Seventy Years of the BEC in Pictures – Part One – 1935 – 1950

Complied and written by Dave Irwin

Acknowledgements:

The final selection of photographs reflecting upon the activities of the BEC over the seven decades since the Club was formed has been made extremely difficult as a result of the tremendous response by members who have submitted a large number of prints, slides, scans and a miscellany of other images. The archives of several older members have been raided to form the basis of the first fifteen years of the Club's activities in pictures forming Part One of this series.  They include an important photographic album left by a great friend of the BEC, the late Sybil Bowden-Lyle.  For the series as a whole contributors include Andrew 'Mo' Marriott, Chris Batstone, Chris 'Blitz' Smart, Tony 'Sett' Setterington, Nigel Taylor, Peter Glanvill, Mike Baker, Brian Britton, Roger Stenner, Angus Innes, Andy Mac-Gregor, Graham Wilton-Jones, Tim Large, Tony 'J-Rat' Jarratt and John Buxton. A few photos have come from the Balcombe Collection in the CDG Library, a further group of photographs are from the Wells Museum collection and for these I thank the Museum Trustees for permission to reproduce them.  And, finally, a few photos have come from my own collection.

In many collections there are pictures that were not taken by the owner and in a few cases the photographer is not known. These images have been listed under the current owner's name. The source/photographer is given as initials at the end of the caption inside square brackets [ ]; e.g. [JR] = Tony Jarratt's collection. Please, if you have any photos that you think important to the activities of the club then send them to me for scanning or send me your scans on CD/DVD at a minimum of 300 dpi. Eventually the photos will be put on CD/DVD and lodged in the Club library.

I am further indebted to Angus Innes and 'Sett' for the help given me by answering my seemingly endless stream of questions. There will be others to be grilled in a similar manner for the later parts of the series.

The notes that follow to introduce this overview of seventy years of the BEC have been largely drawn from Harry Stanbury's early histories of the Club in particular his 'Early Days' published in BB No. 429 and scribbles that I made when visiting Harry at Bude on a number of occasions during the past ten years. The Caving Logbook for this period and the Annual General Meeting Minute Book, which has recently been returned to the Club library, after an absence of many years, has revealed many interesting facets relating to the running of the Club, the people involved and its links to other caving clubs and organisations.

1935 – 1950

The Club was formed in June 1935 by T. Harry Stanbury [member no. 1] together with group of work colleagues. Knowing that Harry had been on a number of caving trips a few of his work mates asked him to take them caving. Although not entirely enthusiastic to the idea he finally agreed. Cycling from Bristol to Burrington Combe, Goatchurch Cavern was their first port of call, which turned out to be a great success. The group formed itself into a small club by the name of the Bristol Exploration Club. Not long after the next problem was how to gain access to the 'deep' caves and obtain the necessary items of equipment.  The solution was simple, or so it seemed – contact an existing caving club in the area and sink the identity of the BEC into it. Contact was made with a member of the newly formed Wessex Cave Club who lived nearby in a slightly more salubrious part of Bristol. The story that follows has reached legendary status, which was that the WCC after a lengthy discussion declined Harry's and the other members' applications to join. In our Jubilee year, 1985, Harry wrote that as the WCC were not interested for the ' … fact that we were a group of working class men and that there were a number of points in the existing societies we did not care about, that we should not associate ourselves with any existing body.'

So having been rejected by the Wessex, as Harry and his friends were not of their kind, they set off and did the obvious. They concentrated their energies into the organisation of the BEC. (note 1) A formal meeting was held in June 1935 and a simple set of rules drawn up, which is basically the same as those used today. Subscriptions paid for the necessary tackle such as rope, ladders and shortly after the 'official' launch' the Club had its official headed notepaper. Our founder members were Harry Stanbury, Tommy Bartlett, Cecil Drummond, Ron Colbourn and Charlie Fauckes. By the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 the membership had reached about 15 with Dick Bellamy being the Hon. Treasurer who had to withdraw from club activities resulting from a serious problem with his eyes. His last caving trip with the Club was to Lamb Leer Cavern in the company of Harry Stanbury, Bert Allan and Chris Fauckes, under the UBSS leaders Alan Rogers and Francis Goddard of G.B. Cave fame.  Although still small it had been considered by the members that as they were, at first, '… regarded with suspicion and justifiable wariness, which persisted for several years, but once this obstacle had been surmounted we progressed in leaps and bounds and have been doing so ever since.'

