THE HAMPS AND MANIFOLD VALLEYS SSSI - Waterways Swallet
Although not designated specifically for cave features, the site contains a number of caves with features of special scientific interest. There are two groups of
caves, the active caves (valley floor caves and Ilam Risings), and the relict caves. The most important of the valley floor caves (described below, and with
surveys) are Darfar Pot, Ladyside Pot and Redhurst Swallet which provide excellent examples of recent and active cave passage development beneath the
modern valley floor. These, together with the many other small (in both length and passage dimensions) caves that are not described individually in this
report, provide the only example in the Peak District of a new cave system developing under a valley floor and gradually capturing the surface flow.
The Ilam risings discharge all of the flow of the Hamps and Manifold rivers except in very wet conditions, when there is surface flow throughout. About
250m of active phreatic passage has been explored to a depth of 54m, although the survey is incomplete and has not been included in the present report. The
explored risings provide a good example of active phreatic passage but are not known to contain any other features of special interest.
There are a number of high level caves, of which the most important are Elderbush Cave and Darfar Ridge Cave each of which is described below. Thor’s
Cave is a truncated phreatic passage with a very impressive entrance but no survey is available and the cave does not contain clastic sediments or speleothems
that have been studied.
Waterways Swallet. CPM.
A major high level swallet cave, 40 metres deep, at the end of a blind valley. Drains to the Hinckley Wood Rising at Ilam. No
specific features but an important site that is considered likely to yield further accessible cave in the future.
CAVE CONSERVATION MONITORING FORM (Version 4 – May 2006)
Waterways Swallet
Please annotate survey map, where possible, to show location of assessed feature, if not clear.
Feature
Description of interest features
Are the features Comments on the condition of the
number
still present?
features
CPM - Cave Passage morphology
on
Y/N
survey
1
Waterways Swallet. CPM.
A major high level swallet cave, 40 metres deep,
at the end of a blind valley. Drains to the
Hinckley Wood Rising at Ilam. No specific
features but an important site that is considered
likely to yield further accessible cave in the
future.
e.g. Passage intact? If not – explain.
?evidence of water pollution (in active
passages)
Please indicate on map location of any mineral
deposits and any unauthorised collection.
(eg Heavily used cave, much carbide,
pollution, changes to drainage system,
specimen collecting, areas inaccessible
due to rock fall etc)
General comments
on conservation
status of the cave
Name:
Date of visit:
Contact details: Tele/Email:
Please return this form to Dave Webb, DCA, 3 De Vere Gardens, Woodthorpe. Nottingham . NG5 4PH
“Thank you for assisting in the conservation of this cave.”
Waterways Swallet, Swinscoe, Staffs.
NGR: 1260 4917
ALTITUDE: 285m (935ft)
DEPTH: 40m (130ft)
SOURCE: POTTS, 1981.
LENGTH: 152m (500ft)