Caves - page1

The Discovery

On Friday May 16,1862 there was great excitement when a cave entrance was found on the Parish Acre as men from the village were quarrying the stone. The intrepid quarrymen found some lights and made their way into the cave system. They went through a series of chambers, each leading into the next until they reached the northern end, where there was a shaft like opening (aven) and one of the men climbed up about 18 feet before the rock above stopped his progress. Feeling that he was not far from the surface he tapped the rock with a hammer whilst his work mates went outside to listen for the signal. Having located the spot where he was tapping they broke through the rock and made a more accessible entrance.

Major Erasmus Galton surveyed the caves and made sketch maps, both cross-sectional and plan view. The local press were informed and paid a visit to see for themselves. They examined the original entrance at the eastern end and decided that it was too narrow to enter, and so decided to go down the shaft. The local carpenter, Mr. William Morgan, (aged 55yrs) was fetched and arrived with his ladder. The newspaper reporters took one look at the red soil on the sides of the shaft and took off their coats and descended into the caves in their shirtsleeves. At the bottom of the shaft candles were lit and the explorers found themselves in a lofty cavern of 56 feet long by 30 feet wide. After scrambling down a four-foot chasm they entered a much smaller chamber after which Mr. Morgan, pushing his candle before him, crawled through into another cavern. This cavern is covered with incrustations that look like fat and is referred to as the 'fat' room. A later visitor was very impressed and on seeing the cavern commented:-

Isn't that beautiful? 'xactly like pig's innards!⁽¹⁾

At this point in the exploration one of the reporters decided that he could not continue and went back outside. The next chamber Mr. Morgan described as the drawing room into which he crawled headfirst. They were told that it was in this cavern that vandals had been at work, breaking off the stalactites and carrying them away in wagon-loads. Mr. Ponsford, one of the churchwardens had threatened the un-named vandals with legal proceedings, thus stopping further damage. The group then went through two more chambers and found themselves at the eastern entrance. They were then persuaded by Mr. Morgan to go back to the shaft and visit yet another cavern that was the most beautiful with a drapery of snowy whiteness and miniature marble pillars.

1862 sketch maps of the Loxton caves (Click on maps for more detail).

[Click For Detailed Sketch Of X-sectional View]

[Click For Detailed Sketch Of Plan View]

Whilst getting their breath back the conversation turned to the difficult descent and of clearing a way so that ladies could visit the caves. The reporters were surprised when they were informed that two ladies had already been in the caves. Crinolines were very much in fashion then and they wondered if these voluminous garments had been removed before the ladies made their descent! It was quoted in the press as follows:-

This set us wondering, but we won't tell our cogitations about breadth of crinoline and so forth. Perhaps they left these important items of modern female costume where we left our coats. Be that as it may, what has been done may be done again. Ladies, if you are young and active, you may do the caves.

In a letter to the local press Major Galton recommended wearing a carter's smock frock as protective clothing. No mention was made of headgear. After being underground for one and a half-hours the group were invited into one of the neighbouring cottages for a wash and brush up.

Notes:
1. Theodore Compton, Winscombe Sketches amongst the Mendip Hills - 1882

continues on next page......

page(s):