Bagshawe Cavern

Location
Grid Reference: SK 1714 8088

Altitude: 235m, Length 5km+, Depth 75m

Situated on the West Side of Bradwell Dale above the village just on Jeffrey Lane.

Access
If you would like to visit please email The Custodian, Amanda Revell, giving reasonable notice: amandarevell@hotmail.com.

Further information on Access, Group Access, Conservation measures and some images can be found on the Eldon Pothole Club's website Here

Description
The mined entrance (once known as Mule Spinner Mine) is housed in a stone built coe.

A steep flight of concrete steps leads down through the mined mineral vein passing under stemples of varying quality from fine limestone deads to rotten timber. Good examples of slickensides can be seen.

History

 * c1750 - Mulespinner Mine.
 * c1900 - Mr Revell mined into the Natural Stream Passages and opened Bagshawe cavern.
 * c1930s  - Explored by Ernest Baker and Jimmi Putrell ref Ernest Bakers
 * 1960's - New Series discovered.
 * 1976 - Martyn Farr dived the upstream sumps reaching 136m into sump 5 at a terminal depth of -26m in clear vis. The passage continued steeply beyond. (First divers allowed into the cave since 1971.
 * ???? - Aven Series discovered.
 * 1989 - Far Drought Series Discovered by Tony Revell & Andy straw.
 * 1991 - Namread Aven climbed and Fairholme passage explored terminating in a sump (Tony Revell).
 * 1992 - Moss Rake Series discovered and explored by Tony Revell, Simon Cundy, T-pot, Rick Scott, Stewart Carter & Nicola Pickering.
 * 1992 - Sump in Fairholme passage found dry leading to The Hollywood Bowl later climbed by Simon (Tony Revell & Simon Cundy). After 5 1/2 hours chiseling The Hollywood Bowl series was entered and some 2000ft of passage explored upto 20ft wide. (Revell & Cundy).
 * 1994 - Hollywood Bowl Series surveyed by John Beck & Kev Drakeley. Entensive work carried out by Ben Bentham, Steve Forshaw, Tony Revell, Mike Sutton, Dave Arveschoug passing the final obstacle La Bastille to gain access to La Marseillaise passing a large open pothole in the floor Madame Guillotine. The route betond led in easy passage passing Frog's legs and Cognac (small but interesting network of draughting tubes), the main drag terminating at a four inch high slot over calcite. This was passed to gain entry to 100ft of wide crawling passage draughting strongly. Madame Guillotine was also descended to find another confusing area in a large bedding.
 * 1995 - England's Green and Pleasant land explored after a 3 year battle with a 50ft high boulder choke by Ben Bentham.
 * 1996 - Glory Hole sump dived by Simon Brookes to pass boulder choke at -9m depth to gain passage 1m high and 3m wide with a very strong flow, due to the stability of the choke he made a quick retreat to surface.
 * 1998 - Full Moon Series discovered by Tony Revell, John Taylor, Dave 'Moose' Nixon, Dave Whitely.
 * 2003 - Llever connection dug from Snakes Pyjamas to Full Moon Series by the Eldon Pothole Club.
 * 2004 - Culvert dug to lower water level in Upstream Sump 1 (the long duck). EPC.
 * 2005 - Hollywood Bowl Series Extended beyond Bens Redoubt, John Taylor, Sam Townsend & EPC
 * 2005 - Upstream sumps re-lined and explored by Jim Lister, John Taylor as far as The Rubicon
 * 2006 - Work continues at the dig at end of upstream sump one
 * 2008 - Upstream sump one dig goes. A large rift chamber (Paternity's Fault) 50m+ climbed but no obvios ways on found. (EPC)
 * 2008 - Bagshawe Reurgence finally connect to the Lower Series by John Taylor & Simon Cornhill.
 * 2009 - Upstream Far Drought sump pushed to 100m from base. Concentration has switched to downstream sump.
 * 2010 - Full Moon Series connected to Hollywood Bowl Series (French Connection) after 18 months of consistent breathless digging. (EPC)
 * 2010 - Work continues in The Hollywood Bowl series with all year access.