Tuesday 13th October 2026

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Nice warm cloudy day, 18°C but very windy. The cave walls were a bit damp but still pretty dry and the draught was going in on the first couple of pitches. A double mix of cement split over 3 loads taken to the bottom and used by Adrian cementing the walls. A cool outward draught was produced as he worked (chimney effect?). Probably a bit of capping next time as it’s pretty restrictive. 2½ hours. John.

Looking at floor. Photo AV.

Tuesday 22nd September 2026

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Nice warm sunny day, 22°C and the cave was dry. Jude took in 6 poly bags and went to the bottom to clear mud. On the way down the entrance shaft she commented on the number of loose stones that had been dropped down by tourists. Five loads of rocks also hauled up Pensioners’ Pot. Nice outward draught. The 11 loads were then moved on up to the bottom of Father Duckmas shaft. On the way out a full load of stones were collected from various places in the entrance shaft and deposited on the surface. Needs a cementing session at the bottom next. 2 hours. John.

Thursday 27th August 2026

Daren Chapman, John Cooper, Mark Easterling (Bean), Aidan Harrison, Pete Hellier, Mark Kellaway (Mak), Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Daren and Pete went to the bottom, followed by Bean and Mak. Pete went a second time to collect a replacement bucket as the split in the one being used got rather large. Spoil was hauled from the top of Father Duckmas to the Tunnel then on up to the bottom of the entrance shaft. Finally 10 rather heavier loads were hauled to the surface together with the broken bucket. 1¾ hours. John.

Tuesday 18th August 2026

John Cooper, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Jude went to the bottom to clear mud. However she not only failed in this task but managed to cover it with fallen rocks. Meanwhile the rest of us cleared the remaining spoil from the top of Pensioners’ Pot through the rift to the bottom of Father Duckmas. All the spoil from here was then moved on up to the top of Father Duckmas. Leaves options for next time. A large team can move spoil on up to the surface or a small team can move spoil up from the bottom. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 16th July 2026

John Cooper, Xiao Jin, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Hot, 28°C, and sunny. Took down capping kit which Adrian used at bottom. Whilst Adrian made a start with the capping the rest of us cleared all the spoil from the top of Pensioners’ Pot and stacked it at the bottom of Father Duckmas shaft. Once this task was complete we started hauling up Pensioners’ Pot, refilling the space just cleared. Once Adrian had finished for the day Xiao went to the bottom for a look. Good cold outward draught again today. The broken bucket was brought out by Jude but there is a replacement in the alcove above Pensioners’ Pot. Next session is to clear some mud from the bottom, can stay on one side, whilst the top of Pensioners’ Pot is cleared again then haul all the spoil up Father Duckmas. 1¾ hours. John.

Thursday 9th July 2026

John Cooper, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Hot, 28°C and sunny. Took down capping kit which Adrian used at bottom. 13 loads of rocks were hauled up Pensioners' Pot and 3 loads of mud hauled partway up and stashed in holes in the wall. A cold draught was coming up the shaft making the hauling party quite chilly. The capping fumes took under 30 seconds to travel up the shaft. Need to clear the rocks from top of Pensioners' Pot to bottom of Father Duckmas shaft to make room for more spoil next time. 2 hours. John

Monday 6th July 2026

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Warm 24°C, sunny and calm on surface. Dry underground. One mix of cement split into 2 buckets taken down by Jude and Adrian. Jude had a look at the bottom, declaring the rift not to be as wide as indicated in last week’s photo. John then used up the cement walling about 1m above the floor. Adrian had thought a couple of larger rocks could also be cemented in but when John touched them with the crowbar they fell to the floor revealing a lot of mud behind them. They need capping down a size before hauling up Pensioners’ Pot. Adrian took photos looking down at John working. 1½ hours. John.

John cementing. Photo AV.

Thursday 2nd July 2026

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Warm 20°C, sunny and windy on surface. Dry underground with nice outward draught. Capping kit taken in (Adrian’s new drill!!!!). Adrian capping at the bottom with the intention of widening the floor area to make digging easier. A large rock at floor level was capped to give a better view along. Strong draught of fumes came out of here whilst capping this rock.. It felt like they were not coming from the floor but from the side. John moved the existing spoil from the top of Pensioners’ Pot through the rift to the bottom of Father Duckmas shaft. More capping, clearing and a bit of cementing next time. 1½ hours. John.

Looking along to source of draught. Photo AV.

Saturday 28th March 2026

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Trip to check how wet the bottom was and see what damage the winter had done. John, Jude then Adrian to the bottom. A few drips but could be worked. Bottom requires enlarging to make it workable size. Pete descended to the alcoves below the Tunnel. Probably clear and cement next time. 1 hour. John.

