Swildon's Hole
Encyclopedia
Swildon's Hole is an extensive cave
in Priddy
, Somerset
. At 9144 metres (30,000 ft) in length, it is the longest cave on the Mendip Hills
. It has been found to be connected to Priddy Green Sink and forms part of the Priddy Caves
Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI).
The upper series of the cave compresses many features into a relatively short space. The cave goes far beyond this, however, and the lower reaches of the cave continue to provide challenges for even the most experienced of cave divers
.
The name may be a corruption of Swithun, an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester
, as the land in the area was owned by St Swithin's Priory in Winchester
.
In 1914 the limit of exploration was extended to Twenty Foot Pot, and in 1921 the first of the sumps
was reached, but not passed (despite attempts to make progress by blasting). Sump 1 was finally successfully dived
in 1936, and Sump 2 was passed soon afterwards. By this point a length of cave only one-fifth of the amount known today had been discovered.
Ever since 1936 caving
groups have been seeking to extend the explored area of the cave, and thus far eleven principal sumps have been passed. Sump 12 has so far proved impassable. Work continues to find a way through the adjacent Sump 12b.
Swildon's Hole is a very popular cave and there are often several separate groups underground at the same time.
must crawl, to impressive chambers with sheer drops, and from dry fossil passages to thundering waterfalls and its infamous sumps
.
Only a handful of the 11 principal sumps thus far passed can be dived without dedicated equipment (free-dived).
The length of cave between the sumps are known by the number of the sump at the end of the stretch; thus the stretch between the entrance and Sump 1 is known as Swildon's One, between Sumps 1 and 2 as Swildon's Two, and so on.
Sump 4 can be reached without going through Sumps 1 to 3, via Tratman's Temple, Mud Sump, Fault Chamber and Blue Pencil Passage; parts of this route are extremely difficult.
The connection between Swildon's Hole and Priddy Green Sink was the first major through route discovered on the Mendip Hills. Following a number of months of digging and blasting, the link was made in 1996 at the top of the Cowsh Avens Series, a 120 metres (394 ft) climb above Sump 4.
The water in the cave resurges in Wookey Hole Caves. This was first demonstrated (by pouring dye into the water) by Graham Balcombe and Jack Sheppard
of the Cave Diving Group
, who first passed Sumps 1 and 2 in the 1930s.
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...
in Priddy
Priddy
Priddy is a village in Somerset, England in the Mendip Hills, close to East Harptree and north-west of Wells. It is in the local government district of Mendip....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. At 9144 metres (30,000 ft) in length, it is the longest cave on the Mendip Hills
Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills is a range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon Valley to the north...
. It has been found to be connected to Priddy Green Sink and forms part of the Priddy Caves
Priddy Caves
Priddy Caves is an Area: 67.6 hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Priddy in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, notified in 1965.The entrance to St Cuthbert's Swallet is incorporated in the adjacent Priddy Pools SSSI....
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI).
The upper series of the cave compresses many features into a relatively short space. The cave goes far beyond this, however, and the lower reaches of the cave continue to provide challenges for even the most experienced of cave divers
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
.
The name may be a corruption of Swithun, an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, as the land in the area was owned by St Swithin's Priory in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
History
The cave was first entered on 16 August 1901 by members of the Wells Natural History and Archaeological Society. Very rapid progression was made to what is now known as the 40 foot pot. Between 1903 and 1910, in spite of access being banned by the landowner, various trips took place to photograph and explore the passages.In 1914 the limit of exploration was extended to Twenty Foot Pot, and in 1921 the first of the sumps
Sump (cave)
Sump is a term used in caving to describe a submerged passage in a cave. A sump may be static, with no inward or outward flow, or active, with continuous through-flow...
was reached, but not passed (despite attempts to make progress by blasting). Sump 1 was finally successfully dived
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
in 1936, and Sump 2 was passed soon afterwards. By this point a length of cave only one-fifth of the amount known today had been discovered.
Ever since 1936 caving
Caving
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...
groups have been seeking to extend the explored area of the cave, and thus far eleven principal sumps have been passed. Sump 12 has so far proved impassable. Work continues to find a way through the adjacent Sump 12b.
Access
The entrance to Swildon's Hole is now a small triangular opening contained within a stone blockhouse in a clump of trees 550 metres (1,804 ft) north-east of Manor Farm, Priddy.Swildon's Hole is a very popular cave and there are often several separate groups underground at the same time.
Description
The cave contains an active streamway, which has caused a highly varied cave system. Areas of the system range from low passages, through which caversCaving
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...
must crawl, to impressive chambers with sheer drops, and from dry fossil passages to thundering waterfalls and its infamous sumps
Sump (cave)
Sump is a term used in caving to describe a submerged passage in a cave. A sump may be static, with no inward or outward flow, or active, with continuous through-flow...
.
Only a handful of the 11 principal sumps thus far passed can be dived without dedicated equipment (free-dived).
| Sump | Length of dive | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sump 1 | 2 metres (7 ft) | Free-divable |
| Sump 2 | 8 metres (26 ft) | Free-divable |
| Sump 3 | 10 metres (33 ft) | Free-divable but difficult |
| Sump 4 | 5 metres (16 ft) | Can be reached by-passing Sumps 1-3 – see below |
| Sump 5 | 10 metres (33 ft) | Has been lowered so it can be passed by ducking between airbells |
| Sump 6 | 10 metres (33 ft) | Not free-divable; can be by-passed |
| Sump 7 | 8 metres (26 ft) | Difficult |
| Sump 8 | ? | Easily by-passed; limit of free-diving |
| Sump 9 | 40 metres (131 ft) | Fully equipped divers only |
| Sump 10 | ||
| Sump 11 | ? | Often silted up; usually by-passed |
| Sump 12 | 20 metres (66 ft) plus | Thus far not passed |
The length of cave between the sumps are known by the number of the sump at the end of the stretch; thus the stretch between the entrance and Sump 1 is known as Swildon's One, between Sumps 1 and 2 as Swildon's Two, and so on.
Sump 4 can be reached without going through Sumps 1 to 3, via Tratman's Temple, Mud Sump, Fault Chamber and Blue Pencil Passage; parts of this route are extremely difficult.
The connection between Swildon's Hole and Priddy Green Sink was the first major through route discovered on the Mendip Hills. Following a number of months of digging and blasting, the link was made in 1996 at the top of the Cowsh Avens Series, a 120 metres (394 ft) climb above Sump 4.
The water in the cave resurges in Wookey Hole Caves. This was first demonstrated (by pouring dye into the water) by Graham Balcombe and Jack Sheppard
Jack Sheppard (cave diver)
Jack Sheppard , born John Arthur Sheppard in Lewisham, Kent , was a pioneer of cave diving in the United Kingdom and a founder of the Cave Diving Group together with Graham Balcombe....
of the Cave Diving Group
Cave Diving Group
The Cave Diving Group is a United Kingdom-based diver training organisation specialising in cave diving.The CDG was founded in 1946 by Graham Balcombe, making it the world's oldest continuing diving club...
, who first passed Sumps 1 and 2 in the 1930s.