Waterfall Swallet - Digging Trips 24 Feb. 00 / 29 Mar. 00 / 12 April 00
Report by John Barnatt
also present Peter Appleton (all three), John Highfield (once), Ann Soulsby (once), Dave
Webb (once).
We are starting to make slow but steady progress at the dig on the west side of Waterfall
Swallet, almost opposite the known cave of Waterfall Hole. The first trip, after the initial looksee last year, concentrated on breaking up and removing the boulder Dave and myself had
loosened previously, and on widening the approach tunnel to give more room to work. The
second trip started digging deeper - through soil to the north side and sticky glacial clay
elsewhere - a few small voids against the northern limestone wall show that the Oct. 1998
flood water passed this way. This was confirmed by a relatively 'fresh' chocolate bar wrapper
found at depth in the soil deposit. When we arrived for the third time, in rain that had lasted all
day, we were much surprised to find a thundering waterfall and a deep pool of water filling
much of the floor of the swallet. We estimated that the water level was very similar to that at
the base of the dig, but despite this it was as dry as its ever been - which must prove
something but I'm not sure what. The third trip again involved cutting through clay, but the
number of stones is increasing. A boulder was loosened at the end of the night and the rocks
under this (with small voids between) sounded hollow (but with no noise of running water
despite the flood). This hollowness was no doubt only the product of the small gaps between
stones. Perhaps we will soon reach the base of the clay and then be in just stones/boulders.
This will hopefully be quicker to dig, but the downside is that shoring will undoubtedly need to
be employed sooner rather than later.
I returned to the site the next day to take photographs of the water. Froth on the vegetation
showed it had risen by about a further meter during the night but then gone down again. It
had stopped well short of the entrance to the dig. If we do get severe floods as in 1998 - will
the water do our digging job for us, or will sods law mean that it will collapse the earthen sides
and we will have to start again?
To date we have deepened the dig by nearly a metre since we took over from John Beck and
Iain Barker, who in turn replaced Mark Noble (perhaps after taking a look, they had more
sense than to continue, although in Mark's case a fractured leg did apparently have something
to do with it). We are concentrating on going down against the north wall. The other three
sides of the hole are mainly soil/clay and may well need substantial shoring as we get deeper.
We have still not decided whether we need to remove the two very large boulders hanging
above our heads, a job which would need serious chemical persuasion. For now we are
hoping to dig under an overhang that has appeared, which may mean the boulders can be left
where they are and shored to make them safe.
It is still far from clear if the dig will break into new cave - did the water that disappeared here
during the 1998 flood go to places unknown or into the known passage beyond Co-operation
Aven called 'Mark and Keith's bit' (see elevation in Caves of the Peak District p. 226). In plan
this part of the cave must be somewhere close to the entrance to the dig, but at a depth of
about 40m. However, this section of passage is not shown on the detailed plan (available
from Caving Supplies), hence it is not fully clear if it lies on the line of the rift we are digging, or
is to one side. The text in Caves of the Peak District may suggest the latter, as it notes the
stream in the final passage is directly below the surface waterfall. In either event, 'Mark and
Keith's bit' is apparently very difficult to reach from the rest of the known cave (I've never tried
to go beyond EPS Aven) and has not been extensively investigated - a new way in may make
all the difference?
Our hope, if perhaps an unrealistically over-optimistic one, is to reach the 'self open' (the
miners term for a cave) recorded in lead mining documents, information about which has been
passed on by Jim Rieuwerts. This cave was used by lead miners to take away the water
issuing from an underground sough that was driven in 1676. In this year the miners started at
the cave, which they had previously found at depth while mining Crosslow Rake, and drove
northwards to the rich lead veins under Eyam Edge. The finished sough dewatered these
veins, taking the water to the cave which acted as a natural drain. That it took what was
presumably a significant amount of water, indicates a cave system of some significance,
presumably heading in the direction of Streaks Pot and/or Carlswark (it presumably doesn't
take water today, as later soughs at greater depth have captured the flow). The 'self open' is
documented as being on Crosslow Rake at Waterfall Flats and Willowbeds Vein. This places
it at or very close to Waterfall Swallet, probably either directly below or on its western side.
The east/west 'rift' we are digging is probably a part of Crosslow Rake never altered by
miners, as the mineral had already been removed by water erosion. The major swallow that
has developed at Waterfall Swallet is governed by the point of weakness caused by the
mineralised fault which crosses the swallow hole from east to west. It may be that Waterfall
Swallet once (probably in glacial or pre-glacial times) looked similar to Eldon Hole or
alternatively and more probably had a chamber a short distance underground of similar shape
and large size to one of those in Oxlow Cavern for example (which have also developed on
mineral veins). However, at Waterfall Swallet the sides have collapsed leaving a way down
through known cave that winds its way through the cracks between limestone blocks, each the
size of several buses.
The main problem with the 'self open' that the miners used, from our point of view, is that it
was at a depth of 34 to 35 fathoms (62-64m) from surface! We only have a little over 55m to
go to reach the sough level (aghhh). If the rift is rubble-filled all the way, I for one will give up
long before we get there. The hope is that open block-collapse rifts will be reached well
before then - as in the known cave - and that a new series of rifts will take us straight to depth.
After allowing for the depth of the swallow hole above the entrance to Waterfall Hole (and
measuring off the published elevation rather than taking the depth of 43m given in Caves of
the Peak District, which appears to be understated), the 'self open' is at a similar depth to the
sumps in the known cave. However, as no sough tunnel has been found leading northwards,
nor any other signs of miners having entered Waterfall Hole, there must be further cave
nearby that has not yet been entered.
There is still only room for three to four people at a time during digging sessions, but we will
probably need more as it gets deeper and we haul in stages - anyone who is interested in
helping get in touch with Peter, Dave or myself and we will put you on a contact list.
The Waterfall Swallet Dig Goes (But Only By A Bit)!
