from RRCPC 6 May 1970
The investigation of Pegleg Pot was commenced on the 20th September
1970. The survey incorporates all the known passages and will, I
hope, encourage others to dig and search further. Much time was
expended poking in corners, through boulders, in sumps, up tight
crawls and chasing elusive draughts but all to no avail. The
instruments used were a Suunto compass and a brass chain with 0.2
metre calibrations. Levelling was accomplished by painstaking step
measurements, no clinometer being available at the time. The depth of
the Pot was found to be 43 metres (140 feet). The length of passage
surveyed was 783 metres (2,568 feet). Lengths and bearings of major
passages were converted to co-ordinates for plotting.
Invaluable assistance was provided by Roger Calvert, Frank Hardy,
Dick Arculus, Howard Rothwell, Ian Jopson, Steve Hesketh, Hugh St.
Lawrence, Chris Bargh and Phil Pearson. I thank Tom Sykes for
providing historical data.
Introduction
Leaving the Farm, follow the track past Bull Pot of the Witches.
Instead of turning off to Lancaster Hole continue southwards, passing
Hellot Hole (in a shakehole on the left of the track). The path
descends into the Lancaster Hole valley then climbs again until
Hellot Scales barn comes into view. Immediately bear left until the
Ease Gill is attained. Traverse upstream above the clump of trees
beneath which lie the waterfalls and Kirk Pot. On the first bend
above the waterfalls cross to the south side of the Ease Gill. Pegleg
Pot entrance lies in a rift guarded by a large toppled block. An iron
bedstead protects the entrance from becoming blocked in time of
flood. The close proximity of Pegleg to Lancaster Hole is significant
in that it may lead the latter caverns beneath the Ease Gill to
establish an important intercounty link.
Geologically the Pot is roughly the same distance from the Dent fault
as Lancaster Hole and lies in gently dipping Great Scar limestone
intercalated with thin shales or mudstone beds, one of the thickest
being responsible for Surprise Hall although of limited lateral
extent.
The cessation of heavy rain is no guarantee to the
safety of the Pot from flooding although a moderately heavy rainfall
is required to force the water as far downstream as Pegleg.
Howard Rothwell and the author have had experience of the contrary
nature of the Ease Gill. Slowly the water fingered its way towards
the entrance. Was this innocuous snake of water to be ignored? A
strange rushing sound made us look upstream. Coming towards us was a
wall of water 25 cm. high. It rolled along at a steady walking pace,
the wave front refusing to be diverted by any obstruction. We raced
to the waterfalls and sat in the natural amphitheatre by Kirk Pot.
All was quiet. The trees rustled, a dark cloud obscured the sky. A
rush, a roar and the torrent burst over the waterfall. The atmosphere
was as if the day of reckoning was nigh. The water hurtled into Kirk
Pot diverting the rising waters underground and at last the progress
of the Gill was stemmed. This took place about an hour after rain had
ceased falling on Casterton Fell.
Fresh plant debris and the presence of worms in Surprise Hall points
to regular and severe flooding. The present inlets from the Ease Gill
seem incapable of conveying sufficient water to represent the rapid
water level changes which must occur within the Pot. Flooding must be
due to a subterranean source and as yet remains a mystery although a
possible theory is that it is caused by "backing-up" from the Leck
Beck-Witches phreas. Is there a direct relationship between the water
levels in Pegleg and Skittle Alley Sump in Lancaster Hole? Divers in
Skittle Alley have found no sizable underwater continuation. Surprise
Hall and the adjoining tunnel are streamless except for trickles from
insignificant inlets. Mud on the passage floor beyond the 21 metre
pitch is evidence of non rapid stream flow. The present active system
finishes at this pitch down which flood water derived from the Ease
Gill presumably disappears. However until more is known about the
flooding characteristics of the Pot it is not advisable to be around
to discover first hand what really happens. The cavers trapped in
1962 sought refuge in the second chamber. Inspection of the first
chamber after a week of floods showed a water level of about
1 metre this
only being due to a rib of rock restricting flow into the
continuation of the passage. In case of emergency it would seem best
to amuse oneself in the second chamber.
5th October 1958
The N.P.C. noticing an active stream sink in Lower Ease Gill
proceeded to excavate an entrance. Entry was gained a fortnight later
and a preliminary exploration made.' One of the explorers found it
expedient to unscrew his leg to negotiate bends in the entrance tube
- hence the name. In the following year excavations within the Pot
were made and the major passages surveyed. The original survey by
J.O. Myers was entitled "Lower Ease Gill Cavern."