Saturday 31st January 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann and Jude Vanderplank. Spoil clearance up the entrance shaft. Not as wet as expected after all the recent rain. Jude at the bottom loading, John on the Naughty Step, Nigel and Pete on the surface. Short delay waiting for the pheasant shooters to pass, then changed and hauling started. After 13 loads Jude needed a large rock breaking up so John went down and, after quite a bit of effort, reduced it to hauling size. Then back to hauling and a total of 21 loads achieved. More could be removed. Jude took before and after clearance photos. 1½ hours. John.

Before clearing. Photo JV.

Before clearing, further in. Photo JV.

After clearing, roof level. Photo JV.

After clearing, roof level on left. Photo JV.

Thursday 18th December 2025

John Cooper, Adrian Vanderplank and Wayne Starsmore. Only 9°C on surface but windy and heavy rain with reports of Gough’s Cave being closed due to flooding. Adrian and John got fully changed at Upper Pitts before Wayne drove over to the site. Lots of very squelchy grass and puddles but no lake at the dig. Water coming in at the bottom of the second entrance pipe and running down the walls, so no leaning back today. Took in John’s drill and he drilled 5 x 12mm x 400mm holes in the left hand wall whilst Adrian and Wayne sheltered further in. They reported that whilst John was leaning forward drilling there was no draught, but when he leaned back to change drill bits a noticeable draught came up the shaft towards them. Once John was finished, the holes marked with a short bit of cable supplied by Wayne, he packed up and headed out passing the cable reel on the Naughty Step. Wayne charged the holes with 40gm cord, connected it all up then headed out leaving Adrian to finish and bring the wire end to the surface. John had just finished changing when Wayne appeared on the surface and, as it had nearly stopped raining, Wayne went to get changed whilst John waited at the entrance for Adrian. Just as Wayne finished changing Adrian appeared, connected the firer and made a nice noise. By the time the wire was rolled up and the lid back on fumes poured out the top. Need a new washer on the gate as John dropped it down the shaft! 1 hour. John.

Thursday 11th December 2025

John Cooper, Pete Hann, Alex Lane, Kate Lawrence, Kazushi Noiri, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Wayne Starsmore. Warmed up again,12°C on surface, but breezy. Alex and Kaz went to the bottom as they hadn’t been here before, reported it drippy. Kate and Jude continued digging at the Soakaway turning, Adrian on the Naughty Step and the rest on the surface. After a while the bottoming party returned and assisted the underground team. Total of 22 loads of muddy clatch hauled out today. Adrian had a quick look at the end before coming out. May need to bang the left hand wall again before deciding whether to keep going here or not. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 4th December 2025

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Barry Wilkinson. Cold, 5°C on surface, and rain showers as we changed and started work. Kate and Jude at the Soakaway, Adrian on the Naughty Step and the rest on the surface. Part way through Adrian descended to break up some larger rocks before resuming his position. Nearer the end John went down to break up rocks and Jude went up to help Adrian on the Naughty Step. John removed the first flake on the right wall but the second is still there but loose. There is still more spoil to remove. 22 loads today. 1½ hours. John.

Tuesday 25th November 2025

John Cooper and Adrian Vanderplank. Took John’s drill and 2m of 12gm cord. At the soakaway John drilled 4 x 10mm diameter, 500mm deep holes in the left hand wall. Adrian then selected 3 of them for the cord. The charge was fired from the surface but no fumes seen whilst packing up. 7°C, sunny but windy on surface. There was a “nice” stream flowing today making working conditions rather wet. The two flakes on the right hand wall didn't look to be securely attached and, if they haven't been shaken off, could probably be crowbarred off. 1 hour. John.

Tuesday 18th November 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank, Jude Vanderplank and Barry Wilkinson. Cold, 5°C on surface, and rain shower as we changed and started work. Kate and Jude at the Soakaway, Adrian on the Naughty Step and Barry and John on the surface. The intention is to check out the opposite direction from the current way down ie in the Soakaway direction. 20 loads of clatch and cobbles were hauled out today, much of it debris from the past digging efforts. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 13th November 2025

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Still warm but getting wetter every day. Adrian at the bottom of Pensioners’ Pot capping the step to give more room to work. Jude above him, Kate above her and John at the top stacking the rocks that were sent up. A very good outwards draught today with the capping fumes racing out. That meant it was cold being under the drips! Probably the last session for the year. Two dead karabiners from the hauling ropes brought out to be replaced next time we go in. There is still some spoil at the bottom that could be removed but too wet for cement work now. 1½ hours. John.

Thursday 6th November 2025

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Clearance session today. All the rocks at the bottom of Father Duckmas shaft were moved up in stages, initially to the top of Father Duckmas, then to the Tunnel, then to the bottom of the entrance shaft and finally 13 rather heavier loads reached the surface. Still fairly dry and warm, 14°C on the surface, and not too drippy underground. 2½ hours. John.

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.