John Barnatt
Has the Masson Club found 'Caverns Measureless to Man' (or should that be Persons?)? No,
but at least open passage is appearing and there is a draught! In the last two weeks, largely
due to the enthusiasm and hard work of John Highfield, exciting progress has been made.
Breakthrough day was Monday 29th May - only John H. and myself could make it! Of the
other regular diggers Peter was in Wales, Ann was away and Dave had other commitments.
John had phoned me on Saturday teatime - he was excited - I could hear him jumping up and
down at the other end of the line - a small hole had appeared and open passage could be
seen but not reached. I could not make the next day so John, anticipating an imminent
breakthrough, again went on his own (cancelling his Yorkshire trip!). Things are rarely that
simple. Another phone call Sunday teatime - still a rock flake to move - but a simple, quick job
and we are in. The open passage was a pitch top - dropped pebbles soon hit 'bottom' - but
was it bottom or just a ledge?
After a fortifying breakfast at Stoney Middleton, we arrived just after 10am. The hole at the
end of the rift allowed a glimpse of a beautifully fluted passage - 'real cave' at last - lots of
water had once passed this way. The flake was soon detached from the right wall by using a
scaffold pole as a lever. After an hour we had walked it down the passage towards us and out
of the way, it only just fitted and it kept getting stuck. Would you believe it - we couldn't get
through - still too tight! Another small-looking rock low to the left looked like it could be moved
- everything else was solid wall. Funny, it wouldn't move - digging at its base showed that it
was much bigger than it first looked - far too big to bring along the passage and only
reachable by crawling forward, from where there was no room to easily swing a hammer
effectively. The best way to proceed was to try to push it forward down the pitch. With one
person lying in the rift directing the scaffolding pole at the rock, and the other person jammed
in the small 'chamber' above wielding the sledge hammer between their legs (perilously close
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to the others head), they could hit the other end of the pole. But still the rock would not move,
we dug round it some more, we tried chiselling bits away, then more poling, then more head
scratching - it wobbled just fractionally - but would it come out - no it wouldn't. Progress was
not helped when the sledge hammer slipped out of John's hands (I say slipped - but was it
revenge for me hitting his arm with it a short while before??), it somersaulted and went
straight through the small hole and disappeared down the pitch!! I bet we couldn't do that
again, even if we tried very hard. Undaunted, we were going to shift that bl**dy rock if it was
the last thing we did - we still had the lump hammer. By mid-afternoon terminal exhaustion
has set in and I think we were both close to calling it a day - but perseverance sometimes
pays off - the rock started to move - a few minutes more and it had gone!
Maybe we would need the kit we had brought after all - John had brought a ladder and I had
brought more in case further pitches followed as we penetrated the depths. John went first to
have a look - he deserved the honour, having done the bulk of the work that day - it was feet
first with helmet and lamp off to get to the pitch top. I followed, after the sediments in the
passage floor had been enlarged slightly so that I would fit. The pitch was only a little over 2m
deep and was free climbable - care had to be taken as the large flake we had knocked in was
wedged halfway down but rocked menacing. The floor was of rubble and clay and a way on to
one side could be seen at floor level - the air space was small and more digging was needed.
In a sense a disappointing end to the day - but to be honest we were both so tired that it came
as a bit of a relief that we did not have a long exploration trip ahead. The pitch is a beautiful
bit of passage, clean, deeply fluted with protruding flakes and even a small area with
formations - overidingly a satisfying end to the day - new passage worth finding - 'small but
perfectly formed'.
One further day's digging has taken place at the time of writing (4th June). On this day I turned
up at 4pm, after a day of archaeological excavation of a lead mine site with the PHMHS
conservation team (at High Rake near Great Hucklow - volunteers welcome), arriving in time
to have a look at progress and empty 4 buckets! Fever pitch was such that Spencer had
arrived from Kent!! The bottom of the pitch has been dug out and the entrance to the passage
going on cleared - its got a short first section which is too tight with very solid walls - chemical
persuasion is the only option here. Beyond the passage looks large enough to follow, going
onwards and downwards and there is a significant draught. At the bottom of the pitch there is
also a hole into the sediment-filled southern rift - will this prove to be a bypass?
Before we took over the dig it had been named 'Innominate Pot' - since we started our digging
several club members have commented that this is a bit of a mouthful and what does
innominate mean anyway? Should we change the name - Cripples Pot has already been
suggested by Ann's partner - further suggestions and opinions welcome.
The Waterfall Swallet Dig - Work to Date
1) Work by Mark Noble, John Beck and Ian Barker - Autumn 1998 to Summer 1999
After the floods of Autumn 1998 a passage through soil was enlarged horizontally under the
tree, following the main rift. A hole was then dug downwards to allow access (for the very thin)
into a short section of the upper part of the northern rift at the end of which there was a small
'chamber' and an impenetrable crack going downwards.
2) Reccy by Masson Club - 5 Oct. 99 (see Masson News - Nov. 99)
Quite a few turned up to have a quick look. Dave Webb and myself did a bit of trial digging to
enlarge the way into the northern rift, moving a largish boulder that was far too heavy to lift out
of the hole. It was thought that two even larger boulders above our heads needed removal for
safety as we would have to dig directly under them - retired to find someone who had access
to drills, appropriate chemicals, etc.
3) Reccy by Peter Appleton, Dave Webb and John Barnatt - 24 Feb 00.
Peter was persuaded to come and give advice on how best to proceed - he though the two
rocks above our heads were not likely to fall and we started to dig. The boulder Dave and I
had loosened was broken up by Peter in no time (much to my surprise) - he wields a mean
lump hammer. The rest of the evening was spent widening the entrance passage to make
future spoil removal easier.
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4) Digging Trip - 29 March 00 - Ann Soulsby, Peter Appleton, John Barnatt (see Ann's report
in May 2000 Newsletter)
Deepened hole into north rift.
