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Alan Gray

Nearly ten years ago I published an article regarding the location of facts relating to caves both at home and abroad. Interest has been expressed, at meetings, and so perhaps now would be a good time to re-publish it, especially since the majority of members have not seen it and it may help them locate that the facts more easily.

I have used the facilities at Bristol Reference Library, for research, on many occasions. This article may help you quickly obtain information regarding the cave or cave related topic that you are interested in. If you cannot find the information ask; the staff at the Library are very helpful.

Publications to consult :

A. MENDIP CAVES

1. "Mendip Cave Bibliography and Survey Catalogue (1901 - 1963)" by R W Mansfield, T E Reynolds and

I J Standing. Library Classification 016.55144.

      Held on Reference Library Shelves and a copy is also held in the ACG Library. This book is a condensed form of the Mendip Cave Register (see paragraph 2).

      The contents are as follows :

a.  Catalogue of Publications - Lists publications in alphabetical order of Clubs and Societies.

b.  Author Index - Forms the key to the bibliography; it is in alphabetical order and numbered consecutively.

c.  Survey Catalogue - Lists the name of Cave, Surveyor, date and where published.

d.  Subject Index - classification broken down into the following subjects :

            I.  Accident and Rescue.

            II. Archaeology -

                        1)  Palaeolithic and Pleistocene.

                        2)  Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age.

                        3)  Iron Age - Recent.

            III. Bibliography and Catalogue.

            IV. Biological Speleology.

            V.  Cave Physics and Chemistry.

            VI. Conservation and Access.

            VII. Diving.

            VIII. Freestone Mining and Mining.

            IX. General Area Descriptions -

                        1)  General Papers.

                        2)  Areas.

                        3)  Lost and Mystery Caves.

            X. Geology and Geomorphology -

                        1)  General Geology.

                        2)  Geomorphology.

                        3)  Cave Formation.

                        4)  Formations and Deposits.

            XI. Historical Speleology.

            XII. Hydrology and Water Tracing.

            XIII. Metalliferous Mines and Mining.

            XIV. Miscellaneous and Sentimental.

            XV. Practical and Technical.

            XVI. Societies, Clubs and Institutions.

e.  Cave Index - An Index of Mendip Caves providing a reference back to the reference publication (para 1b above) broken down into categories listed in papa 1d above.

EXAMPLE  :  You wish to obtain a description of Axbridge Ochre Mine.

i.   In the Cave Index look up Axbridge Ochre Mine - this refers you to Axbridge Ochre Cave and the reference number under the description heading is 600.

ii.  In Author Index 600 gives the author as Stanton, W I "Extracts from a Diary of a Schoolboy in Mendip

Part 1. "British Caver Number 21 pages 65 to 72 (1950).

2. "Mendip Cave Register." Library Classification 551.44094238. Held in the Reference Library - Bristol Room reference number BL 2I.  

   The Mendip Cave Register was compiled to give a readily available index to all references and information published and private appertaining to the Caves of Somerset. A copy should also be held in the Library at Wells, but this has not been confirmed.

Method of Indexing Caves 

   The Register is based on the Ordnance Survey 2½ inch to one mile maps. Each map has been divided into quarters and each quarter sheet forms a division of the Register.

    The maps are filed in increasing numerical order and the quarter sheets will be found in the order SW, NW, SE and NE. The caving information follows the appropriate quarter sheet and is filed in numerical order of the eastings grid references. Any sites with the same easting grid reference are filed in increasing northings. The indexing as a whole, therefore, is based on working from west to east and northwards in ten kilometre steps. It should be remembered that eight figure grid references are used in the Register, not the more customary six figures.

       A list of Ordnance Survey conventional signs, which include an example of the use of the grid references, will be found at the start of the index of caves, also a small scale map showing the area covered by each quarter sheet.

       Where only the name of a site is known, reference should be made to the alphabetical index which includes known synonyms and gives the quarter sheet and grid reference of the site eg. ST55 SW53 125131 - Swildons Hole.

       Details provided for each cave are :

            a. Type of site (eg. mine, Cave)

            b. Name.

            c. Restrictions on access.

            d. Brief notes.

            e. Bibliography (Listing of Reference Publications)

            d. Survey details.

NOTE :  The last official update to this publication was in May 1969 but unofficial (hand written) notes are found on the last few pages - these may be of interest.

B.   NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CAVES

"Current Titles in Speleology"

Editor (1969 - 1985) Ray Mansfield, Publisher (1969 - 1985) Ann Oldham

   This series of books is the key to finding any recent, and perhaps now historical, information relating to caves all over the World. The most useful source of reference available.

A Manol Publication. Library Classification 016.5514B.

    Bristol Reference Library hold all copies No 1 (1969) to No 18 (1985), and perhaps more, in the basement. They can be ordered from the desk in the Reference Library by filling in a form.

    From 1985 the BCRA produced this publication and  ACG Library holds copies 1986 to 1995.

The publication is broken down into the following sections :

            a.  List of periodicals consulted.

            b.  Inter and Non-Regional Topics.

            c.  By country into the following categories :

                        1)  Accident and Rescue.

                        2)  Archaeology.

                        3)  Bibliography and Catalogue.

                        4)  Biospeleology.

                        5)  Descriptions.

                        6)  Physics.

                        7)  Conservation and Access.

                        8)  Diving.

                        9)  Geology.

                        10) History.

                        11) Hydrology.

                        12) Mines and Mining.

                        13) Miscellaneous.

                        14)    i. Practical and Technical.

                                ii. Tackle and Equipment.

                               iii. Cave Surveying.

                                iv. Photography.

                        15) Societies and Institutions.

C.  SOURCES OF INFORMATION

     A large proportion of the referenced publications are "club" produced - Journals, Magazines, Bulletins or Newsletters, these and other reference information may be located from the following sources :

1.  Bristol Reference Library holds a large collection of Caving Literature (1919 to the current date). This is held in the "Caving Collection" funnily enough in the basement. A listing of the collection is available from the desk in the Reference Library and individual items may be consulted by simply completing a form.

2.  The Axbridge Caving Group Library - very extensive from the early 1940's to the present date. Books, Journals and Newsletters from around the World. Just contact the Librarian to borrow a book. In the near future a listing of the Library's contents will be published.

3.  Other Mendip Caving Clubs - These clubs are usually willing to let non-club members view or even borrow publications. For the addresses of other Club Librarians contact the ACG Secretary.

4.  National/International Publications - Details of addressees of where the articles were published, and also contact for obtaining them are given in the Periodicals Consulted section of "Current Titles in Speleology International". (See paragraph B above) In addition since the ACG are members of the BCRA a photocopy of the article quoted in Current Titles etc. can obtained from the BCRA Library, the address of which is given inside the front cover of Current Titles etc.