1962
Pegleg Pot made its debut in Cave Politics at a time when access to
Leck and Casterton Fells was extremely tenuous.
12th February 1962
Barry Greenwood and Alan Fincham were trapped by floods. They
sheltered below the short climb in the second chamber. Following the
rescue all access to the Fell was terminated. Legitimate caving in
the area came to a sudden halt. Pressing work in Ease Gill Caverns
was delayed. Negotiations with the landowners were started by Tom
Sykes on behalf of the R.R.C.P.C. Other clubs became interested and
lent their support.
22nd June 1963
Eleven clubs formed the C.N.C.C. the first officials being Secretary
-Tom Sykes: Chairman - Alf Hainsworth (Bradford Pothole Club);
Treasurer - Alan Clegg (late of Burnley Caving Club).
Untiring work by the new organisation resulted in an agreement for
access to the Fell which was reopened on the 1st July 1963.
In the ensuing years there was little interest in Pegleg and
subsequent floods blocked the entrance.
11th August 1968
The R.R.C.P.C. decided to reopen the system. The attempt was ill
fated. Ian Carruthers (Eccles) received a serious leg injury. The Pot
remained closed.
May 1970
Jim Newton and other Club members successfully gained admittance.
Attempts were made to bale and dig through the sumped choke at the
southern end of the Pennine Way. Some scaling was done and later in
the year the Pot was surveyed.
References: R.R.C.P.C. newsletter vol. 7 No.4.
N.P.C. Journal vol.2 No.2.
One drops through the restricted entrance to emerge in a 9 metre drainpipe crawl. The first chamber is a short length of passage choked at both ends, the relationship with the rest of the cave being uncertain. It is separated from the passable way by a thin wall breached along a number of joints. Stooping onward through a pool the 5 metre climb is reached. Descend and turn right into a vadose canyon. This section is greatly undercut. A grotesque stalactite is passed. At section 7 (see survey) the wall has been under-mined on a mudstone bed to cause a minor collapse. One can crawl in the water or over the top of the toppled block. The roof tube dips slightly causing one to stoop before the ceiling once more allows comfortable walking. This was probably the site of an ancient sump. The two avens possess gentle sporting climbs only being aqueously active when the Ease Gill is flowing. The 21 metre pitch is traversed with care into a passage which is no longer scoured clean. The 7 metre pitch is furnished with a perfect belay point. The passage leading off to the right at the head of the pitch returns one to the deep rift and a roof traverse to a choked inlet. Once down the short pitch, walk through the chamber and climb into an eyehole on the right. Take care if investigating the blind chamber at the end due to the difficulty of return. There is a draughting aperture in the muddy floor which probably connects with the upstream passages at the base of the big pitch. The emergence into Surprise Hall, a bedding plane chamber formed in a thick mudstone lens, is indeed spectacular. The nature of the cave now changes.
Climb down into the Pennine Way. Downstream the roof lowers and dives
into a pool. At first sight it seems to be a sump but it has been
baled to reveal a mud choke, Excavations yielded no sign of the roof
lifting again.
Upstream, climb the dry cascade below a large detached block. Notice
the gravel floor which changes suddenly to sand as though a beach.
The height of the passage is reduced as the sand content increases.
The interesting apertures in the roof are only solution hollows. The
deep well, which may be difficult to locate, is on the right hand
side of the passage near the cairn and can be found by scrambling up
a conspicuous rib of rock. Projectiles rattle down 10 metres or so
before bouncing into water. A thin man could be lowered down the
shaft but he would have to place utter reliance on the hauling party
and contemplate the possibilities of air shortage. It is not an
exercise to be undertaken lightly. After the first few metres the
shaft appears to widen. What lies below? The survey suggests it may
lead to the sumped canal, another possibility is an interim sump
between 2 and 3 (see survey). The latter hangs on the relative levels
of the sumps and if the depicted levels are correct then one can
postulate a streamway beneath the Pennine Way draining the northern
sumps to sump 3. A small error in heighting (which is feasible
considering the method used) could mean all the sumps are at the same
altitude in which case the passages below the Pennine Way will be
flooded.
A few metres north of the well, a side passage leads to a 4 metre
pitch. Before descending the pitch notice the restricted inlet,
carrying a trickle of water, on the left and an eyehole on the right.