5) Digging Trip - 12 April 00 - John Highfield, Peter Appleton, John Barnatt
Deepened hole into north rift and started digging westwards.
6) Digging Trip - 9 May 00 - Ann Soulsby, Peter Appleton, John Barnatt (report by Ann in June
2000 Newsletter)
Continued digging westwards in the north rift.
7) Digging Trip - 23 May 00 – John Highfield, Peter Appleton, Dave Webb, John Barnatt
John turned up in the afternoon and dug further west. By the time we arrived John was
knackered and was about to go - the rest of the evening was spent breaking rock - the left wall
of the rift needed removing as a short section was too narrow to pass. I got bored waiting at
the top for the occasional bucket of rocks and therefore enlarged the crawl in the top of the
main rift by taking out the soft soil floor. It became free-crawlable further in where the floor
slopes away, but the passage was (and is) fully-silted further in.
8) Solo Digging Trips - 27/28 May 00 – John Highfield
Continued digging westwards in the north rift.
9) Breakthrough Day - 29 May 00 – John Highfield, John Barnatt
Widened rift and entered short pitch.
10) Digging Trip - 3 June 00 – John Highfield, Dave Webb, Spencer Sutherland
Enlarged crawl into pitch, removed fill at base of pitch and at in the entrance to passage going
on. Started removing fill in the hole to the main (southern) rift.
The Waterfall Swallet Dig Goes! (By Quite a Lot More)
John Barnatt
Its still not quite 'Caverns Measureless to Man' but the Masson Dig has gone! The new cave now named by club members 'Cripples Pot' - currently has over 50m of horizontal passage
and is 20m deep! Some of it relatively spacious - you can stand up in parts and there is even
a pitch which is nearly 10m deep! What's more, at the time of writing (13th July), there is a
promising lead going downwards with a draught, which needs only a little enlargement. Watch
this space - there will no doubt be further instalments in what has suddenly become the
largest bit of cave Masson Caving Group has ever found and what is arguably one of the best
bits of cave to turn up in the Peak in the last decade (but beaten by a long way by Titan!).
Taking up where I left off last time (see the July newsletter), the small open passage going off
the base of the free-climbable pitch found at the end of May certainly needed chemical
persuasion. Hence, we got side-tracked for a while trying to dig out the adjacent sedimentfilled rift - this was abandoned once Hilti-Caps and drill arrived (while caving in North
Yorkshire, John Highfield and myself had been given an impressive demonstration of how to
use these).
There were in effect two main breakthrough days. The first was on Sunday 25th June.
Spencer (with drill), John Highfield (with Hilti-Caps) and Dave Webb (with video camera)
worked most of the day lowering the short stretch of floor in the tight bit. I arrived in the early
afternoon to find an impasse had been reached - the firing pins were both bent, John had
nearly succeeded in blowing off his hand - hence a large hammer had been sent for. Earlier in
the day Mark Noble had appeared, looking to see if Masson were still active at the dig - his
nearby dig had gone pear-shaped and he and friends were looking for pastures new. After a
quick trip home, he returned with extra-large lump hammer in hand - but it proved impossible
to get a good swing and frustration-pitch rose. Mark had diverted part of the stream in the
shakehole, knowing that it had disappeared at this spot previously only to reappear in Mark
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and Keith's Bit at the bottom of Waterfall Hole. We could hear the water falling somewhere
beyond the tight bit. Not being able to contain himself, in the end John Highfield removed
lamp and helmet and went for it - he slipped through the body-tight hole and for a while all we
heard were excited mutterings and shouts. He returned quickly - he was far from confident he
could get back out, as the squeeze led directly to a 4m drop and was potentially awkward to
re-enter on the way out - but needless to say he managed it. All other members of the party
looked at the hole, some tentatively squeezing themselves in feet first, but the consensus was
'you must be ****** joking'. Thus, John went in alone again and carried out a proper reccy this time with a ladder to investigate the pitch he had seen just round the corner. Meanwhile,
both Mark and myself had to leave - we were both already well overdue at our respective
homes - in any event there was no chance we would get in that day. As Mark had started the
dig in the first place, it seemed only fair that we invite him back to be there when the
breakthrough proper was made. That evening John phoned me and babbled excitedly for
ages - a mined level, a pitch descended, falling water just beyond easy reach but with
explorable passage in this direction. All we had to do was remove a large rock flake and
bypass a very tight bit of rift at floor level, or alternatively follow a passage parallel to the rift
roof, enter the rift via a cross passage and bolt a longer ladder pitch further along.
We returned for the big push on the Wednesday evening, all seven of the digging team,
together with Mark Noble. The advance party, John and Spencer, had arrived in the
afternoon, and feeling refreshed had got through the squeeze without it needing more work.
Thus, they laddered the pitch into North Rift. The plan of action was to remove the large flake
near the base of the rift - as this was preventing further progress into the cave towards the
falling water. This they did and then returned to surface to await the arrival of the rest of the
party. By shortly after six most people had arrived at great speed, straight from work, and we
went in. This time the plan was to get all thin cavers past the squeeze and then start widening
it further from inside, in anticipation of getting somewhat stouter members of the party through
(Dave, Mark and myself). We knew Dave would be a bit late and there was no sign of Mark with a bit of luck the widening would have taken place by the time they arrived and once all
there we could make rapid progress. Not wanting to be left outside any longer than
necessary, with others already out of sight, I remove lamp and helmet and went for the
squeeze. Much to my surprise I fitted without much trouble - it was tight but not uncomfortably
so (the real barrier the Sunday before was more psychological than physical) - if I could not
get out again we had a drill and we were bound to be able to enlarge the hole (I hoped)??
Being 4m off the ground, finding the ledge in the pitch-black, with lamp still on the wrong side
of the hole, is disconcerting the first time round - but it really is very easy really. However,
first-timers beware its important that you do not swing your legs in a southerly direction (your
left, if you are going through on your stomach) - there are some fine pristine stalactites here
within easy kicking distance.
