Thursday 30th October 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cool still, 12°C, but windy and light showers now. Kate and Jude at the bottom, Adrian below John who was at the top of Pensioners’ Pot. Very slightly drippier but still workable. Rocks were hauled all the way up but the clatch was deposited in holes in the wall. At the end of the session Adrian went to the bottom for a look and piccies. He also sent up a token rock. A total of 8 loads of rocks and 6 of clatch removed from the dig face. The rocks were moved on from the top of Pensioners’ Pot to the base of Father Duckmas shaft. Next we need to clear this and cap a bit more at the dig face. 2 hours. John.

Video of Dig Face

Tuesday 21st October 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cool still, 14°C, but heavy showers now. Double cement mix split between 4 buckets. John used it all up trying to make the bottom safer. Some of the cement was washing out as the bottom is getting wetter again. Needs a good clatch clearing session next. 1¾ hours. John.

Wall showing final survey station (58). Photo AV.

Looking under and left. Photo AV.

Lower view onwards. Photo AV.

Lower view to right. Photo AV.

Down to right. Photo AV.

Tuesday 14th October 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cooler now at 14°C, overcast but no rain and still dry in the dig. Adrian and Kate went to the bottom with Adrian’s capping kit. John and Jude were to survey from the last fixed station to the bottom. Adrian was merrily capping away when a boulder popped out of the wall, slid down his leg and landed on the floor. This was not supposed to happen so he rapidly retreated. John and Jude were happily unaware and continued surveying down until a people choke occurred. Took a while to pass as it’s not big enough for that. John finished off the survey then Adrian came back down to view the damage. A few mixes of cement should sort it out! 1¾ hours. John.

PS re survey. Not much added depth since survey a year ago. Entrance at 242OD.
The lowest survey station then was at 168.75OD with a splay to 167.55OD.
Now lowest survey station is at 167.23OD with a splay to 165.33OD (through hole in floor).
Note the floor is at 166.6OD.