The discovery of Red Rose Series was made in
August 1965 by a small party of R.R.C.P.C.
members whilst exploring in the downstream
area.
A party of three, namely, Sandra Kilburn,
(now Mrs. Wilkinson), Jim Newton and Duncan Baldwin was responsible
for the initial entry.
On the occasion of the discovery, the usual descent was followed by a
spell of sightseeing and an enthusiastic look into many inlets.
Continuing downstream brought us to the canal crawl, where a low
flooded bedding plane rose to an elliptical tunnel leading directly
to the terminal sump pool.
Immediately before the sump, a sloping cleft ascended on the right
wall and opened above into an oval passage. The climb began as a
chimney, giving easy access to the way above. On entry this was found
to run back towards the sump and widened gradually into a junction
complex in the form of a "cross roads".
Bisecting the passage at right angles flowed a narrow stream-way 10
ft. below. A short climb led down to the water. So chose to head
downstream until a re-encounter with the sump pool left us more
surprised than disappointed. To the left, a projecting rib concealed
this passage from the usual viewpoint over the pool. Retracing our
steps, we passed underneath the "Cross Roads" and proceeded in the
upstream direction. The passage size soon increased to walking
dimensions and developed an upper phreatic tube winding sinuously
through a maze of perfected solution hollows. The quality of phreatic
sculpture became more marked, and as we reached the limit of the
vadose rejuvenation, the whole lessened into a tubular tunnel. Within
a short distance the echo of crashing water sounded clearly along the
passage. Passing two acute bends brought us into a spacious inlet
chamber where the water divided. The main flow discharged from a
fissured roof, the remainder flowed from a tight inlet at floor
level.
Back at the "Cross Roads" we scrambled to our former position above
the streamway. Gazing across the chamber, we saw an obvious
counterpart to the entrance passage leading on.. This began as an
upright fissure carrying an intermittent trickle. The way shortly
lowered to a series of low crawls scattered with painful pebbles and
strategically placed serrations. About to retreat, J.N. and I
shuffled backwards, allowing Sandra to tackle the tortuous way ahead.
Within a few minutes an excited voice announced that the crawl had
suddenly widened into a comfortable passage. Picking our route back,
we joined our ambitious pioneer standing in a large fault chamber
stacked throughout with boulder debris and presenting a choice of
ways. Our first action was to examine the chamber. To the right, a
choked rift was climbed to its dismal extremes amongst infill.
Bearing left, the same rift became choked in a similar manner. The
chamber floor rose gently above the point of entry and an ascent led
to an abandoned streamway 15 ft. high by 3 ft. wide. Forward the way
narrowed, and a short crawl led on until a sharp bend directed the
passage into an oblique fissure. The way decreased again and with
deepening fill we struggled on to an expected blockage. Reversing, we
caught sight of a higher section above a series of wall flutings
which could only be described as a collection of multidirectional
bacon slicers. Risking the wear on flesh and wet-suits, J.N. and I
eased our way through the razor jungle to enter the open section
beyond.
The floor was covered with a coating of mud and displayed some
unusual mud formations at the time. Exploring in a downstream
direction the muds deepened to eventually bind a matrix of previous
stream wash into a cemented choke. The upstream direction was less
filled and contained some formations. The passage then rounded a
slight bend resembling the lower and shortly ending in a similar
choke.
Speleological Notes
Judging by the succession of development phases in the main passage,
it predates the main stream route to the sump. The destination of
this horizon is at present uncertain due to the effect of constant
surface invasion transforming established levels. A detailed account
of the observed features will not be given at this stage as it has
formed as part of the upper phreatic complex of Aygill and Bull Pot,
and a full description would have to include such. For those who are
concerned with the development of the area, an introductory outline
is given below.
Geologically, the series are centered on a fault zone of 70† the
displacement being unknown.. Some shale intrusions lie in the fault.
The bedding dip varies greatly, little consistency being present.
The first stage observable is phreatic, being a syphonic tube
extending from the inlet chamber through the "Cross Roads" and
becoming detached to choke before the fault chamber is reached. The
entrance tunnel may have been next formed by an interaction between
the two from the established sump chamber of tectonic origin. The
intervention of a vadose stage has transformed the upper tube
somewhat, causing incised pockets to break down. The third stage is
that of an even-graded displacement phreatic horizon in the same
direction becoming lost in the fault chamber. An extensive vadose
stage new follows with mixed phases developing to the present. On a
directional basis, it would seem that the whole has headed towards
Bull Pot and has become progressively abandoned as the shales
receded.
Duncan Baldwin.