As I had fitted through the squeeze there was a quick change of plan - rather than enlarge it
unnecessarily, we would wait and see if the other two would fit - it didn't seem right to remove
any more rock than we had to. Thus everyone busied themselves having a look round while
waiting for Dave and Mark to arrive. By the time they did, and Dave had declared the hole still
too-tight, half the party was down the ladder in North Rift and it had been concluded that the
rift could only be followed a relative short way and that the water disappeared into a terminally
tight crack. By the time Peter had squeezed his way back along the very tight lower part of the
rift and spent the best part of an hour enlarging the hole with his drill, all other potential leads
had been explored and discounted as either non-starters or needing concerted work. Much to
Dave's disgust most of us were ready to leave when he and Mark finally got in - the result of a
combination of tiredness and deflation once it was realised that the bottom rift didn't lead to
open passage and there was not the anticipated extended exploration trip ahead of us. Dave
didn't get the chance to film us pushing new cave - a keen disappointment - but there is
chance yet. It was only after we were out that I think it sunk in we shouldn't be disappointed what we had quickly explored was a significant bit of cave.
The rift at the base of the enlarged squeeze is relatively spacious for a short distance and has
fine formations. This has been named Miner's Rift, as its westward continuation has been
created by lead miners cutting a trial level through the natural clay that filled the rift here (the
'northern' and 'southern' rifts of the previous account of the dig come together below the
squeeze and the new name is preferable as further rifts are now known further to north and
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south). Clear pickwork was found in two places in the roof and two rotted timbers on the floor
may well have been small roof stemples. How the miners got to this point is unclear - certainly
they did not enter the same way as us. It seems most likely that they sank a shaft in the
shakehole, which has now run-in, and followed the natural rift a short distance west.
Alternatively they may have mined the rift upwards. Near the western end of the level there is
a hole in the floor and the possibility of a passage going back under at a lower level
(alternatively the hole may result from the clay floor falling away into a natural void below) the rift here is unpleasantly narrow and the uninviting hole has not yet been descended.
The cross passage to the top of the North Rift pitch is a finely fluted passage with impressive
rock flakes and there are long straw stalactites in the roof high out of harms way. The
impressive North Rift is about 10m high but narrow throughout its accessible length of over
10m, tending to become unpleasantly tight towards the bottom.
Eastwards of the cross passage to the pitch head, Miner's Rift runs under the shakehole and
becomes partly blocked by fallen rubble. The roof is choked by boulders - some large, some
probably not stable. There are two short cross-passages entering the top of the North Rift.
Near the first a bone was found by Peter. I have had this looked at by a bone specialist in the
Archaeology Department, University of Sheffield. It is the lower arm bone of a young adult
human! The bone looks old and the best guess is that someone, probably a few hundred
years ago, fell into the shakehole and was killed - later the bone has been washed into the
cave.
The base of North Rift is too narrow except at its western end to have any chance of
eventually being pushed - the floor to the west, which is at a lower level than where the water
disappears, could perhaps be dug out, but this would be a very difficult dig to execute.
While waiting for Dave to be able to get in, rather than follow those investigating the bottom of
North Rift, I concentrated on a thorough examination of Miner's Rift. Going westwards with
Jon Scaife, we identified the signs that miners had been here. Beyond the hole down, John
pushed the passage to the very end. A foothold half way across the hole looked solid but
proved to be clay covered in a thin coating of stalagmite! There is a hidden side passage at
the end, running north, but this is choked with calcite. I then looked eastwards with Spencer.
At the very end the rift is fully choked with boulders, I cleared a hole forward at ground level
but this led only to a short drop into a small space between boulders below, above and
forward. This was not entered as it looked far from stable and in any event led nowhere.
Opposite the first cross cut to North Rift a very narrow passage leads southwards. After some
head scratching as to how to enter this without wedging solid in the impossibly narrow lower
part, we hit upon the solution - after a short search two rocks of suitable shape and size were
inserted and knocked into place to provide 'safe' steps across the short problem section (the
second one subsequently broke and fell out when stood upon, dropping onto Ann's leg!). This
obscure bit of the cave has been named Stepping Stone Passage and appears to provide the
key for future exploration. It is now possible to enter the passage by climbing up to the 'wide'
section and move in sideways using the remaining stepping stone. A short distance down the
tight, twisting passage and you reach South Rift. Spencer had a reccy, reporting back that
there was a squeeze down to a blockage a short distance below, and that it was possible to
see westwards and downwards, past a flake to a wide rift going on.
At the end of the evening we retired to the 'Miners' in Eyam for the customary celebratory
drink. John Beck happened to be in the pub that night and heard from Mark of the
breakthrough - he promised to keep the discovery quiet for now, in return for us preparing
something for the October edition of Descent - Dave Webb has this in hand. Despite
precautions, the rumour mill is already in action and the word is out that a major new
discovery, 'several hundred feet long', has been made somewhere in the Peak!!**!! The true
description needs to be made public before the rumours get totally out of hand. Before all and
sundry start helping themselves, we are working hard to push the cave as far as it will go, to
complete survey and description (Peter Appleton, with myself assisting), to carry out
photographic/video documentation (Dave Webb) and to undertake any necessary
conservation work should it prove necessary.
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Survey work is progressing nicely, and the pushing of leads is starting to make significant
progress. I could not make the latest trip (last night) due to being the named leader of the trip
to Jug Holes the night before and more importantly because of three children and partner who
thought it would be nice if I made an evening appearance for a change (I'm about to go to the
NAMHO conference). I had two excited phone calls at work this morning, just after nine, from
Peter Appleton and Jon Scaife. The blockage at the entrance to South Rift, at the end of
Stepping Stone Passage, has gone. The party had eventually dropped into a wider section of
rift running westwards beyond the blockage, after hammering-off rock flakes and moving
boulders. The moment of breakthrough had it seems been delayed when the lump hammer
was dropped down a tight bit and had to be lassoed (eventually). Peter relished telling that he
had entered first and much to his surprise he must be thinner than John Highfield?!!? - it
apparently took another hour's work enlarging the passage before John could get in. Jon S.
notes that further enlargement and the securing of perched boulders will be necessary before
too many people pass this way. After some distance the rift narrows again at floor level, but
Peter has made what Jon describes as a difficult climb, to bypass a particularly tight bit. After
dropping again there is a way on at floor level, where to one side a pitch downwards can be
seen descending for over 5m. A flake needs removal before entry can be made, but a
draught can be felt, so hopefully it is ever onwards and downwards.
