Attborough Swallet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Attborough Swallet |
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|---|---|
| Location | Red Quar, Chewton Mendip |
| OS grid | ST56105181 |
| Depth | 44 metres |
| Length | 244 metres |
| Geology | Dolomitic Conglomerate and Marl |
| Registry | Mendip Cave Registry |
Attborough Swallet is a fascinating cave located near Chewton Mendip in Somerset, England. It's also sometimes called Red Quar Swallet. This cave is a hidden underground world, reaching a depth of 44 metres and stretching for 244 metres!
Contents
What Makes Attborough Swallet Special?
Most caves in the Mendip Hills area are formed in a type of rock called limestone. However, Attborough Swallet is quite unique because it's found in different kinds of rock. It's made from Dolomitic Conglomerate and Marl.
What are Dolomitic Conglomerate and Marl?
- Dolomitic Conglomerate is a rock made up of many different pieces of rock, like pebbles, cemented together. It's often found in areas where ancient rivers or floods deposited lots of rocky bits.
- Marl is a soft rock that's a mix of clay and limestone. It's usually found in areas that were once covered by water.
This unusual rock type makes Attborough Swallet a special place for geologists and cave explorers!
How Was the Cave Discovered?
People have been interested in the area around Attborough Swallet for a long time.
- The first digging at a spot called Red Quar Swallet began in the 1930s.
- However, the main parts of Attborough Swallet that we know today were first explored much later, in 1992.
- The entrance to the cave is now a concrete pipe, which helps protect it.
Where Does the Name Come From?
The cave has two names, and both tell us something about its location:
- Attborough Swallet gets its name from the "Attborough" field where the entrance to the cave is located.
- Red Quar Swallet comes from a small quarry nearby. This quarry was used to dig out a reddish rock called Triassic conglomerate. "Quar" is short for quarry.
The Underground Stream
Inside the cave, there's an underground stream. This stream flows into a deep pool called a sump. From there, the water continues its journey underground and eventually flows into another nearby cave system known as Wigmore Swallet. This shows how different caves and underground water systems can be connected!
