Marble Sink

Location
Grid Reference: |Marble%20Pot;%2054.152189;-2.370859|Gaping%20Gill;54.149493;-2.382550|P5%20Stile;54.149061;-2.370446&scale=16&centre=54.150773;-2.372309 SD 7593 7296

Altitude: 420 m

Large shakehole next to the huge shakehole of Marble Pot.

Description
A challenging pothole!

Small entrance crawl leads to the awkward pitch head of Pillar Pot, at bottom a climb down reaches the Bastard Hole which is more awkward on the return. Direct climb down or traverse left and down Bomb Alley leads to the easy pitch of Razor Pot. Crawling with awkward drop reaches slight enlargement before a narrow section and sharp bend reaches Split Pot. Traverse leads to Discovery Pot, with further traverse to Fault Chimney, the passage beyond can be followed downwards before it finally chokes.

Access
Permission for access should be obtained from the Ingleborough Estate Office. The Allotment is closed between 31st March and 1st October.

History
The cave was first dug into by Mike Bateson of R.R.C.P.C. in 1959, who explored the first 13 metres to a sharp bend. This was passed by Dave Judson and Haighton of the C.P.C. who passed the bend and explored to a narrowing of a rift just before the Bastard Hole.

U.L.S.A. then took up the challenge, and between October 1963 and March 1965 explored the rest of the known cave.

References and Further Reading

 * 1) Bateson M.R., 1996, Readers Letters, Speleologist Vol. 1 No. 9. p 22
 * 2) Judson D.M., 1959, Jnl CPC No. Vol 2. No. 5, pp 306-309
 * 3) (Ed.) Brook D. and Crabtree H, 1969, ULSA Explorations Journal pp 44-48