Having survived various problems, not least a large fall in the membership due to those who had been called into the armed forces, leaving a skeleton group of two, Harry and Cecil Drummond.  The Club may have disappeared into eternity had it not been for the fortuitous absorption of the Emplex Caving Club whose members worked at the local labour exchange or Manpower in modern terminology. In 1942 things changed for the worse again when membership again plummeted to about six and for a time club activity continued at a very low level although they managed a series of digging sessions at Timber Hole at Charterhouse. However, two men already with a fair amount of caving experience joined the BEC both of whom were to have a positive impact upon the fortunes of the Club not only at that time but for many years to follow. They were Roy 'Pongo' Wallace and Dan Hasell.

No records exist of this important period in the story of the BEC.  A member living at Keynsham was intent on writing a history of the Club obtained all the known records from Harry. When he had finished he bundled the archive and posted them back to Harry. They never arrived. Harry was convinced that they were destroyed along with all the other local mail for at that time 'Jerry' had bombed the mail train between Keynsham and Bristol.

Club trip to Lamb Leer Cavern, c.1940, with [l-r] Harry Stanbury, Alan Rogers [UBSS],
Bert Allan, Francis Goddard [UBSS] and Chris Fauckes. Note the 'lightweight' tackle.
Photo. By Richard G. Bellamy the then BEC Hon. Treasurer.

Club reformed and its organisation

In 1943 the small but dedicated group of members got together and reformed the Club with officers and an outline constitution.  Caving was extremely limited due to the wartime restrictions and demands upon everyone at their work places.  As a result of this a formal record of annual and committee meetings commenced fully reflecting the intent to fully record the activities of the Club.  The allocation of a Membership Number commenced at this time, Harry Stanbury being member number 1.  Cycle and the occasional bus ride to Burrington and to other areas was the normal way of getting to Mendip from Bristol. The trip to Coral Cave on the 26th May 1945 is a typical trip report of the day.  On this occasion 5 members met at Bedminster Down and made a cycle ride to Compton Bishop in just under two hours. Only one incident occurred on the outward ride. This was when ' … a road hog … ' who objected to their monopoly of the road shouted abuse which questioned their  ' … parentage. …'.  The location of the entrance was found after asking the local inhabitants for help – it was to be a few years yet before guidebooks became available.

By late 1944 the Allies victory over the Nazi regime seemed assured and so individual movement became easier and cycling trips to Mendip became more frequent. Various digs were undertaken including a site close to the Charterhouse Rakes and Cross Swallet.

It was at Cross Swallet that an act of piracy took place that was to have a profound change within the BEC. The Club had been digging at the site and when they returned intent on another session they came upon a group from Bridgewater also digging there. The Club was a little put-out but, although a letter of complaint was written to the Bridgewater CC, they all being gentlemen agreed that the dig became a joint effort between the two clubs. (note 2)

Resulting from the closure of the armourments factory at Bridgwater, into which several members of UBSS had joined or were in the process of joining, a number of their group including Sett, S.J. 'Alfie' Collins, John 'Postle' Thomsett, Don Coase, John 'Shorty' Shorthose, Margerie 'Dizzie' Thomsett and Freda Hutchinson among others decided to join forces with the BEC. One of the new intake who was to have a profound influence within the BEC until his tragically early death in 1958 was Don Coase.  His interest in digging, photographic and general exploratory work here on Mendip and in South Wales expanded when his interest extended into the realms of cave diving.  Coase, as a founder member of the Cave Diving Group at Penycae at Easter 1946 brought the BEC and CDG into a close association. It was from the BEC membership that many of the Mendip divers and supporters came, particularly helping organise the various diving operations at Wookey Hole. In addition to Don Coase other BEC divers were Dan Hasell, Harry Stanbury and George Lucy.

The original ink drawing of 'Bertie the Bat', now in the Club library.

Club membership grew by leaps and bounds and in 1946 had reached 80 and by 1948 it was just under 100. With a club of this size it was obvious that sleeping out in the rough or in the straw of Main's barn was now to be a thing of the past and that some form of permanent premises was needed. Not only would it make life more comfortable for members staying on Mendip but it would also act as a focal point for the Club. The committee had come to the conclusion that the ideal site for the Club headquarters would be in the Charterhouse area. (note 3) However, the first was built at Priddy by the side of the track that today leads past the old Shepton Mallet Caving Club hut and on to its present headquarters, The Mineries. (note 4)

The bat has been the club symbol since its formation in 1935 though no headed note paper of this period is known to have survived.  In 1946 'Pongo' Wallace designed the current club insignia, Bertie the Bat, and this has been used in a variety of forms ever since and is now instantly recognisable as the logo of the BEC.