All members of the club are very welcome to join the trip on the 29th of August to view the
new cave (See trips page for details). It's not a first-time novice trip - there are some
seriously-loose bits that need to be treated with caution, two moderately tight crawls, each with
short drops at their inner ends, and some extremely tight rifts (optional extras in the sense that
they are at the ends of currently explored passages).
The Waterfall Swallet Dig - Work to Date (Continued)
11) Digging Trip - Wed. 14th June 00 - Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, John Highfield, Jon
Scaife, Ann Soulsby, Dave Webb.
Continued enlarging the hole in the sediment filled rift at the base of the first pitch.
12) Digging Trip - Wed. 21 June 00 - Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, John Highfield, Jon Scaife,
Ann Soulsby, Dave Webb.
Peter Appleton arrived with a drill and started removing the floor in the tight bit - progress slow
as drill not fully charged! Most of us had nothing to do as little rock needed passing out, so we
enlarged the low upper crawl running west from the entrance to have a better look at the end
(no subsequent digging has been started here).
13) First Breakthrough - Sun. 25 June 00- John Barnatt, John Highfield, Spencer Sutherland,
Dave Webb, plus Mark Noble.
Work continued on enlarging the tight bit with Spencer's drill - John Highfield gets through
towards the end of day - see report above for details.
14) Mass Breakthrough - Wed. 28 June 00 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, John Highfield,
Jon Scaife, Ann Soulsby, Spencer Sutherland, Dave Webb, Mark Noble
Party enters the tight bit and thoroughly explores Miners Rift and North Rift beyond - see
report above for detail.
15) Survey and Pushing Trip - Wed. 5 July 00 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon Scaife, Ann
Soulsby.
Went with Ann and John to reccy Stepping Stone Passage and the entrance to the Southern
Rift. Peter, with me assisting, surveyed the bulk of the then known cave to Grade 5B (except
North Rift - South Rift had not yet been entered - both will hopefully be surveyed in the near
future).
16) Pushing Trip - Wed. 12 July 00 – Peter Appleton, John Highfield, Jon Scaife.
Broke through into South Rift - pushed by Peter to a point where further enlargement needed
to enter a pitch going downwards - see report above for detail.
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The Waterfall Swallet Dig Goes Even Further
Report by John Barnatt
After more concerted work, with Peter Appleton and drill taking the lead, the dig has gone
even further. This time there is an impressively large passage to add to the growing interest
of the cave. Currently about 100m of horizontal passages have been explored and these
reach a depth of nearly 25m.
Before the latest breakthrough day, work had concentrated not only on pushing but also on
getting a survey and report ready for an article in Descent. This has now been submitted and
all being well will be published in the October issue. Dave Webb kindly wrote the words and
Peter Appleton and myself carried out the survey (metrical line survey led by Peter, detail and
final drawing by myself). Jon Scaife and John Highfield helped on different occasions by
holding the end of tape measures, etc. The imminent publication also forced us to re-consider
the name of the new cave - after all agreeing that Innominate Pot wasn't liked, and adopting
Cripples Pot, there was further dissension (not mentioning any names). After much
discussion in the pub and through the following day, Peter's suggestion - Crock Pot - was
decided upon. It has the same allusion as 'Cripples' but has more of a ring to it. This is the
final name for it will shortly appear in print as Crock Pot.
It is the way of things that less than a week after sending the survey to Descent (a copy of
which is included here) and handing out copies to all the digging team, there has been a
sudden breakthrough and the cave has gone off the page (Peter and Jon got their copies on
the same evening as the breakthrough).
The breakthrough came after several sessions in South Rift/Echo Pitch, removing a false floor
and several other large boulders on the way down. On the first trip Peter dropped the floor,
leaving himself straddling the rift with a significant space below his feet! Later some of the
same boulders had to be moved again as they had wedged further down. To enter Echo Pitch
now, unless you are of less than average girth, it is necessary to make a short and easy climb
into the roof of South Rift to avoid a narrow section and then descend a ladder for 8m.
Particular care is needed at the pitch head as there is a pile of boulders in the roof, which, if
the small chockstone at their base was disturbed, would probably kill anyone on the pitch.
The new breakthrough came on the evening of 30th August. We started early, gathering
around 4.30 - four of us were off work or on courses that day - Peter drove from Wales
especially! We were determined to get beyond the base of Echo Pitch and down what we
thought would be a second pitch. Widening of a short horizontal stretch to the 'pitch' head
needed completion and then a way down needed clearing of boulders. This proceeded slowly
but surely, with Peter and John at the pushing face as usual. I had stayed back to help Dave
through the two tight squeezes into South Rift - on his first inspection of these the week before
he had failed to get through the lower of the two. After much concerted effort, it was
concluded, much to his frustration, that it was too tight and needed further enlargement (which
Peter did at the end of the evening on the way out). After passing time with Dave, who filmed
me going through these squeezes (one of then 3 times!), I got called to the front to help clear
boulders. We had just about finished when Jon and Ann arrived shortly after 7pm and I came
up the pitch to make room for them to have a look.
