Goatchurch Cavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goatchurch Cavern |
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View into main entrance with a group of school children
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| Location | Burrington Combe |
| OS grid | ST 47585823 |
| Depth | 55 metres (180 ft) |
| Length | 750 metres (2,460 ft) |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Entrances | 2 |
| Access | Free |
| Cave survey | M. Rennie 1959 |
| BRAC grade | DC |
| Registry | Mendip Cave Registry |
Goatchurch Cavern is a cool cave found on the edge of Burrington Combe. It's in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. This cave is made of Limestone, a type of rock.
It's a really popular spot for people who are just starting out in caving. This is because it's easy to get into and offers lots of different challenges. You don't even need special gear like ropes or ladders for most of it!
Exploring Goatchurch Cavern
Inside Goatchurch Cavern, you might see some old iron handrails. These are left over from a time when someone tried to turn the cave into a "show cave." A show cave is one that's set up for tourists to walk through easily.
The cave has many beautiful rock formations, called "decorations." Over many years, lots of visitors have made some surfaces very smooth and slippery. This has also caused some of the decorations to get a bit worn down.
Goatchurch Cavern has two entrances. This means cavers can go in one way and come out another, making for an exciting "through trip."
What to Expect Inside
The cave is about 750 meters (2,500 feet) long. It also goes down about 61.5 meters (202 feet) deep. Most of the passages inside are dry.
One part of the cave is called 'The Drainpipe' or 'The Bunny Run'. It's a long, tight squeeze about 9 meters (30 feet) long. You can usually only go forward in this section. It ends in a small room with lots of rocks. Meeting another caver in the middle of 'The Drainpipe' can be tricky!
Another interesting spot is 'The Coffin Lid'. This is a large rock that looks a bit like a coffin. It partly blocks the way down, adding to the adventure.
History of the Cave
Goatchurch Cavern has been known for a very long time. The first time it was written about was in 1736. A man named John Strachey called it "guy Hole" or "Goechurch." Later, in the 1800s, people started calling it "The Goatchurch" or "Goat's Hole." It's thought that the name "Goat" might have come from the old local word "Guy."
It's believed that lead miners explored Goatchurch Cavern in the 1800s. Around 1900, the person who owned the cave tried to make it a show cave, but it didn't work out. In 1924, a group called the UBSS (University of Bristol Spelæological Society) dug open the second entrance.
Ancient Discoveries
In the 1920s, explorers found some amazing things in the cave. They discovered bones from the Pleistocene period, which was a very long time ago! These bones included parts of mammoths, bears, hyaenas, and even cave lions.
In 2003, some special marks were found in the cave while cleaning away graffiti. These were three finely cut marks that looked like the letter 'W'. They were much darker than other graffiti from the 1700s. Experts believe these are "ritual protection marks." These marks were made to protect people or places, possibly between 1550 and 1750.