The increased size of the Club enabled the committee to create facilities undreamt of a few years previously. A reference library in 1946, and in 1947 a monthly newsletter was launched, the indispensable Belfry Bulletin, or 'BB' as it is now affectionally known, under the editorship of Dan Hasell ably assisted by the Hon. Secretary Harry Stanbury.  An Annual Dinner was suggested in 1946 but this did not commence until 1950. Until that time members participated in an Annual Dance.  Occasional lectures were arranged and in October 1945 Stan Herman was asked by the Committee to '' approach the 'bone bloke" to determine whether he would give the BEC a talk on his work.  The 'bone bloke' was none other then Professor Edgar K Tratman!

Between 1946 and 1948 two more clubs merged with the Club – the Mendip Cave Club and in 1948 the Clifton Caving Club 1948. (note 5) About this time Don Coase moved to London and it was not long before a London Section of the Club was set up. The idea had been approved by the AGM held on 4th December 1948.  Weekly meetings were held at Harry Stanbury's home in Redcatch Road in south Bristol, but the venue became much too small to accommodate the large weekly attendance as a result of the growing membership. It was thus decided to use the Redcliff Church Hall. (note 6) This was to become the focal point of the weekly Club get-together for quite some time as did the little pub 'The Waggon and Horses' in later years. The story of the Club's fluctuating membership has been well documented in Andy Mac-Gregor's article 'The Rise and Fall of the B.E.C. Membership (1943-2004).' (note 7)

As soon as MRO was reformed at the end of the war, late in 1945, BEC commenced assembling teams or squads led by a leader and a deputy.  Harry Stanbury was the leader and S.J. 'Bozzy' Bosworth was his deputy. The remainder of the team was Dan Hasell, Tony Johnson, John Pain, Tom Bartlett, R.A. Crocker and Gordon Fenn. However, members leaving the area saw some new faces added to the list. The whole were divided into three squads. Party 1: Harry Stanbury [leader], Dan Hasell [deputy], John Pain, Tony Johnson and Les Peters.  In Party 2 the leader was Don Coase, 'Bozzy' Bosworth [deputy], George Lucy and Gordon Fenn. Lastly Team 3 was under the leadership of Pete Stewart and R. Cater [deputy]; the others being T. Pidwell, H. Arnold and J. Chapman.  Teams 1 and 2 contained cave divers – the only club to have such a luxury.

Lightweight Ladders

Photos of the ladder and a sectional view of the rung assembly

Equipment was needed to tackle cave features such as The Forty in Swildon’s Hole, Twin Verticals and, the, then, recently discovered Dolphin Pot in Eastwater Cavern and the two 20m pitches in Lamb Leer Cavern. Harry and Dan produced their own design having become familiar with the French design. Having scrounged all of the required material they set about building a ladder long enough for the Swildon's Forty. Its advantage was that it was lighter than the French concept.

New designs were introduced later but then the taper pin method of locking the rung to the cable eventually became the standard, remaining so until the resin and pin construction became the norm during the mid-1970s. The ladder completed it now had to be tested and what a better place to do it than on the Swildon's Forty Foot Pot. Harry noted the following in the caving logbook; in fact it is the second entry in Logbook No. 1

April 3rd 1943.  A Trip by cycle to Swildons Hole.  The club made its first test of wire & duralumin ladder on 40ft pot & found that the ladder exceeded all expectations. On return journey met party of 7 men & 2 girls in upper grotto & took them out as they were lost. Members Present :- 3. T.H. Stanbury, C.D. Drummond, D. Hasell

Soon after a 20ft ladder was built and that still exists in the club library at the Belfry together with a very frail early Knobbly Dog with wooden finger grips.

Belfry Mk. 1

Belfry Mk.1 in 1946. It is thought that Belfry Mk. 0 is the stone building at the left of the photo.