Tumbled pebbles on the gravel floor of the chamber indicate, the
Potential of the waterfall. The only outlet is choked by gravel.
Ascending the ladder again, investigate the little aven at the
southern end of the chamber which leads into a partially mud filled
phreatic tube, yet another of the numerous promising digs.
Returning to the Pennine Way proceed northwards along the left hand
side of the tunnel. Five metres beyond the boulder fall turn right
into a short flat-out crawl and climb into a muddy rift. Having
descended another rift slide down to the right into a petite chamber
which appears blind. The way on is by your feet. It is likely that
the mud tube is silted up necessitating the removal of a couple of
cubic metres of sand. A bulky caver might deem the tube a little
awkward especially as once entered head first it is difficult to
retreat. The main passage no doubt continues above the rifts, being
heavily choked. It may link with the upper section of the Skittle
Alley passage in Lancaster Hole. Before attempting the mud tube let
us return to the 21metre pitch.
A fifty foot ladder will suffice as one can swing onto a ledge near
the bottom and free climb the rest. A lifeline should be used.
Downhill, the walls sport large areas of calcite sheeting. Brecciated
areas of rock point to a tectonic disturbance, probably a tear fault,
there being no evidence of vertical displacement. A reduction in.
width forces one to crawl. The survey finishes at the sump although
the rift can be seen to continue for at least another 10 metres, the
water deepening, I thought I could feel a draught blowing over the
water but it might have been wishful thinking (more likely I was
trying to ignore it.) Sump 3 has that evil look of finality. The
survey shows it to be about six feet higher than Leck Beck Head. The
entrance height was derived from the extrapolation of 25 ft. contours no precise level
being available. The H.W.C.P.C. obtained a figure of 140 ft. between
Pegleg Pot and Leek Beck Head by surface levelling. The corresponding
elevation on the survey gives a depth of 142 feet from the T.B.M. at
the entrance to sump 3. It therefore seems reasonable to assume sump
3 to be level with Leck Beck Head, the discrepancy being in the
entrance datum.
Beyond the mud tube a delightful quality of mud is encountered
improving with the passage of cavers. A calcite slope leads into sump
1. Here an inlet can to followed for a short distance. This passage
is probably the continuation of the one choked by calcite and mud
(above section 24). The Far Stream passage loses its diminutive water
to the only visibly fed sump in the cave which is entered by sliding
through a narrow hole in the side of the, passage and climbing down
to water level. Upstream the way is cleaner and one is soon able to
stand. A number of cascades are ascended until a short crawl
introduces one to a large mysterious passage displaying contradictory
cockling. This passage is on the same horizon as the Pennine Way (see
true sections) but its relationship is baffling. Pursue the gentle
stream to the not so big chamber near the end. The large passage is
lost amidst the calcite and fallen blocks. All that remains is the
stream flowing in its own little canyon. However, continue upstream
to a fork. To pursue the left branch climb into the roof and squeeze
through an eyehole effectively by-passing the initially constricted
section. The right fork is the most interesting and perhaps the most
frustrating passage. A strong draught issues through a sizable block
choke but no way through can be found. A dig was started following
the right wall but as it involved lying flat out beneath a hanging
block enthusiasm rapidly waned. The dimensions of the detached rocks
indicate a large area of collapse therefore a sizable void must exist
above. The absence of grit boulders refutes the likelihood of a
collapse from the surface.
A difficult correlation to achieve is that between Leck Beck Head,
Witches Cave, Lancaster Hole and the caverns of lower Ease Gill i.e.
how is the phreas interrelated.
It is generally assumed that Sputnik (Kirk Pot)
unites with Pegleg Pot the interception being probably under water in
the continuation of the deep rift.
It is known that once the Ease Gill is running Sputnik and Pegleg
absorb all the water in most cases. Eye witnesses can confirm that
once water sinks in Sputnik, Witches Cave starts debauching. Of
necessity Pegleg is also taking water being higher up the Gill.
However, the stream only reaches lower Ease Gill in tine of flood
when Lancaster Hole sump will be backing-up due to the ingress of
water from all the upper Ease Gill sinks. Are Pegleg and Sputnik
therefore directly responsible for Witches debauching or does this
occur due to the overall flooding of the area when Witches acts as a
flood rising for the whole? The latter is the most palatable as the
water levels in Witches Cave and Leck Beck flood risings coincide
under static conditions. The relationship between the active risings
and the flood risings could be explored by monitoring both during a
flood pulse test.