It was only about 5 minutes later that the unexpected call came up from Jon Scaife that John
Highfield was through already - he had dug under a large flake and entered open passage
very quickly, avoiding the expected necessity of having to break it up first. Bugger - I was at
the back (last except for Dave who must have been feeling as sick as a parrot that he could
not get through). Ann quickly went down to have look, while I stayed at the top of Echo Pitch
in case the anticipated call came for more ladder and rope. She promised to report back
before following the other three into the unknown, but as she got down I heard the call for
crowbar, slings and a thin caver - she rapidly disappeared. Dave and I were left with our
thoughts, accompanied by the sound of distant echoing and unintelligible voices from the
depths below, punctured by the occasional large boom as rocks were being dropped.
8
The frustration mounted, after something like half an hour, I eventually could not stand the
waiting any longer and descended to have a look. There was no pitch, but only a series of
short steps down the tight rift, ending at a point where it joined a second tall rift at an angle,
with a climb down of about 2m. This appears to be running roughly parallel to Miners Rift.
Heading back towards the shakehole it immediately becomes impossibly narrow at floor level,
although John Highfield apparently entered near the roof, putting his head round a bend
before it also became too tight here. In the other direction the rift is also tight for a short
distance, with a 2m long body-gripping bit a short distance along. There had been several
large boulders here, which had been moved with the aid of slings and crowbar, and this had
been the source of the large booming, created as they hit the floor. When I arrived the others
were making their way back up through this section - Jon Scaife was finding it tough going,
with much bruising of ribs, etc. - in the light of this I decided I didn't stand a chance (I tried and
failed on the next trip – it is either go on a diet - as Jon S. aptly put it ‘You’re a fat B******’ – or
persuade Peter to carry out some concerted drilling/chemical persuasion).
What is beyond has made all our efforts worthwhile. The rift becomes large, guestimated at
about 25m long (80 feet), 3m wide (10 feet) and 12-15m (40-50 feet) high, with 1m (3 feet)
stalactites in the roof! At its far end it narrows somewhat to where it is completely filled with
glacial sediments.
In the floor of the rift, near the very tight section, a potential way on is obvious - a draft comes
from the floor and gaps down a tight rift, and between large boulders where it is wider, can be
seen to a depth of 2-3m. As I write, the next round of digging has started.
We had hoped to advertise a club trip to Crock Pot in September, but a breakdown in
communication meant it was left off the trips list (we invited a few who were on other recent
trips by word of mouth, but the fuel crisis got in the way). It is now intended to run a trip on
Wed. IIth Oct. Because of the awkwardness of the cave, the numbers are limited to five (plus
'guides'), pre-booked only, via myself (evenings 6.30-9.00: 01298 77923). We will meet away
from the cave and travel in 1-2 cars due to limited parking. While all are welcome, if you are
an absolute novice or are an Xtra-large caver a trip may not be a good idea. We estimate a
visit to the bottom and back is a grade 4 trip - there are several tight and awkward squeezes,
and the potentially unstable boulders in the roof and elsewhere are not for the cautious.
The Waterfall Swallet Dig - Work to Date (Continued).
17) Pushing Trip - Wed. 26 July 00 - Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon Scaife.
Peter dropped floor from under him to enter Echo Pitch. Jon continued to enlarge squeezes
into South Rift.
18) Pushing Trip - Tues. 1 Aug 00 - Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon Scaife, Lee Langdon
Wall bolted for a ladder and clearance of boulders in Echo Pitch continued. Squeezes into
South Rift enlarged further to point where normal-sized cavers could enter.
19) Survey Trip - Wed. 9 Aug 00 – John Barnatt, Jon Scaife.
Surveyed South Rift/Echo Pitch and Flake Pitch, and checked detail elsewhere.
20) Video Trip - Sat. 12 Aug 00 - John Highfield, Ann Soulsby, Spencer Sutherland, Dave
Webb, Alan Keen.
Video and stills photography trip. See Ann's trip report.
21) Pushing Trip - Wed. 16 Aug 00 – Peter Appleton, John Highfield.
Cleared last two boulders to reach base of Echo Pitch.
22) Survey and Pushing Trip - Tues. 22 Aug 00 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, John
Highfield, Dave Webb.
Enlarging rift westwards towards top of next 'pitch'. Finished survey of North Rift and detail
checking elsewhere. JB got stuck in tight bit of North Rift - rescued by JH. Floor in Miners
9
Rift modified to make route to Stepping Stone Passage easier and to help stop the spread of
clay from clothing throughout the rest of the cave.
23) Pushing Trip - Wed. 30 Aug 00- Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, John Highfield, Ann
Soulsby, Jon Scaife, Dave Webb.
Breakthrough to the new large rift - see report above for details.
24) Pushing and Visitors Trip - Wed. 13 Sept 00 – John Barnatt, Jon Scaife, Ann Soulsby,
Peter Hague and John Beck.
Despite the fuel crisis, two of the expected visitors arrived. Explored most of the known cave,
including a visit by Peter Hague and John Beck past the tight bit to the large rift. Ann and Jon
started digging downwards but progress was difficult without the drill.
Crock Pot – Work to Date (Continued)
25) Digging Trip and Assessment Trip – Wed. 20 Sept 00 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon
Scaife, John Gunn
Two go to the large rift and enlarge the narrowest bit at the end of the tight squeeze. I show
John Gunn round, acting as ‘inspector’ for English Nature because of the SSSI status. Our
work is given a clean bill of health and several soil samples taken for analysis by John.
26) Digging Trip – Wed. 27 Sept 00 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon Scaife
I get through tight squeeze for the first time – it’s a b***dy horror for any like myself who is
overweight and unfit. We started to remove boulders in the large rift and stack them in
drywalled pack further into rift.
27) Digging Trip – Wed. 4 Oct 00 – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife.
Continued to remove boulders in the large rift.
28) Digging and Survey Trip – Tues. 11 Oct 00 - Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Ann Soulsby,
Jon Scaife, Dave Webb
Three went to the large rift and continued to remove boulders. A rock-filled passage going
down at an angle is seen for first time. It becomes clear that scaffolding is needed.