The 4th January 1946 Committee Meeting discussed the urgent need for a permanent Club headquarters and it was thought that the ideal location of the building should be somewhere in the Charterhouse region. This seems to make sense as nearly all the digging activity was centred on the Burrington area.  However, for reasons I cannot find out, the Belfry was eventually located by The Beeches, to the left of the track and almost opposite the old Shepton Mallet CC HQ.  The land was owned by Mr. Beacham who charged a small rent, payable in six-monthly instalments.  The building itself was located by Harry's first wife, Iris Stanbury and it came from Purdown in Bristol. It was an old derelict tennis pavilion although some believe it to be a cricket pavilion.  This was dismantled and each section taken to Mendip, erected on the site and after several months of hard word it was opened for use.  Land rental was 2/- [10p] per week and payable six months in advance. By March bunks had been installed although, as is commonly shown in later years, there's never enough labour to undertake the workload.  'Pongo' presented the club with a portable electrical generator, which was sent via train and had to be transported to Mendip from the Wells railway station. However, the Belfry went into full use when Don Coase slept in it on the 1st February 1947. Belfry Mk. 1 remained at the site until 1948 when after a few noisy events the landowner requested that the club moved lock stock and barrel to another site, the current site, which was bought by the Club in the mid-1950s.

In the July 1948 issue of the BB a map was published showing members the location of the new Belfry site and that helping hands were needed to complete the building after the move. A hint of further work was given by the fact that it was hoped in the near future that a '… really 'spiv' hut will be reared on the new site.' (note 8)

Moving home: Pam Richards driving the tractor.

Map, first published in BB No. 13, showing the new location of the Belfry

From l-r: Pongo, Pat Woodruff, Betty Shorthouse, Tim Kendrick,?, Jack Waddon
Sybil Bowden- Lylr, Dan Hasell and John Shorthouse c.1949 [Sett]

Tim Kendrick, ?, and Betty Shorthouse inside Belfry Mk 1

The Building of Belfry Mk. II

Belfry Mk. I had its limitations. As the membership grew it became totally inadequate for their needs. A new, larger building was required. During the post war years military surplus goods were coming onto the market as the Government tried to clear its shelves of unwanted material ranging from clothes to tanks. Included in this sell-off were ex-military wooden huts from military camps scattered about the country, which were coming onto the market and it was one of these that was bought through donations from members to become Belfry Mk. II.  The building came from Rame Head in Cornwall and was transported piecemeal and eventually built close to the wall forming the boundary between the Belfry site and Walt Foxwell's farmyard, then a disused quarry. To ensure that work ran smoothly the Club Committee setup a sub-committee to, hopefully, keep the plans running smoothly. An onerous job but the following were elected to undertake the task: John Ifold, George Lucy, Tony Johnson, and 'Dizzy' Thomsett. 'Sett' was elected Chairman.  Tony Johnson was so enthusiastic that he became Hon. Foreman and contributed a series of articles to the BB on his experiences during this exercise.

The foundations for Belfry Mk. II were laid during early January 1949 and on the 22nd January it was ' … Hut Building.  Big Day.' (note 9) Work continued into February 1949 (note 10) when the walls and roof had been finally erected. Lining the inside of the building commenced and felting of the roof was worked on during the last half of May. Later a porch was added.

Building Belfry Mk. II, the last being the triumphant shout “Finished” by Tony Johnson [photos: Al] 

Caving, Digging and Discoveries

The period during which the Club was consolidating its structure and establishing itself as a major Mendip club was also one of its most successful years in which new cave was opened up by members.  By the end of the war members were well aware of many of the existing caves and had undertaken a thorough search of the central Mendip region for potential digging sites.

The trips were quite different arrangements to those of the present.  During the period 1943 to the end of the war members generally went caving after an energetic bicycle ride from various parts of Bristol and in a variety of weather; all of their problems are clearly written up in the relevant logbooks of the day. It was several years yet before members arrived at the Belfry in the comfort of a motorcar or on motorcycles. (note 11)

[Trip] No. 37.  Sept 30th 1944.  Half Day trip to "Swildons Hole". A party of six set off at 14.10 a fine day & a slow trip out [from Bristol] by cycle, against a head wind.  A quart of milk between us at Mains when we changed to go underground.  H Beedle a visitor introduced to the afternoons sport by R. Wallace & making his 1st trip had to make do with the abandoned clothes in the barn as he was let down on the transport of his "Duds" by D. Hasell. A very strong threat of a storm to windward as we went below.  A jolly good look round on the trip down to the Grotto (via the long dry way) we all sat down and burst into song in the chamber & Stan brought out a tin with 6 Mars bars in (one each a peice [sic], all round,)  On to look over the 40 ft a mere trickle going over & then back by the wet way : the lavatory pan had an inch of water in & was a great disappointment but Jimmy Weeks french at the squeeze nearer the surface amused the whole party.  When we emerged in the gathering dusk it was well & truly raining, some more milk, a call at the "Castle" & a dark, wet ride home (some members in their caving clothes) reaching Bristol 22-45.  Members present : Leader R. Wallace, J. Bosworth, S. Herman, J. Weeks, K. Durham. visitor H. Beedle.

