Mossdale Caverns
Encyclopedia
Mossdale Caverns is a cave
system in the Yorkshire Dales
, England
. It is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Grassington
, and east of Conistone
, where the Mossdale beck disappears beneath the ground into the caves at Mossdale Scar. It lies at an altitude of 425 metres (1,394 ft) on the eastern flank of Wharfedale
, extending southeast underneath Grassington Moor.
The cave system is carved from Yoredale
limestone by the flow of the Mossdale beck. It is the largest stream sink in England.
of Mossdale Caverns was begun in 1941 by Robert Leakey of the British Speleological Association
. It is a very challenging cave system. The 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) system is graded V (super severe) because it involves crawling and squeezing for much of its length. The passages are narrow and often mud
dy, with many submerged or semi-submerged sections. The system can, and does, flood completely after even a small amount of rainfall.
The cave system is located on private property. Permission to enter the caves is no longer granted due to the tragedy that occurred in 1967 (see below). Exploration does still take place, but on an unofficial basis. It is thought that the cave system may hold the key to breaking into the Great Scar Limestone and the extensive cave that exists behind Black and White Keld.
for a tragedy that occurred on June 24, 1967. On that day, ten cavers entered the system. Three hours later, four members of the party decided not to continue and exited the cave system. One of these four returned to the entrance shortly afterwards, only to find it completely submerged due to recent rainfall having swollen Mossdale Beck. Realising immediately that the six cavers who remained inside the cave system were in danger, she ran 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) kilometres across the moor
to raise the alarm.
Cave Rescue
teams arrived at the scene, but the high water levels prevented access to the cave. The waters of Mossdale beck had to be diverted away from the cave entrance by digging a trench. Even then the rescue operation could not be started owing to the high internal water levels.
It was not until the following day that entry was possible. The Cave Rescue teams found the bodies of five of the cavers in the Far Marathon Crawls. The sixth was located the following day. The bodies were left in situ
, and in 1971 the dead cavers were buried by their colleagues from the ULSA in "The Sanctuary" – a chamber in "High Level Mud Caverns" – with the agreement of their families. The coroner
decided to seal the cave, and concrete was poured down the only safe entrance, but the sealed entrance was later opened up again. Entry remains possible via the stream sink.
This is to date the single most deadly tragedy in British caving. A metal tablet affixed to the rocks at the safe entrance reads:
On the moors above is a memorial cairn
. This is on CROW
public access land. The plaque on the cairn reads:
There is a rock climbing route "Mossdale Trip" (E6 6b) that was named in remembrance of the tragedy by Pete Livesey
.
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
system in the Yorkshire Dales
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Grassington
Grassington
Grassington is a market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England.The town is situated in Wharfedale around from Bolton Abbey and is surrounded by limestone scenery...
, and east of Conistone
Conistone
Conistone is a small village in North Yorkshire, England. It lies 3 miles north of Grassington, beside the River Wharfe, in Upper Wharfedale....
, where the Mossdale beck disappears beneath the ground into the caves at Mossdale Scar. It lies at an altitude of 425 metres (1,394 ft) on the eastern flank of Wharfedale
Wharfedale
Wharfedale is one of the Yorkshire Dales in England. It is the valley of the River Wharfe. Towns and villages in Wharfedale include Buckden, Kettlewell, Conistone, Grassington, Hebden, Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Arthington, Collingham, and Wetherby...
, extending southeast underneath Grassington Moor.
The cave system is carved from Yoredale
Yoredale Series
The Yoredale Series, in geology, is a local phase of the lower Carboniferous rocks of the north of England. The name was introduced by J. Phillips on account of the typical development of the phase in Yoredale , Yorkshire....
limestone by the flow of the Mossdale beck. It is the largest stream sink in England.
Speleology
ExplorationCaving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
of Mossdale Caverns was begun in 1941 by Robert Leakey of the British Speleological Association
British Speleological Association
British Speleological Association was founded by Eli Simpson and others in 1935. It was instrumental in the discovery of Lancaster Hole and other caves...
. It is a very challenging cave system. The 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) system is graded V (super severe) because it involves crawling and squeezing for much of its length. The passages are narrow and often mud
Mud
Mud is a mixture of water and some combination of soil, silt, and clay. Ancient mud deposits harden over geological time to form sedimentary rock such as shale or mudstone . When geological deposits of mud are formed in estuaries the resultant layers are termed bay muds...
dy, with many submerged or semi-submerged sections. The system can, and does, flood completely after even a small amount of rainfall.
The cave system is located on private property. Permission to enter the caves is no longer granted due to the tragedy that occurred in 1967 (see below). Exploration does still take place, but on an unofficial basis. It is thought that the cave system may hold the key to breaking into the Great Scar Limestone and the extensive cave that exists behind Black and White Keld.
1967 tragedy
The cave system is notorious amongst cavers in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for a tragedy that occurred on June 24, 1967. On that day, ten cavers entered the system. Three hours later, four members of the party decided not to continue and exited the cave system. One of these four returned to the entrance shortly afterwards, only to find it completely submerged due to recent rainfall having swollen Mossdale Beck. Realising immediately that the six cavers who remained inside the cave system were in danger, she ran 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) kilometres across the moor
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
to raise the alarm.
Cave Rescue
Cave rescue
Cave rescue is a highly specialized field of wilderness rescue in which injured, trapped or lost cave explorers are medically treated and extracted from various cave environments....
teams arrived at the scene, but the high water levels prevented access to the cave. The waters of Mossdale beck had to be diverted away from the cave entrance by digging a trench. Even then the rescue operation could not be started owing to the high internal water levels.
It was not until the following day that entry was possible. The Cave Rescue teams found the bodies of five of the cavers in the Far Marathon Crawls. The sixth was located the following day. The bodies were left in situ
In situ
In situ is a Latin phrase which translated literally as 'In position'. It is used in many different contexts.-Aerospace:In the aerospace industry, equipment on board aircraft must be tested in situ, or in place, to confirm everything functions properly as a system. Individually, each piece may...
, and in 1971 the dead cavers were buried by their colleagues from the ULSA in "The Sanctuary" – a chamber in "High Level Mud Caverns" – with the agreement of their families. The coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
decided to seal the cave, and concrete was poured down the only safe entrance, but the sealed entrance was later opened up again. Entry remains possible via the stream sink.
This is to date the single most deadly tragedy in British caving. A metal tablet affixed to the rocks at the safe entrance reads:
IN EVERLASTING MEMORY
FROM THE FAMILIES OF
DAVID ADAMSON
AGED 26
GEOFFREY WARREN BOIREAU
AGED 24
WILLIAM FRAKES
AGED 19
JOHN OGDEN
AGED 20
MICHAEL JOHN RYAN
AGED 17
COLIN RICHARD VICKERS
AGED 23
WHO REST HERE IN MOSSDALE CAVERNS
WHERE THEY DIED
24th JUNE 1967
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
From whence cometh my strength
On the moors above is a memorial cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
. This is on CROW
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is a UK Act of Parliament which came into force on 30 November 2000.As of September 2007, not all sections of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act have yet come into force...
public access land. The plaque on the cairn reads:
Mossdale memorial cairn – over the place in the cave where the bodies were found
There is a rock climbing route "Mossdale Trip" (E6 6b) that was named in remembrance of the tragedy by Pete Livesey
Pete Livesey
Pete Livesey was a rock climber who raised the standard of difficulty in the sport in England during the 1970s. As one of the best climbers the United Kingdom has ever produced, he had an international reputation for hard routes and a professional training regime...
.