Friday 11th September 2026

Freya Bearn and Mike Kushy. Mike and I entered the dig by 1pm. We went straight to Tea Party Chamber with two drums of cement, 1 bag of builders sand and a drill. I went through the squeeze at the bottom of the dig and shuffled to the bottom, following the ceiling down, where it got considerably tighter and there was a crystal pool in front of me. On the way back up, I was intrigued by a phreatic tube down to the right. I then squeezed back out. About five minutes later, a large boulder collapsed at the entrance to the squeeze, blocking it in and causing various other boulders at the top of the crawl to collapse in its wake. We exchanged worried glances - how would I (or anyone else down there) have got out? Having decided it was too nauseating to keep thinking about it, we got to work downsizing some of the collapsed boulders with plug and feathers, which I then hauled up using a bucket. We cleared out the hole at the bottom of the dig, which is now much bigger. Once Mike had explained the ratios for cement mix, I mixed up three batches which I lowered one by one. Mike then used these to cement up the wall on the right hand side. We checked the time and, much like Lewis Carroll’s white rabbit, exclaimed that we were late, and swiftly left, as it was already 5 pm. The dig already feels a bit safer, but it is definitely one to be approached with caution.

1 empty drum and a few empty bags brought out. 2 full drums of cement in cave, just need to take some dust in next, no cement left in the lockbox. Freya.

Freya at work. Photo MK.

Bottom of dig. Photo MK.

Friday 4th September 2026

Ed Ford and Mike Kushy. We met for 15.45 and headed in with a heavy bag of stone dust each. Many mixes made (used 2 full drums of cement and relevant sand). There's now a bright green scoop in TPC to help gauge mixes better. The nut on the pulley hanger has now been tightened. Good amount built but didn't quite make it all the way round, it would be nice to get this finished Sunday to allow a safer clearance session mid week. There was hardly a draught to begin with, around 7pm it really picked up. Back to the cars for 2030. Half a bag of cement in the lockbox, which should restock the 2 drums brought out. Mike.

Wednesday 2nd September 2026

Oli Hill and Sam Hill

Met at half 5 and made quick progress down to the dig.
A bolt and hanger was installed high up on wall for hauling (bolt needs a spanner to tighten it up and a pulley adding).
20 buckets of loose stuff was hauled up and then numerous large boulders were broken up. Hole into bedding tube has been opened up again and a good draft was felt towards the end of the session. Left with lots more rocks to break down and lots of loose stuff but a cementing session is definitely needed before any more downwards progress. Larger voids opening up in the floor with lots of calcite and water worn boulders coming out.
Out by half 8.30hrs. Sam.

Installing pulley. Photo SH.

Looking down. Photo SH.

Large calcite lump pulled out. Photo SH.

Monday 31st August 2026

Oli Hill, Sam Hill, Mike Kushy and Mysti Ommer. We all met at 1100 and carried 2 bags of dust in each, apart from one person who had the drill and a bag of sand. OH and MO went through to MHH and brought a length of rope back with them. This was used on a bucket for hauling (ideal time to get a pulley installed). SH meanwhile set to breaking up rock in Scaff' Dig with PF's. After we spectated SH for a while,we decided to have a go at the 'Top Dig' in TPC. Easy digging and OH/MO took turns at the front. A 3rd person wasn't really needed so MK went to assist SH. Towards the end we were mainly clearing clatch, with still loads more to clear. Before we left some hefty boulders were moved from the floor at the end. Interesting holes in the floor appearing now and boulders still getting larger. Another interesting thing was that all the boulders we broke up today weren't actually limestone, all rotten inert calcite type material which PF's didn't work great on (none of these boulders were smaller than a microwave!), almost as if this area was one big calcited plug. We had a chat today and agreed all building work should be done on a weekend as we keep losing bits of wall where enough time isn't being spent on construction. All out for 1530. Mike.

Top Dig was mostly mud and some soft rocks, with OH and MO taking turns to break it up and empty buckets into nearby spoil. After a couple of hours, a significant amount of the floor area had been removed and lowered, but still plenty of work to be done removing sediment, with an intriguing undercut down towards the back right. Mysti.

Wednesday 19th August 2026

Sam Hill, Mike Kushy and Michael Waterworth.

MK and MW met for 1800 and took 2 drums of cement in. At TPC we met SH who had been down for a while splitting up boulders from the scaffold dig. We all cleared the loose spoil to the main chamber. Some work was done adding extra bars and removing the higher diagonal brace that goes across the middle so we can now add a pulley system. SH had to leave at 2000, so the other pair set to building some walling. 2&1/2 drums of cement in cave and a fair amount of building sand, just need dust. Several huge boulders to break up at the bottom of the scaff dig next time. Really good draught coming out today. MK and MW got to the cars for 2100. Mike K.

Scaffold Dig. Photo SH.