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Bagshawe
Cavern is a
significant mine and cave system situated east of the village of
Bradwell in
the Peak District, England. Mining records are available from the 1750s
when the mine was known as Mulespinner Mine and in the early years of
the
twentieth century miners broke into extensive natural cave passage. In
the second
half of the twentieth century Bagshawe Cavern was operated as a tourist
attraction and today the Eldon Pothole Club are involved in the
maintainence and exploration of the mine/cave complex. Bagshawe Cavern
is open to any competent, experienced and suitably equipped cavers who
provide documentary proof of
public liability insurance and pay a small fee.
Click on the
images above to enlarge
Visiting
Bagshawe Cavern
If you would
like to visit please email The Custodian, Amanda Revell, giving
reasonable notice: amandarevell@hotmail.com.
Very important
information for visitors
- The fee for the use
of the cave is £2.00 per person. Payment should be arranged with
the Custodian.
- The entrance to
Bagshawe Cavern is inside a locked building known as The Coe. The
Custodian will provide a code which should be entered on the pushbutton
combination lock on the Coe door. After entering the code turn the knob
clockwise for access. If the wrong code is entered turn the knob
anti-clockwise to clear and re-enter the code. Pull the door
to The Coe
shut behind you immediately to prevent unauthorised access by people
(or local pets). Exit is by simply turning the latch on the
inside of the Coe door and does not require a code, key etc.
- Fill in details of
your trip in the logbook located inside the Coe prior to descending.
- Note that
Bagshawe Cavern is not inspected for safety. There are unprotected
vertical drops, deep water, unstable boulders and sections of Bagshawe
Cavern flood quickly and catastrophically under some conditions. By
entering Bagshawe Cavern you must accept serious injury or death as
your own risk and indemnify the landowner of all liability towards
yourself and members of your party. You must not enter Bagshawe Cavern
unless you are experienced
in underground exploration, properly equipped and prepared.
- Ensure that you
have notified a person(s) of your intention to explore Bagshawe Cavern
and the time that you are expected back. This should be someone
reliable and who can carry out an agreed cave rescue call-out procedure
if you are not back at the agreed time. The Custodian will not perform
this
role for you.
Additional
information for leaders of
commercial, voluntary and educational groups
- For conservation
reasons group use is limited to designated areas of the
cave. The 'Use by Area' document shows the areas that are open to
groups and is available [here].
Leaders of commercial, voluntary and educational groups must adhere to
the leader:group ratios that are specified in this document to promote
the conservation of the cave. Leaders must
also be conversant with the relevant sections of the Bagshawe Cavern
Conservation Plan. Click [here] to download
a .pdf copy. Copies of both of these documents are available in the
Coe and can also be obtained from The Custodian.
- The fee for the use
of the cave applies to instructor(s) and
assistant(s) as well as group members.
- Bagshawe Cavern is
situated in a residential area. Leaders of groups should ensure that
groups do not make excessive noise whilst visiting the Cavern.
- There are no toilet
facilities at Bagshawe Cavern but public toilets can be found in the
centre of Bradwell.
Visiting
the gated sections of Bagshawe Cavern
Certain parts of
Bagshawe Cavern are particularly fragile and are subject to a leader
system. For details of these areas please read the Bagshawe Cavern
Conservation Plan or see the 'Use by Area' document [here]. If you would like to
arrange a visit to one or
more of these areas please contact the Custodian who will put you in
touch with a leader.
Getting
to Bagshawe Cavern
Bagshawe Cavern is located a short
distance east of the village of Bradwell in the Peak District at national grid reference SK171808. Parking for a few cars is available in
a small car park adjacent to the cavern.
Click [here]
for an aerial photgraph showing the location of Bagshawe Cavern.
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