocked by debris, the cave is seldom visited and closed during the winter months due to bats. Rigged a 10m ladder and 25m lifeline, the descent of the pitch revealed a very different cave to Upper Canada Cave which is nearby. The upper part of the cave is phreatic and there are some calcite formations. The cave had been entered by 18th century ochre miners and antiqurian bone collectors and there are several examples of graffiti and smoke marks dating to this period (the images below were all taken by Alan Gray either on today’s trip or a previous trip in 2014). We located several now blocked miners entrances in the upper series and enjoyed a good thorough examination of the passages before heading down to the lower series.

The image above was taken by Alan Gray is me emerging from the wet squeeze to the lower series.

The lower series is a number of interconnecting chambers accessed by some short free climbs. The final chamber is of a good size with lots of fractured rock that appears a little unstable in places.

A thoroughly enjoyable trip to a little visited cave. Missed the pub though because Tav [who was driving] had to return home to attend a street party!

Above and below are some examples of the inscriptions and smoke marks found in the upper part of Bleadon Cavern. Photographs by Alan Gray, Axbridge Caving Group.

22nd August 2015

With Rob Taviner, Alan Gray, Dave Hardwick, Pete Flanagan and Kate Patch.

Spent some time exploring the largest of the accessible mines (pictured above) before dropping into the small mine next to it where Alan, et. al. did a quick survey using Distox. After this we went along to explore another mine that I don’t recollect having visited before. I first explored around here about 45 years ago when the Redding Pits were still in operation.

Worked flint picked up from recently ploughed field near to Harptree Combe. Over the years I have collected a number of flint flakes from the same area of the field after ploughing, particularly following rain.

An interesting sandstone cobble from the St. Maughans Formation, Early Devonian. Found during geotechnical/archaeological trial pitting near Cwmbran in south Wales.

The banding seen within the cobble is known as Liesegang rings. The process by which these rings develop is not fully understood but it has been suggested that they may form from the chemical segregation of iron oxides and other minerals during weathering.

22nd July 2015

Quick jaunt into Templeton’s to continue the expansion of the passage leading to Echo Pot. Took a look at the North Pot to make an assessment of the next move there, hopefully will get that underway in a couple of weeks time.

Found this little beauty on the stone track down through Velvet Bottom.
Unfortunately it had been injured so picked it up and put it in a safer
place. Might be worth pointing out that if you are out walking your
favourite pooch this time of the year then take care.

9th July 2015

Fiddington is a village about 9 miles west of Bridgwater off the Minehead road. At the church in the village is found a Sheila-na-gig. The only other site in Somerset where these carvings are recorded is at Wells Cathedral, where there are two on roof bosses in the west cloister. They are more commonly found in Ireland and it has been suggested there are links to Celtic Christian influences. The Sheila-na-gig is located at the south-east corner of the nave wall about 2.8 metres above ground level. It is carved into a sandstone block and is thought to be 11th-12th C.