Meanwhile, I with help from Dave, start doing detailed drawings and measurements for the
survey – I reached as far as the tight squeeze but couldn’t get in!
29) Scaffolding / Trip – Wed. 18 Oct 00 – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife
Carried scaffolding and clips from the entrance to the large rift. Quite a feat with 9 scaffolding
poles and two bags of clips, started to install scaffolding.
30) Scaffolding / Digging Trips – Wed 25 Oct 00 – Peter Appleton, John Highfield.
Continued to install scaffold to secure the shaft to the dig base, and removed more boulders
from here.
31) Scaffold Delivery and Digging Trip – Tues. 7 Nov 00 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon
Scaife, Dave Webb.
The day after the big flood. Dave and I arrived early to unload scaffold and take it to the cave
entrance – an interesting experience in the dark, traversing round the side of the shakehole
with a thundering waterfall and deep pool. With water levels any higher this would have
probably been impossible and we would have had to abseiled in at the west end. I had
inspected the site the day before and the water was reasonably OK, much to my surprise and
disappointment there was only a moderately deep pool – I had gone to photograph the hole
full of water. To our consternation, the water levels had gone up significantly on the Tuesday
afternoon after more heavy rain (but nothing like that two nights before). It had entered the dig
– everything was scoured clean and the buckets had gone! I recovered one from the first
pitch and a second that was blocking the tight squeeze at the bottom of this. Dave and I left
the scaffold in the upper part of the dig and retired to move our cars to make room for the
second wave of attack. Peter and Jon arrived and as the water level was going down they
went to the dig bottom with some of the scaffolding, encountering a flowing stream near the
bottom where the cave is normally dry. In the big rift there was a foam tidemark 3m above the
floor! Boulders were removed for two hours in wet conditions!
10
32-33) Digging Trips – Wed. 15 Nov 00 – John Highfield, Jon Scaife, Spencer Sutherland.
- Tues. 21 Nov 00. – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife.
Manhandled several very large boulders up the angled passage to the base of the shaft, as
there was not enough room to break them up at the digging face. These were then broken
and hauled to the top of the shaft. Enlarged the hole at the bottom of the dig where the water
disappears.
34-35) Digging Trips - Tues. 28 Nov 00 – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife, Ann Soulsby
- (Tues. 5 Dec 00 – Peter Appleton, Ann Soulsby – cancelled due to
high water – went to Carlswalk!)
- Wed. 13 Dec 00 – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife, Ann Soulsby
At about 4 metres down from the top of the scaffolded shaft, a silted way forward, heading
horizontally back towards the shakehole is found and digging is started. This looked like a
very eroded silt-filled phreatic tube (later work has showed it to have deeper sediments than
first though and it is more like a solution rift). The tight squeeze into the large rift above the
scaffolded shaft was enlarged by Peter in an attempt to tempt back diggers of the larger
persuasion. As I later discovered, you now walk through virtually without noticing its there.
36) Digging Trip -Tues. 19 Dec 00 – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife, Ann Soulsby, Dave Webb.
A breakthrough is made into horizontal passage, via a very tight squeeze at the point that was
blocked, into a crawl that is about 7m long. It must have been tight, Peter had to take off
helmet and lamp! At the end it goes down a bit and round a corner and becomes too small to
pass without further digging. Dave photographed the large rift, this was his first time into this
part of the cave and he was suitably impressed. I didn’t go! – it was my birthday and the
family thought getting covered in mud was not appropriate behaviour – damn – missed
another bit of virgin passage.
37) Digging Trip - Fri. 29 Dec 00 – John Highfield, Jon Scaife.
Six hours of hard graft put in, supplemented with coffee and turkey sandwiches! Entrance to
the new passage was widened by removal of large amount of sediments and stones to allow
easier crawling access.
38) Digging Trip - Wed. 3 Jan 01, - Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon Scaife, Ann Soulsby.
I appeared after missing nine trips (only six if you count the scaffold delivery)! There were lots
of queries about whether I had run out of excuses - they never believed them anyway (they
were true, honest) and I will not be allowed to easily forget my recent absences. The first
penance was compulsory bucket emptying - Its good to be back (I think, in a perverse sort of
way). After trudging up the muddy slope to the far end of the large rift with what seemed like
far too many buckets, I began to wonder about our sanity – but then there never really much
doubt was there? We continued to remove the silt and clay from the floor of the horizontal
passage, the aim being to make it easier to remove material once we start digging at the end.
39) Digging Trip -Tues. 16 Jan 01 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Lee Langdon, Jon Scaife,
Ann Soulsby.
We again continue enlarging the horizontal passage. Four of us had been digging for a few
minutes when we heard a ghostly tinkling of ladder in the distance. Some time later Lee
appeared through the tight rift (actually we heard him well before this moment). After his
compulsory bucket emptying, he took a turn at the digging face – by the end of the evening we
were over half way there.
40) Digging Trip - Tues, 13 Feb 01 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Lee Langdon, Jon Scaife,
Ann Soulsby
We finish enlarging the horizontal passage to the end. Employing advanced yoga it was
possible to see on – it was blind straight on, but did the passage turn right? The very low
airspace at floor level had a shallow muddy pool – does this indicate the passage ends, is it
fully silted or is there a lip to the side and out of sight and water continues to flow that way?
The Waterfall Swallet Dig – Foot and Mouth Stops Play
11
Report by John Barnatt
By the time this report hits the newsletter it is hoped that access to land will again be
becoming possible with the blessing of local farmers. In late February we took a decision to
stop digging at Waterfall Swallet with the onset of the foot and mouth outbreak and because
access and parking involved a short stretch of muddy lane leading to pasture fields.
Since the previous report in the newsletter last summer, progress at the dig over autumn and
winter had been slow but steady. The dig had become much harder work as a way was
forced downwards through the boulder floor of the large rift discovered in August 2000.
