William Pengelly
Cave Studies Trust
The Trust was established in 1962 for the
study of caves and to promote the
conservation of the cave environment.
The Trust’s cave studies center is located
at
Buckfastleigh,
Devon,
close
to
Dartmoor and the South Devon coast. It is
part of a larger property designated as a
Site of Special Scientific Interest. There is
accommodation for 22 residents, and a
wide range of educational and research
facilities. The Centre is used by primary
and secondary school groups, and by
students from further education.
Occasional public courses and tours are
arranged, and the Centre is open to
visitors at various times of the year.
The Elephant’s Tooth – part
of the bone deposit in Joint
Mitnor Cave.
Caves at the Centre
Higher Kiln Quarry
Russets Lane
Buckfastleigh
Devon
TQ11 0DY
www.pengelly.org
info@pengelly.org
The Centre is in a long-disused quarry,
with several caves, including:
Reeds Cave – one of the most richly
decorated Devon caves, though only
accessible by arrangement; there are
other important caves close to the Centre.
Joint Mitnor Cave – contains an
important and extensive deposit of fossil
bones from the Last Interglacial Period of
about 100 000 years ago.
Rift Cave – houses an important bat
colony, and has been grilled with the
assistance of the Worldwide Fund for
Nature.
Research
The Trust supports a wide range of
research at the Centre. There has been a
variety of large and small projects in areas
such as cave water percolation, cave
location techniques, cave paleontology
and bat studies.
A Greater Horseshoe
Bat in flight. This is a
species found in the
area
around
the
Centre.
Conservation
Much of the work of the Trust is concerned
with conserving caves. The displays in the
museum at the Centre demonstrate
aspects of this work, and introduce
visitors to many aspects of speleology.
Through its members the Trust links to
other
organizations
concerned
with
aspects of conservation in the cave
environment.
Visiting the Centre
You can visit the Centre by arrangement,
or take part in one of the guided walks,
which are advertised locally during the
summer months. There are good facilities
for small residential and day courses,
which include activity and teaching rooms.
The museum houses a range of exhibits
dealing with most aspects of cave studies.
There is also a range of booklets and
other materials dealing with aspects of
cave studies at the Centre and elsewhere.
Copies of all publications can be
purchased at the Centre or through the
membership
secretary
(see
trust
membership application).
Measuring Airflow in the
entrance to Rift Cave at the
Centre. This picture is from a
paper on diurnal temperature
variations within the cave by
Duncan
Worrell,
which
appeared
in
Studies
in
Speleology.
The Trust has a website, giving more
details about the Trust and the Centre,
with links to other sites which deal with
cave science and conservation. The
address is www.pengelly.org.
For information about use of the Centre
contact David Jean, 13 Tor Road,
Plymouth, PL3 5TE. Tel: 01752 700293.
Membership is open to all those who
support the aims of the Trust, and wish to
help in its work. Members receive the
publications of the Trust and have
preferential use of the Centre.
If you would like to join the Trust, please
complete the membership application
form.
Name ………………………………
Address……………………………
…………………………………………
…………………………………………
…………………………………………
I wish to apply for:
Full membership - £10
Family membership - £12.50
Junior/Student/Senior
Membership - £5
I enclose a cheque for:
£
Payable to – William Pengelly
Cave Studies Trust
You can increase the value of
your subscription to the Trust
by completing a Gift Aid Form.
Please tick here for details.
You can reduce our costs by
paying by Direct Debit. Please
tick here for a form.
William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust Membership Application Form
The Trust publishes a biennial Journal,
Studies in Speleology, which include
papers on a wide range of speleological
topics, written for the general reader as
well as for the specialist. A Newsletter is
produced several times a year, with news
of the work of the Trust and of its
members, and articles of general interest.
Please detach and send to the Membership Secretary, 95 Finch Road, Earley, Reading, Berks, RG6 7JX. Tel: 0118 926 9328
Publications