The winters of 1947 and 1949 were among the most severe of the 20th century. Snow blanketed the entire country and temperatures plummeted so much that the Thames and the sea froze close to the shoreline.  On Mendip caving continued and with the Belfry now in full use it offered a warm prospect after a good trip.  One of the popular Mendip trips was a visit to Lamb Leer Cavern. A BEC party visited the cave on Sunday 9th March 1947.  Harry Stanbury was the proud owner of a Ford 10 and so he was able to reach the Belfry in relative comfort considering that cars did not have any heating systems on board so that windscreens froze on the inside.  Car heating was a luxury some 15 years hence! Harry entered the following into the caving log:

Deep snow on Mendip did its best to cancel the trip for us but despite the fact the road from the Belfry via Miners Arms was feet deep & impassable we eventually reach LL in safety via Chewton Mendip.  Changing in the snow was a chilly process.

At the entrance the snow had filled the gully & great fun was had digging down to the Trap. - Underground a very enjoyable trip was had, although the ladder being about 8 ft  - - short ... at the bottom, where those already down enjoyed the spectacle of those whose feet seemed glued to the bottom rung. - Returning to the surface hot soup provided by PAES' dad was very acceptable.  S.C.W. Herman was thrown into a deep drift, in his scanties, & party started to break up very happily. - Stanbury, however, stripped his gearbox on the way home & and much fun & games was had pushing one Ford 10 up Horsley Hill & otherwise avoiding every gradient possible. His passengers (Dunncliff (WCC), Stewart & Herman) arriving home exhausted whilst he who was in control of said Ford was still bright & breezy.  THS

After a Lamb Leer Cavern Trip 9th March 1947 – [l-r] Angus Innes, George Lucy,
Stan Herman, Peter Stewart and Harry Stanbury

During the last years of the war several trips were spent visiting many sites at Burrington and Charterhouse and Club members kept themselves abreast of the new discoveries. They noted the 'recently' found swallets near Read's Cavern - Drunkard's Hole and Rod's Pot and the extension in East Twin Swallet where the UBSS opened up the second chamber. Rod's Pot was bottomed and on a later trip a sketch survey of the cave was drawn up by Angus Innes. The knowledge of Burrington Combe and the surrounding area bordering Mendip Lodge Wood gave members clues where to dig.

An investigation was undertaken through Velvet Bottom for potential sites.  Two features identified as 'Sites 1 and 2' were, from caving log write-up, somewhere in or close to the Charterhouse Rakes as well as some work that is said to have taken place at Timber Hole in 1942. (note 12) Site No. 3 was the well-known Cross Swallet, where an excavation had taken place in the late 1930s by the Wessex Cave Club. Brimble Pit was also inspected but not dug by Club members until the 1950s.  Plantation Swallet was worked again in 1949 and limited digs near the modern entrance to St. Cuthbert’s Swallet were undertaken in 1947 and 1949 when Collins and Rice which reached a depth of 5m. (note 13)

At Stoke Lane, the quarries at the northern end of the valley, Gilson's Quarries, were frequently showing signs of cave development and often visited by Angus Innes and others.  John Ifold was fully occupied with a dig in the Lamb Bottom area.

Sybil Bowden-Lyle, Don Coase, Dan Hasell and George Lucy at a diving meet at Wookey Hole, 1948 [LWD]

George Lucy in diving Kit

Don Coase was fully involved with CDG activities on Mendip, South Wales and in the Peak District.  CDG, formed in 1946 at Penycae, was closely associated with BEC during this period. In addition to Don Coase several members were fully involved and trained as divers including George Lucy, Dan Hasell and Harry Stanbury, helped by Sybil Bowden-Lyle and ‘Sett’.  Coase was the first to enter Llethrid Swallet and BEC members visited this on the 24th September 1949

The Forty Foot Pot in Swildon’s Hole usually sorted the ‘men from the boys’. The ‘men’ undertook a trip into the lower streamway and visited the famous Forbidden Grotto on the far side of Tratman's Temple which when passed led to what is now Blasted Boss.  The feature was visited on the 20th August 1944 on a joint trip of MNRC and BEC members.  The MNRC contingent Howard Kenney and Vincent Stimpson were joined by five members of the BEC comprising Stan Herman, 'Bossy' Bosworth, Bob Bagshaw, Len Finlay, Harry Stanbury and Dick Woodbridge.  When the grotto beyond Tratman's Temple had been reached.

