Gough's Cave Entrance - Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
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SMacB
N 51° 16.915 W 002° 45.933
30U E 516351 N 5681201
Gough's Cave is an abandoned upper level of the Cheddar underground river. Water rose through the Boulder Chamber floor, finally emerging to daylight via the present entrance.
Waymark Code: WMWJ5J
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/10/2017
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Gough's Cave is an abandoned upper level of the Cheddar underground river. Water rose through the Boulder Chamber floor, finally emerging to daylight via the present entrance.
Originally a low tunnel extending to a choke just short of the Fonts, was dug open to the public by R.C. Gough and his sons, 1890-1898 and was opened to the public up to Diamond Chamber in 1898, which is the end of the show cave today. Electric lighting was installed in the show caves in 1899.
Often susceptible to flooding sometimes lasting for up to 48 hours, however in the Great Flood of 1968 the flooding lasted somewhat longer.
The extensive flooded parts of the cave system were found and explored between 1985 and 1990.
"The first 820 m (2,690 ft) of the cave are open to the public as a show cave, and this stretch contains most of the more spectacular formations.[5] The greater part of the cave's length is made up of the river passage, which is accessible only by cave diving.
Beyond the show cave -
Gough's cave contains long stretches of completely flooded river passage. From a point relatively close to the areas of the cave open to the public, the cave-divers' descent into Sump 1a begins through a tight passage known as Dire Straits. The bottom of that passage opens into the river passage, which is several meters across. This has been explored for 335 m (1,099 ft) downstream, whilst upstream a dive of 150 m (490 ft) brings the diver out in a 20 m (66 ft) long chamber named Lloyd Hall (which can now also be reached by an alternative, dry, route).
Another dive of 140 m (460 ft) through Sump 1b, finishing with an ascent through a rising passage, leads to another chamber, 60 m (197 ft) long and 25 m (82 ft) wide at its widest point, and full of large boulders, called Bishop's Palace. This chamber is the largest chamber currently found in the Cheddar caves. Further on, three sump pools (named the Duck Ponds) lead to Sump 2 which is about 27 m (89 ft) deep at its lowest point and 150 m (492 ft) long.
Air is again reached at Sheppard's Crook, which is followed by Sump 3. This sump is 55 m (180 ft) deep and at its bottommost point is about 30 m (98 ft) below sea level. Following Sump 3, a wide ascending passage continues for 370 m (1,214 ft) before reaching an impassable blockage, still below the water's surface."
SOURCE - (
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Cave entrance (outside) free to visit, entrance to cave £12 (
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