Eastwater Cavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastwater Cavern |
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Entrance to Eastwater Cavern
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| Location | Priddy, Somerset, UK |
| OS grid | ST 5388 5062 |
| Length | 3,510 metres (11,520 ft) |
| Height variation | 152 metres (499 ft) |
| Elevation | 238 metres (781 ft) |
| Discovery | 1902 |
| Geology | Carboniferous Limestone |
| Difficulty | Grade 3-5 |
| Hazards | flooding and loose boulders |
| Access | Call at Eastwater farm (ST 537 508), £1 goodwill fee. Changing facilities in barn. |
| Cave survey | Upper Series Plan and Lower Series Plan |
| Registry | Mendip Cave Registry |
Eastwater Cavern is an exciting cave located near Priddy in the Mendip Hills of Somerset, England. It is also known as Eastwater Swallet, which is a term for a sinkhole where a stream disappears underground. This amazing cave was first explored in April 1902 by a team led by Herbert E. Balch.
The early explorations were slow, but by February 1903, Balch and another explorer named Willcox found many new passages. They followed the underground stream all the way to the deepest parts of the cave. Over the years, more sections were discovered. Dolphin Pot was found in 1940, and Primrose Pot followed in 1950. One of the most recent big discoveries was the West End series in 1983.
Caves can be tricky places. In 1910, heavy flooding made some parts of Eastwater Cavern unstable, especially areas with loose rocks. It took three years before explorers could reach the very bottom again. Cavers always need to be careful because some areas with loose rocks can still be unstable. For example, in 1959, a large rockfall blocked Dolphin ladder pitch, but cavers worked hard to reopen the route in 1966.
The water that flows through Eastwater Cavern eventually comes out at Wookey Hole Caves. This famous cave system is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Eastwater Cavern and 180 meters (590 feet) lower than its entrance.
Exploring Eastwater Cavern
When you enter Eastwater Cavern, you first go through an area of large boulders. This leads to the upper traverse, which is a wide, sloping passage that goes downwards at a steep angle. As you continue, the passage narrows into a canyon-like section.
What to Expect Inside
To reach the lower parts of the cave, cavers need to navigate through various challenges. These include "pitches" and "climbs." Pitches are vertical drops that cavers go down using ropes and special equipment. Climbs are sections where cavers need to climb up.
One of the most famous parts of the lower levels is Primrose Pot. This is a very deep vertical pitch, dropping about 57 meters (187 feet). It's one of the deepest vertical drops in the Mendip Hills, making Eastwater Cavern an exciting challenge for experienced cavers.