... C.H. Kenney & J. Bosworth ... reported a passage at the end [of Forbidden Grotto] blocked by a stalagmited boulder around which a strong draught blew. ... Kenney removed a sample of the strange snow like formation on the floor.  The Stalactites in this grotto are absolutely transparent...

Motorcycles became the popular form of transport during the 1945-1955 period; few owned a motorcar. Caving though wasn't limited to the Mendip sites but regular trips were made to other regions notably South Wales and Yorkshire.  Don Coase also was a regular diver in Peak Cavern at Castleton.

As the membership soared after the end of the war, particularly that with Japan in 1946, digging was fairly widespread. In fact the first 10 - 15 years after the reformation in 1943 was to prove to be one of the Club's most fruitful periods for the discovery of new cave passage.

½ Pint, Ted Mason, Graham Balcombe, ‘Sett’ during the recovery of the
human remains at Wookey Hole [LWD]

Cross Swallet [aka Site No. 3]

Cross Swallet, c.1947 [AI]

On the digging front one of the earliest sites chosen was Cross Swallet with Brimble Pit kept in mind as another possible site. It had been previously dug without success by the WCC during 1937-38.   'Pongo' Wallis proposed restarting Cross Swallet as an official Club dig at the May committee meeting.  After permission was obtained from Mr Main work commenced on the 29th July.  The site was worked by the Club throughout 1944 -1946 and continued on a sporadic basis until 1949.

Swancombe Hollow Hole

Dan Hasell and others had a short-lived dig in the hill south of Blagdon - Swancombe Hollow Hole. Ralph Stride of the UBSS was contacted for permission to work the site and eventually he replied with a number of conditions on behalf of the landowners in July 1946.  However, in the event it seems that little work was ever carried out at the site although a surveying trip was undertaken.

Burrington Combe digs

After a concerted exploration of the Burrington caves a few sites were noted as potential digs. In 1946 Club members began work at two adjacent sites, Snogging Hole and Burrington Hole. They were dug for a short period but because of the close proximity of the road and the fear of boulders falling onto it they were not long after abandoned.  Today the sites are known as Goon's Hole and Lionel's Hole, named after Alan Jeffreys [SMCC & GSS] and Lionel Haines [MNRC] respectively. It has been suggested that Snogging Hole was named after Keith Hawkins, a BEC member who organised the archaeological section for a number of years.  According to Harry Stanbury Keith was also known as 'Snogger' Hawkins because he was the Club's misogynist!  A map of caving sites in Burrington Combe compiled by John 'Postle' Thomsett enabled the writer to identify the sites that were only mentioned by their contemporary names in the 1946-caving logbook in his 'The Lost Caves of Mendip' published in BB 505. (note 14)

Bog Hole

The site was located in a disused quarry but is now filled in and covered by the concrete forming part of Walt Foxwell's old farmyard. A pit was dug and a rift feature was broken into by the UBSS during the August Bank Holiday of 1944.  They also attacked Plantation Swallet, the first working session since that undertaken by MNRC during 1919-1924.  BEC inspected the site in the winter of 1947 and work commenced after it was confirmed that the UBSS [2nd April 1947] no longer had any interest in it.

Tankard Hole [Stewart's Hole]

About the same time that Bog Hole was being worked, Peter Stewart reported to the Club committee [7th May 1947] that permission has been given by Ben Dors [Roger's father] to work a site some 200m east of the Hunters' Lodge Inn, on land owned by ' ... Mr. Masters.'  Work got underway and the committee allocated Club funds cover the cost of timber to line the shaft.  However, work ceased by the new year of 1949 and the site was left ' ... to rest.'

