MCG masthead - image of Departure Lounge, Upper Flood Swallet (c) C Allison 2007

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Photos of Upper Flood Swallet

Click here to see Upper Flood Swallet photos "pinned" to the survey

Neverland by Mark Shinwell

Neverland is an extreemly well decorated passage, possibly one of the best in the UK. Only a handful of cavers have been into Neverland, and the passage is currently closed to preserve the formations. The following photos of Neverland and the passages leading to it, begining at the Departure Lounge (where the 2006 breakthrough was made) are by Mark Shinwell of CUCC

Departure Lounge Centre of flow Flow further down slope Flow left hand side
Flow right hand side Bottom of flow further down Crawl Pool on corner
Pool on corner Crystal pool Curtain Crawl back from Pork Pie Passage
Stals near crystal pool Pork Pie Passage Pom Poms Cornet

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Upper Flood Swallet by Rob Eavis

Rob Eavis visited Upper Flood Swallet recently. Here is a selection of his photos (click to enlarge)

Before Walk-the-Plank (c) Rob Eavis

East Passage (c) Rob Eavis

Rob Eavis also has an Upper Flood photo set on Fickr:

By start of Neverland Food stop before the crawl out Midnight Streamway

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Upper Flood Swallet photos by Julie Hesketh with Peat Bennett

These photos were taken in October 2006 shortly after the breakthrough

Assembling outside MCG. Doug Harris, Kerry Howard, Julie Hesketh, Dong Woo, Brian Snell (c) Julie Hesketh

At the entrance (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Peat Bennett and Mike Richardson (c) Julie Hesketh

Julie Hesketh and Mike Richardson (c) Julie Hesketh

Julie Hesketh and Mike Richardson (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Mike Richardson (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Julie Hesketh

Julie Hesketh

Peat Bennet (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Near the easySqueeze (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Upper Flood (c) Julie Hesketh

Peat Bennett (c) Julie Hesketh

Roy and Fiona Kempston after the trip (c) Julie Hesketh

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Neverland photos by Tim Francis

Photos of the breakthrough trips

(c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Doug traversing pitch (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Pork Pie Passage (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Julie Hesketh (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Pools in Neverland (c) Tim Francis

Dongwoo on breakthrough trip (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Crystal floor (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Approach to Pork Pies(c) Tim Francis

Pork Pies (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Pom poms (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Cornet (c) Tim Francis

(c) Tim Francis

Explorers (c) Tim Francis

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Upper Flood Swallet photos by Bill Chadwick

These photos were taken shortly after the breakthrough

Descent to West Passage (c) Bill Chadwick

Forbidden Grotto in West Passage (c) Bill Chadwick

Mainstream (c) Bill Chadwick

Mainstream Curtains (c) Bill Chadwick

Wall Descent to West Passage (c) Bill Chadwick

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Geology Photos of Upper Flood Swallet

Mark Tringham of the Grampian visited Upper Flood Swallet in December 2007 to study the geology. Here is a selection of his photos (click to enlarge)

geology1 geol2 geol3 geol4
geol5 geol6 geol7 geol8
geol9 geol10 geol11 geol12

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Wall Street, Tim Francis

???date

Wall Street entrance

Wall Street entrance

Near the start

Bend

Blocks

Broken pillar

Over the top

Richard in crawl

Right wall

Rubble floor

Up and over

Up and over

End gour

The way on

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Trench Passage photos by Ben Cooper

???date

Calcite (c) Ben Cooper

Crystal dome (c) Ben Cooper

Crystal Dome aven (c) Ben Cooper

Curtain, start of Trench Passage (c) Ben Cooper

Detail, Crystal Dome(c) Ben Cooper

Md bank (c) Ben Cooper

Mud bank (c) Ben Cooper

Mud bank (c) Ben Cooper

Mud citadel (c) Ben Cooper

Mud citadel (c) Ben Cooper

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Upper Flood Swallet 23/06/07 photos by Burt

SCC trip report: "This is a fantastic cave but if you think it's easy, don't be fooled by the lack of SRT etc. - It's a serious undertaking which took us 6 1/2 hours, with some tortuous squeezes (if you're over 42" chest forget it) and some prolonged crawling over sharp rock. It destroyed my wetsuit and even with extra thick kneepads I have very sore knees! there's also some very loose stuff in places."

Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt
Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt Upper Flood (c) Burt

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Upper Flood audiovisual

Youtube movie - opens in new window

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Golden Chamber, Upper Flood Swallet

Discovered in the year of MCG's Golden Anniversary in 2004, Golden Chamber has some fine formations. Photos by Ben Cooper (click to enlarge)

Straw in Golden Chamber Formations Formations Formations Flowstone
Flowstone Flowstone Flowstone Flowstone Flowstone
Flowstone Flowstone Flowstone Flowstone

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Streamway Regained, photos by Tim Francis

Exploration of Upper Flood Swallet was stalled at the Red Room until the streamway was regained in 2006. Soon after these photos were taken the breakthrough to The Departure Lounge was made. (click to enlarge)

Drilling the connection squeeze Boulder dig at end New streamway Doug at the streamway sink Team at the end choke
Upstream Widening the squeeze Crinoid (at tip of middle finger) Doug at the end boulders Mike at the flowstone
Flowstone aven Peat in rift Tim in rift Rift opposite breakthrough Tim in streamway
Aven Rift Upstream false floor

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1986 Upper Flood extensions, photos by Pete Glanvill (BEC)

The images presented here were made in 1986 just after Midnight Chamber was first entered. Writing in 1986, Pete said: "lying at the head of the Velvet Bottom catchment area near the limestone/shale boundary with a potential 700 feet of vertical range, it became clear that siege tactics were required. The once roomy ancient stream passage was choked with fill, stal obstructions and lead tailings. It has taken nearly 17 years (to 1986) of digging, blasting, wall construction and back filling to gain access to the present cave. It has paid off for the MCG who now have in their grasp potentially one of the deepest caves on Mendip, if not the country, and despite the length of the known cave the depth potential still remains. ... A low excavated crawl leads to the current terminus - a tube filled with stal false flooring and mud. It is possible to gaze into the promised land beyond and feel the hint of a draught. At the end of the cave one is less than 30 metres below the entrance with most of the depth potential of the system unrealised. God knows what will happen to the pretty bits if the system gets really massive".

(click images or go to his website)

Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway
Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway
Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway
Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway Streamway
Streamway Midnight Chamber Streamway Angie Glanvill in the streamway Jim Durston admires a straw in the streamway
Totem pole stalagmites Botryoidal stalagmites Tony Knibbs in entrance to Midnight Chamber Midnight Chamber

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2006 Upper Flood extensions, photos by Julie Hesketh and Phillipa Glanvill

Despite an heroic effort, Pete Glanvill couldn't fit through the easySqueeze in 2007 so Julie Hesketh and Pete's daughter Phillipa had to make the photographic record for him.

(click images or go to his website and scroll down to the 2007 photos)

Julie Hesketh (MCG member and one of the first two people into the 2006 extensions)in Golden Chamber. Photo by Philippa Glanvill In the choke. Photo by Philippa Glanvill Easy Squeeze, one of the squeezes in the choke leading to the 2006 extensions.Photo by Julie Hesketh Julie Hesketh admiring white stal at the entrance to Neverland. Photo by Philippa Glanvill Entrance to Neverland. Photo Philippa Glanvill
By the start of Neverland. (Photo Julie Hesketh) Streamway near Royal Icing (Photo Julie Hesketh) Streamway near Royal Icing (Photo Julie Hesketh) Crystals on a ledge in Golden Chamber (Photo Julie Hesketh) Crystal Pool in Golden Chamber (Photo Julie Hesketh)

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Upper Flood , photos by Richard

A Caving trip in Upper Flood Swallett around May 10, 2008. "Thanks to Mike Richardson of MCG for taking us to see one of the most recently discovered and spectacular pieces of cave in the UK".