Getting there is hard work in itself, the route estimated at a grade 4 trip despite the short
distance involved. The new dig had to be scaffolded and getting this there through the tight
squeezes and pitches was a feat in itself. A further minor breakthrough came in December,
as a 7 metre horizontal crawl was found, with a floor of earth and clay sediments that was
subsequently lowered to make digging possible at the far end. By the time we stopped we
needed a minimum team of five – one digging, one hauling in the horizontal crawl, one hauling
up the scaffolded boulder ‘pitch’, and two taking buckets up the long sticky slope to dump
material at the end of the large rift, where floods would hopefully not take it back down the dig.
The horizontal passage is heading roughly back towards the shakehole, although a projected
line may pass to its south side. The metrical line survey has yet to be undertaken and the
survey presented here shows the new passages in sketch form. As we proceeded digging out
the horizontal passage the draft was lost for the first time! The reason for this is not clear –
had the draft in the rift floor been a localised one, going down between boulders in one place
and coming back nearby? – we don’t think so. Alternatively, it may well be that the floods in
November and early December redistributed sediments and blocked any airspace as silts
were dragged down. However, there is a big question, is this suggested blockage at the end
of the horizontal passage we have followed, or should we have continued going straight down
amongst boulders below the scaffolded dig in the rift floor? Much to our frustration the foot
and mouth outbreak happened at the time when one or two more digging trips may well have
provided the answer!
When we start digging again we need to assemble a larger team – allowing for the likelihood
that not everyone in the team can make all trips, and that we need a minimum of five at any
given trip, we need a list of say 8-10 people who are prepared to turn out midweek evenings
once or twice a month – any volunteers?
Prior to this the excellent reports have been completed by John Barnatt who has now
retired from the digging team so I (Ann Souslby) was co-opted into taking over the
reporting of our dig. Apologies for any lack of technical bits and bobs from hereon.
Unfortunately I am not as experienced in this field as John but I will do my best.
Crock Pot – Work to Date (Continued)
41) Solo RecceTrip – Sun 2 Dec 01 – John Highfield
After being given the all clear at last John H can’t wait to get back to the dig for a quick recce.
He meets us in the pub afterwards and relates how the entrance had changed beyond
recognition. The water flow down the entrance must have been fantastic as the hole is about
five foot square and the crawl has all but disappeared. Apparently you now have to crawl
under a dodgy looking boulder
42) Surveying/Recce Trip – Tues 4 Dec 01 – Peter Appleton, John Barnatt, Jon Scaife, Ann
Soulsby (See Report in January 02 Newsletter)
Back again after Foot & Mouth unfortunately minus the brains, surveying equipment & ladder
(Until Jon saved the day). This trip sees the shock resignation of John B who planned to
finish the survey prior to going onto pastures new. As the equipment was forgotten this will
now have to be done at a later date. Had a quick look round but by the time we were sorted it
was too late to do any serious digging (The pub beckoned).
43) Digging Trip – Tues 11 Dec 01 – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife, Lee Langdon, Ann Soulsby
(See Report in January 02 Newsletter)
12
Digging resumes in the horizontal passage after a slight panic when one of our more
experienced diggers managed to get stuck on his way down (How easy you forget). We had
brought some sacks to fill up and leave stacked at the bottom scaffold pitch to avoid having to
haul up all the spoil. We manage to get to the end of the horizontal passage but are very
disappointed when it was revealed that the right hand bend we thought was there revealed a
dead end. Went away to think about the next plan of action.
44) Digging Trip – Tues 15 Jan 02 – Peter Appleton, Colum Walsh, Ann Soulsby (See Report
in February 02 Newsletter)
New recruit Colum Walsh has a tour of the dig and is suitably impressed. Carry on digging in
the horizontal passage after a quick recce of the rift running parallel but a bit higher up.
Couldn’t get voice contact but it seems to be draughting a bit more that the horizontal
passage. Spend a bit more time digging put the horizontal passage and Peter eventually
levers out a big rock. Unfortunately this reveals that right hand bend we thought was there is
a dead end. Went away to think about the next plan of action.
13
45) Digging Trip – Tues 12 Feb 02 – Peter Appleton, Chris Broome, Ann Soulsby (See Report
in March 02 Newsletter)
After much ribbing we finally persuade our Honourable Chairman that he really ought to make
the effort to see all our hard work in the dig. As we have acquired a new drill we decide to
have a go at blasting the higher level rift. Not much time to get anything substantial done
now, on an evening. May have to carry on digging at the weekends!
46) Digging Trip – Sun 17 Mar 02 – John Highfield, Colum Walsh, Jon Scaife, Ray Marsh,
Paul Marshall, Ann Soulsby (See Report in April 02 Newsletter)
Our first weekend dig since the end of the Foot and Mouth crisis saw two new recruits to the
digging team Paul & Ray, time will tell if they become regulars! A difficult decision was made
to abandon the digging in the horizontal rift and carry on digging down at the bottom of the
scaffolded shaft. At least for the time being we have the shaft to fill back up with spoil rather
than having to haul it up and tip in the rift.
47) Digging Trip – Sun 31 Mar 02 – John Highfield, Lee Langdon
In the absence of a more exciting trip (The rest of us were training on the Millersdale Bridge)
John and Lee returned to the dig and between them managed to dig down another 6ft.
There is a bit of a mix up after trip 43 but I expect you have already found it.
48) Drilling Trip – Tues 25 June 02 – Peter Appleton, Jon Scaife, Lee Langdon, Spencer
Sutherland, Ann Soulsby (See report in August 02 Newsletter)
After an absence of nearly two months due to various recruitment problems we manage to get
a team together for the night. Weekends up to now have been a no go so after persuading
Peter A to travel up from North Wales for the evening we decide to have another go at hilti
capping the the tight rift. Managed to get approximately eigh blasts done, it will be a slow job
but it is noticeably wider. At the moment this seems to be the best way on as the hole John H
& Lee L dug is not draughting at all.
14