Pat Browne [AI]

Pat Browne and Stoke Lane Slocker

A man with a nose for caves was Pat Browne from Frome. Initially he was a member of MNRC but then joined BEC. Most of his exploratory work took place on eastern Mendip and he was responsible for the opening up of Browne's Hole and Withybrook Slocker. He explored Crystal Pot with Don Coase, a site found by quarrymen in 'Sam Treasure's' Quarry at Stoke Lane.

In 1949 he was at the centre of a colossal Mendip storm involving the digging personnel of the MNRC and WCC who were in the process of pushing Primrose Path in Eastwater Cavern. Pat wrote to Balch at Wells Museum informing him that he had stepped upon a number of toes with great force.

... The true facts are that Jock Broadley and I went down to have a look at the W.C.C. dig that we thought practically finished; we had no intention of going through.  When we arrived at the site Jock had a look at the hole and decided to try it.  The unexpected happened and he happened to get through to the top of pot number one [Primrose Pot - upper section].

Our problem was what to do now, so we kept it dark until we had the chance to see if anything lay beyond; it did, and Mendip leapt into the air and landed on its head, with me underneath. For some time hence I shall be keeping to the East.  My age must be against me : - people don’t like us discovering all the caves for them. I refer to the riot over Stoke Lane and others. It is for this reason that I hope to be able to let you know of some more finds in the very near future. I shall from now on always keep you posted of my activities in this part of Mendip.

For all his caving exploits and upsets his greatest achievement will be the discovery of Browne's Passage in June 1947, which was the breakthrough that was to hurl the fame of the Club to the forefront of Mendip caving. In a letter to Balch he outlined what had been found during May 1946 in the company of a school friend, A.J. Crawford.  Pat had found a way through and opened up the floor of Corkscrew Chamber entering Pebble Crawl.  Though not revisited until the 31st May 1947, the exploration did not end for it was then that Browne's Passage was found.  Pat with two school friends, D. Sage and a J.H.H. Mead, all from Bruton School, cleared a boulder pile and the way on led past the Nutmeg Grater and ended at Cairn Chamber.

Contact was made with Tony [Sett] Setterington and Don Coase.  They both agreed that a follow-up trip would take place on the 7th June 1947 and on this occasion the passage beyond Cairn Chamber was found to lead to a sump pool.  On the 22nd June a strong party was gathered to descend the cave to locate the submerged passage off the sump pool and assess the problems of getting bulky diving gear to the site. Pat Browne was unable to attend but the party comprised Harry Stanbury, Don Coase, Freda Hutchinson, R. Woodbridge and Graham Balcombe [CDG]. 

A human skull found in Bone Chamber [TK]

The submerged passage was located and inspected by Coase who having reached into the sump, said he could feel airspace and without warning disappeared with a ‘... gurgle and a splash ...’ A few seconds later he returned reporting that he had regained the stream that sank at the start of Browne’s Passage.  With that Coase disappeared again followed by Balcombe and Stanbury and together they explored the streamway to reach the boulder ruckle adjacent to Sump II. (note 15)

Two further trips took place during the weekend of 28th & 29th July when the climb up led into Bone Chamber where human and animal bones were discovered by Coase, Fenn and Browne.  Better was to come with the discovery of the Throne Room and its beautiful formations. The entry in the caving log for this date states that they

... pushed into the new series & discovered 9 large chamber, "Willie" and son, parts of two human skeletons, piles of animal bones, smoke-blackened Stalactite & charcoal.  A truely [sic] great day...

Bones of a child brought out of Bone Chamber,
Stoke Lane Slocker [DI]

The discovery of Stoke Lane Two was an important event for Mendip caving and it also received wide coverage in the press. William Hucker of the Bristol Evening Post was to later write a major article on the discovery after a visit with Coase, Browne, Innes and Gommo on the 6th July. Hucker's report appeared in the 9th July edition titled 'Most Beautiful of all Mendip Caves // With Skeleton of Primitive Caveman.'

Don Coase and Geoff Ridyard commenced a survey soon after the discovery of Stoke Two and by June 1947 he was able to report to the committee that the task was going forward as planned.  To assist the surveyors the Club purchased a drawing board and protractors so that the presentational work could continue at the Belfry.  It was decided that the provisional plan of Stoke Lane would be available by the time that the Club submitted its exhibits for a caving exhibition to be held at Bristol Museum during the late Autumn. (note 16) 

Don Coase & Geoff Ridyard working on the Stoke Lane Slocker survey, 1948 [Photo unknown]

The Queen Victoria stalagmite in the Throne Room [DAC]

The Stoke Lane Slocker team [l-r] : ??, Don Coase, Johnny Paine, Pat Browne and Angus Innes, c.1947  [AI]

The Bones and their removal.

