Belfry Bulletin Number 054

The

Belfry

Bulletin

THE JOURNAL OF THE BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB Volume 6 No.54

February 1952

As we go to press with this issue, the nation mourns the loss of a well loved monarch. It is fitting that we, too, should add our humble tribute to those that have already been paid to his memory, and express our sympathy with H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother, and the other members of his family in the grievous loss they have sustained. We express the hope that our young queen will long be spared to rule over a happy and united people, free from the anxieties and fears which beset her Father's reign in such doleful measure. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The Annual General Meeting was held at the Redcliffe Community Centre on 26th January, 1952, under the Chairmanship of D. Hasell. Reports by the various officers showed steady, if unspectacular, progress in all of the major Club activities; though some dissatisfaction was expressed regarding the present state of Club tackle. These reports and the subsequent discussion on them are fully recorded in the Minute Book, and need not, therefore, be dealt with here. Those not able to be present will, however, be interested to learn of some of the decisions reached.

At the Hon. Secretary's suggestion, all Subscriptions will be payable on the same date, 1st February from now on. An adjustment will be made so that members who have already paid a sub, to cover part of the year from 1st February 1952 to 1st February 1953 will receive a proportionate adjustment.

The Club has applied for representation on the Bristol Youth Council, and the Committee will also look in to the desirability of affiliating to the Bristol Naturalist’s Society.

The surcharge of 3d on all Belfry fees, originally imposed to cover the cost of Calor gas equipment has been merged with the Belfry fees, are now therefore, 1/3 for members.

The Committee was asked to see how far the weekly meetings at the Redcliffe Community Centre could be more efficiently organised, and in particular what could be done to secure a warmer welcome for newcomers, and whether a talk on a subject of interest to the Club could be arranged at monthly intervals.

The following members were elected to serve on the Club Committee for the ensuing year: - Miss C. Ainsworth, R. Bagshaw, R. Cantle, K. Dobbs, M. Hannam, J. Ifold, G. Lucy, and R.A. Setterington. It was left to this Committee to appoint officers as necessary. _______________________________ OFFICERS FOR 1952 The Committee has appointed the following officers for the year;Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.

R. Bagshaw Assistant Hon. Secretary, responsible also for printing and despatch of ‘BB’.

Caving Secretary M. Hannam Climbing Secretary R. Cantle Hut Warden R.A. Setterington Assistant Hut Warden and Engineer G. Lucy Librarian J. Ifold Tackle Officer M. Jones Editors, B.B. D.A. Coase and W.J. Shorthose.

K. Dobbs

BB54/2 CONGRATULATIONS To: - Pat Ifold and Beryl Wild; Mike Yea and Alma Searle; and Hal Perry and Pat….? All on their recently announced engagements. We extend to them all our sincerest good wishes. _______________________________ THURSDAY, MARCH 13th, 1952 Make a note of this date, as the first of the monthly talks has been booked for that night, at the weekly Club meeting. The talk, which will be illustrated by lantern slides, will be by Mr. P. Bird. Mr. Bird’s subject will be ‘Bats’. The Committee hopes that as many members as possible will support this innovation by turning up to hear what Mr. Bird has to say. __________________________________ LONDON SECTION Members of the London Section are reminded of the meeting of that Section to be held at 26, Gateside Road, S.W.17 on Sunday, 24th February. Those who wish to attend are asked to inform the L.S. Sec. at that address. ____________________________________ MENDIP CAVES

J. IFOLD AUGUST HOLE, PART II

At the bottom of the fault is the main stream passage, and it is advisable to explore the upstream passage first, as it is the drier. This is part of the Master Cave. The floor is strewn with huge masses of limestone blocks. About 150 feet up on the right hand side a small stream enters, through a passage which opens into a larger one known as Stream Gallery. A short way up this passage, on the left is a large deposit-of rock-milk.

The stream enters this passage from the roof, and umbrellas are therefore advised. The passage ends in a very insecure pile of boulders. Returning to the main stream passage once more, one can go upstream until the passage forks. The right fork leads to the Wet Gallery, and the left to the Dry Gallery, which is above the cave entrance, and full of loose rocks. Very great care is needed in this part of the cave. The downstream passage is very similar to Swildons Hole. In fact, the entire system seems to me to be a combination of Swildons, G.B. and Eastwater. It is easy going in this stretch, and the walls of the passage are covered with formations. Shortly the roof becomes lower, and it is necessary to crawl in the water, while there are also several small pots to be negotiated. After the last of these there is a high rift with the stream running along the bottom. It is better to traverse along this rift than to walk in the stream. There are some very fine stalactites hanging from the roof, which can best be examined from the Ox-Bow. The entrance to this is reached by a small climb just round a bend on the left, which brings one out at the top of the rift. A little further on, the stream sinks through the floor.

Anyone energetic enough can continue by taking the low passage on the right, down a twenty foot rift.

From here it takes about an hour to do the next two hundred feet, and about as long to return. At the end of this passage the roar of an inaccessible stream can be heard through a small fissure. This point is about 440 feet below the entrance.

In my view, when wet, August Hole is one of the most severe caves on Mendip, but one of the best. ___________________________ NOTE BY LIBRARIAN. August Hole is described in the following books all of which are in the Club Library: Cave Science, Vol . I, No. 3.

U.B.S.S. Proceedings, Vol. 6, No.1.

British Caver, Vols. 15, 19, and 22. ____________________________

BB54/3 DEPARTMENT OF OBSCURE INFORMATION Do you know how many known caves there are on Mendip? Or how many - there are in Burrington Coombe? To check your memory, see below.

USEFUL ADDRESSES Hon Secretary

R. J. Bagshaw, 56, Ponsford. Road, Knowle, Bristol, 4.

Librarian

J. Ifold, Leigh House, Nempnett Thrubwell, Chew Stoke, Near Bristol.

Hut Warden

R.A. Setterington, 21, Priorswood Road, Taunton, Somerset.

BB Editors

D.A. Coase and W.J. Shorthose, 26, Gateside Road, Upper Tooting, London, S.W.17. ______________________________

DEPARTMENT OF Etc. The Librarian, after considerable search and research has come to the conclusion that the total of known caves on Mendip exceeds 120. In Burrington Coombe there are twenty-one:- Aveline’s Hole, Bath Swallet, Bos Swallet, Drunkard’s Hole, East Twin Brook Swallet, Frog’s Hole, Fox’s Hole, Goatchurch Cavern, Plumley’s Hole, Read’s Cavern, Rod’s Pot, Rowberrow Cavern, Sidcot Swallet, Pigs Hole, Twin Brook, Whitcombe’s Hole and Toad’s Hole, together with four other caves which do not appear to have been given names.

So now you know.

SPECIAL APPEAL BY THE EDITORS All contributions will be thankfully received.