Axbridge Caving Group                    Journal  - April 2005
Cover Editorial/Index Carcass Cave Conversion of a Cap Lamp Rules of Caving
Caving with Spirit Hunters ACG AGM 2005 Templeton 2005 Mining On Shute Shelve Hill ACG 55th Celebration Dinner
The Lost Cave of Axbridge  
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14th November 2000

Kay Wills called round for a chat and although she did not share my enthusiasm for this site I was told some interesting facts.

The only resurgence for both Shute Shelve and Axbridge Hills is the Axbridge Resurgence in to the side of the steps to the church in Axbridge Square and there are no surface streams on these hills. Thus all the water falling on these hills must percolate through the rock eventually finding its way to the resurgence.

Jack Weare an ACG explorer in the 1950’s had discussions with a miner who took the food up to the miners working on the hills and he told Jack of a large lake that the miners had found under the hill.

19th November 2000

Took GPS readings –

From the Rift entrance – ST 4267 5550 and the back face of the quarry ST 4271 5549.

 The dip angle of the rock in the left hand Rift wall is minus 23.5°.

The line of the Rift from the front looking in is 316°.

The bearing from the front of the Rift to Crooks Peak is 107°.

The length of the Rift was measured from the wall to the back of the dig as 43.5m

June 2002 - Now down to -20ft and in natural cave with scalloped walls. Dr Andy Farrant visited the dig and said that the Rift is resurgence.

August 2003 – Entrance made safe by the addition of scaffolding bars

November 2001 to November 2003 digging was concentrated on deepening the cave. However the deeper the dig became the larger the boulders trapped in the mud became and the more difficult it was to remove them from the cave.  A new dig site within the cave was started. This was an extension of the phreatic tube that is visible in the Rift which descends at an angle of 20°.

January 2004 - After the removal of several large boulders and a quantity of mud a chamber 2m in diameter and 1m high was opened up all its walls show signs of being water worn. The start of a small crawl is blocked with a boulder but a way ahead can be seen.

February 2004 – Removal of this boulder took six visits.

March 2004 to October 2004 – Concentrated on lengthening the small crawl. It is now becoming difficult to remove spoil due to the length of this crawl.

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