Soon after the discovery Balch contacted Tratman requesting him to pay a visit to the cave and assess the importance of the remains.  Tratman undertook a trip to the bone deposits and afterwards wrote to Balch that this was the most disgusting cave that he had visited and vowed never to return! (note 17)

Plans were drawn up to leave the deposit until such time that another way could be found into Bone Chamber. It was generally believed that the bones were too fragile to be moved but equally it was realised that if the bones were left in place they would eventually become damaged if not destroyed.

For whatever reason nothing was done for two years but the preparation of the survey and other activities probably added to the delay.  However in the spring of 1949, Max Unwin, the Honorary Curator of Shepton Mallet Museum and a founder member of SMCC, became aware of their existence. An exploratory meeting was held on the 8th June 1949 between Unwin and Club representatives, Harry Stanbury and Angus Innes, to discuss the possibility of removing the bones. Another meeting was held between the clubs with Hal Perry and Les Peters joining the BEC team.

This preparatory work was a build-up for a meeting with the local archaeologist and BEC member, Ted Mason. The BEC team comprised Stanbury, Innes, Mary Osborne, Dan Hasell and Max Unwin. It was arranged that the main human bones should be removed during the second week of July although Mason subsequently requested that the removal be delayed until the 16-17th July.  Unwin reported that he had talked with Mr. Perkins, owner of the land over the cave who had agreed that the bones could be removed and that a dig could take place in one of the deep depressions over Bone Chamber in order to devise a dry way into the cave.

The joint BEC-SMCC [then known as the Mendip Research Group] trip went to plan until on a climb up over boulders a 24 cwt boulder was dislodged injuring Sybil Bowden-Lyle in the back. Although extremely painful she was able to move through the cave to the entrance. Another trip was planned and this time a joint MCR and WCC trip managed to remove many of the bones packed in lever-lid tins filled with sawdust. (note 17)

Pat Browne, Johnny Paine and Don Coase somewhere in east Mendip, possibly Brownes' Hole

Photographer abbrev: AI = Angus Innes; DAC = Don Coase; DI = Dave Irwin; LWD: Luke Devenish;  'Sett' = Tony [Sett] Setterington; TK = Tim Kenderick

Notes

1. BB 10(104)1
2. Committee Meeting, 2nd November 1945
3. Attendance at Committee meetings was taken very seriously and a member would have to have a cast iron excuse for not being present. On one occasion, the August 1945 Committee meeting the minutes state that '… D.H. Hasell being ill, was excused. Mr. Bosworth was absent without explanation. … ' Is there a lesson to be learnt by members of the current 2007 Committee?
4. However, in BB No. 429, Harry remembered that the first Belfry was a rented old stone shed just large enough for six bunks in 1945-46 very close to where the Shepton Mallet CC had their first HQ.  If anyone has any further details or photos of this do please get in contact.
5. Belfry Bulletin 2(15)4
6. Belfry Bulletin 26(293)56-64
7. Belfry Bulletin 54(522)36-38
8. BB 2(13)5
9. Angus Innes diary.
10. BB 3(20)3
11. Anyone interested in the Club's past should make a point of perusing these records.  Though the early logbooks and committee meeting minutes are locked away in the library for safe keeping all may be seen using the CD's of the scans undertaken by Dave Turner and the writer.
12. The source of this fact is in Barrington & Stanton's Complete Caves of Mendip, 1977. Nothing has been found in the BEC archives - yet!
13. Irwin, David J. et al, 1991, St. Cuthbert's Swallet.  Priddy, Somerset, Bristol Exploration Club. ii + 82pp.map.illus.surveys.(October)
14. Irwin, David J., 1999, The Lost Caves of Mendip.  BEC Bel Bul 50(12) 31-46 (Dec), fig, survey
15. Coase, Donald A., 1947, Stoke Lane II     Brit Cav 17, 43-45
16. Exhibition in Bristol City Museum, 24 Nov. to 11 Dec., 1948 - Harry Stanbury's report in British Caver 19,40-42
17. Tratman, Edgar K., [letter to Balch dated 28th July, 1947] [in] H.E. Balch, Badger Hole Diaries [q.v.], mss 2p.
18. SMCC Jnl Series 10, No. 5, p.9

To be continued…

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