THE NETHERWORLD OF MENDIP NETHERWORLD OF MENDIP EXPLORATIONS IN THE GREAT CAVERNS OF SOMERSET, YORKSHIRE DERBYSHIRE, AND ELSEWHERE BY ERNEST A. BAKER, M.A.(LOND.) AUTHOR OF "MOORS, CRAGS, AND CAVES OF THE HIGH PEAK" ETC. JOINT-EDITOR OF "THE VOICE OF THE MOUNTAINS" AND HERBERT E. BALCH CLIFTON J. BAKER & SON LONDON SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO. 1907 PREFACE The objects of this work are twofold: to describe the actual incidents of various interesting episodes in the modern sport of cave exploring, and to give an account of the scientific results of underground investigations in the Mendip region of Somerset. Speleology is the latest of the sporting sciences: like orology and Arctic exploration, it has two sides, sport and adventure being the lure to some, whilst others are chiefly attracted by the new light thrown by these researches on the geology, the hydrology, and the natural history of the subterranean regions explored. The chapters dealing with the scientific results are by H. E. Balch, who has been working on the geology of Mendip, more especially among the caves, for upwards of twenty years: the accounts of actual experiences, in which the sporting side is predominant, are by E. A. Baker, who described the recent exploration of the Derbyshire caves in his _Moors, Crags, and Caves of the High Peak_, 1903. No attempt is made to traverse the ground so perfectly covered by Professor Boyd Dawkins in his fascinating volume on _Cave Hunting_, and elsewhere, most of the work described here being supplementary to that done by him, and, largely, outside the scope of his aims. The authors are indebted to the kindness of the Editors of the _Liverpool Courier_ and _Daily Post_, the _Manchester Guardian_, the _Standard_, the _Yorkshire Post_, the _Irish Naturalist_, and the _Climbers' Club Journal_ for permission to use the substance of various articles which have appeared in their pages, and to M. Martel, Mr. C. Blee, and Messrs. Gough for permission to reproduce a number of excellent illustrations by them. CONTENTS PAGE THE CAVE DISTRICT OF THE MENDIPS 1 THE CHEDDAR GROUP OF CAVERNS 16 ANTIQUITY OF THE CAVES OF MENDIP 21 CAVE EXPLORING AS A SPORT 32 EXPLORING WOOKEY HOLE 45 STRENUOUS DAYS IN THE EASTWATER SWALLET 60 SWILDON'S HOLE 70 THE GREAT CAVERN AT CHEDDAR 82 FIVE CAVERNS AT CHEDDAR 91 THE BURRINGTON CAVERNS 99 THE CORAL CAVE AT COMPTON BISHOP 106 LAMB'S LAIR 115 A CAVE IN THE QUANTOCKS 123