(click images or go to his Picasa web album )

Stals at Royal Icing Junction Stals in the ceiling at Royal Icing Junction Looking towards the entrance at Royal Icing Upper Flood - untitled Jo and Mike at Royal Icing Junction Jo again
Jo looking at another cascade of flowstone at Royal Icing Junction Upper Flood - untitled Interesting Stalagmites at Royal Icing Junction Upper Flood - untitled Looking towards the start of Neverland Upper Flood - untitled
Upper Flood - untitled Flow at Royal Icing Junction Draperies in the streamway Rachel illuminates the mudbanks in Thieves Chamber Impressively tall mudbanks Layers in the mud
Another view of the mud banks Rachel examines a stal at Walk the Plank Decorations at Walk the Plank A very muddy Jo and Mike at Walk the Plank Drapery in the streamway Rachel illuminates the drapery
Upper Flood - untitled More decoration in the streamway Decaying formations in the streamway Another apparently decaying formation More strange formations in the streamway Mike in the streamway
Large flow in the Departure Lounge Formations in the Departure Lounge Very fragile, decaying formations in the Departure Lounge Upper Flood - untitled Jo in one of the many squeezes Formations in Midnight Chamber
Midnight Chamber Jo in Midnight Chamber Upper Flood - untitled Upper Flood - untitled Jo at the entrance to Midnight Chamber Upper Flood - untitled

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(Not) Easy Squeeze

Beyond the Red Room is a boulder choke containing the 13 squeezes (the tightest of which is 23cm wide for a distance of 30cm). These photos by Peat Bennett and Julie Hesketh taken on 07/07/07 show, in image 3, the width of the squeeze compared to a glove - about the same size.

(Not) Easy Squeeze (Not) Easy Squeeze (Not) Easy Squeeze (Not) Easy Squeeze

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Upper Flood Swallet, Bill Chadwick

Bill's photostream on Flickr

Ben admiring some curtains and false floor The Pom Poms The Cornet Tim walking The Plank

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Upper Flood dig, 1980's

photos by Ian McKechnie

Dig Dig Dig Dig Dig
Dig Dig Dig Grant Shephard in By Pass Passage

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Stainsby's Shaft

Also known as Blackmoor Shaft, this mine is not part of the Upper Flood system, but it lies close by and may one day be linked.

Installing the fixed ladder, Nov 2007 - photos by Biff

Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder
Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder
Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder Stainsby's Shaft - installing the fixed ladder

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Photos of the dig by Russ Porter taken on 06/04/08

Stainsby's Shaft - dig Stainsby's Shaft - dig Stainsby's Shaft - dig
Stainsby's Shaft - dig Stainsby's Shaft - dig Stainsby's Shaft - dig

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Photos of Stainsby's Shaft, taken 10-11/05/08 by Bill Chadwick (left and middle) and Biff (right):

Digging on 10/05/08 Digging on 10/05/08 Digging on 11/05/08

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Photos of Stainsby's Shaft, taken 08/06/08 by Bill Chadwick

Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08
Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08
Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08 Digging on 08/06/08

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Roman Rake

Initially an archaeological dig not far from Stainsby's Shaft, the archaeologists established this was a small lead mine with some natural cave. At the request of the farmer, MCG have made safe the entrance by adding a grid over the shaft. We are now attempting to follow the natural passage. Photos by Mark Ward, 21/06/08

Roman Rake Roman Rake Roman Rake Roman Rake

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Roman Rake

Photos by Mark Ward, 29/06/08:

Roman Rake Roman Rake Roman Rake Roman Rake Roman Rake
Roman Rake Roman Rake Roman Rake Roman Rake

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Roman Rake

More photos by Mark Ward

After Biff had bullied part of the rock to exit the cave on Saturday 05/07/08, Doug and Mark poked around in the shattered rock until some of the wall in the West Rift fell down, narrowly missing Mark! On 07/07/08 Mark returned and, removing a small rock, he could see 20ft vertically down the rift, into a Peat-sized hole with a small draught. He managed to squeeze down head first into a rift about 18" wide opening up to 2 feet. The rift has opened up nicely and looks good and promising.

Roman Rake, West Rift hole, July 08 Roman Rake, The Hole Roman Rake, Newly opened West Rift Roman Rake, Some of the hanging death Roman Rake, West Rift

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Page last updated 15 July 2008

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Mendip Caving Group. UK Charity Number 270088. The object of the Group is, for the benefit of the public, the furtherance of all aspects of the exploration, scientific study and conservation of caves and related features. Membership shall be open to anyone over the age of 16 years with an interest in the objects of the Group.