Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Braithwaite Wife Hole, North Yorkshire


	Braithwaite Wife Hole, North Yorkshire
	Braithwaite Wife Hole
	Braithwaite Pot
site name:-	Ingleborough
county:-	North Yorkshire
locality type:-	cave
coordinates:-	SD743762
1Km square:-	SD7476
10Km square:-	SD77
SummaryText:-	Braithwaite Pot is a small cave near the top of the hole.
SummaryText:-	Explored by University of Leeds Speleological Association, 1969 and 1974.
SummaryText:-	Grade III.
references:-	Brook, A & Brook, D & Davies, G M &Long, M H: 1975: Northern Caves, vol.3 Ingleborough: Dalesman Books (Clapham, North Yorkshire):: ISBN 0 85206 312 1

evidence:-	descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) placename:- Barefoot Wives Hole
source data:-	Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821. goto source Tour to the Caves in the West Riding of Yorkshire, late 18th century Page 264:- "..." "A naturalist cannot but observe a number of conical holes, with their vertexes downwards, not only all over the base of Ingleborough, but particularly a row near the summit. They are from two to four or five yards in diameter, and from two to three or four yards deep, except Barefoot-wives-hole (hereafter-mentioned) which is much larger. They resemble those pits about Mount AEtna, Vesuvius, and the various parts of Sicily and Calabria, as described by Hamilton and other writers. What may have been the cause of them, is left for the determination of the ingenious naturalist." goto source Page 266:- "..." "A little further to the east [of Meir Gill], we came to another curiosity of nature, called Barefoot-wives-hole: we had noticed it in our ascent up the side of Ingleborough. It is a large round pit, in the form of a funnel, the diameter at the top being about fifty or sixty yards, and its depth twenty-six. It is easily descended in most places, though on the south side there is a high rocky precipice, but is dry; the waters that are emptied into it being swallowed up among the rocks and loose stones at the bottom. ..."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (8th edn 1849) placename:- Barefoot Wives' Hole
source data:-	Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes. goto source Page 203:- "..." "a number of cavities all over the mountain [Ingleborough], resembling inverted cones; the most remarkable is 'Barefoot Wives' Hole,' a large funnel-shaped pit, 50 yards in diameter, and about 26 yards deep. It is always dry, the water which may flow into it being swallowed amongst the loose stones at the bottom. These pits are said to be similar to those found on the Mounts Etna and Vesuvius. ..."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Balderston c1890 placename:- Braithwaite Wife Hole
source data:-	Book, Ingleton, Bygone and Present, by Robert R and Margaret Balderston, published by Simpkin, Marshall and Co, London, and by Edmndson and Co, 24 High Street, Skipton, Yorkshire, about 1890. goto source page 75:- "..." "... there are many funnel-shaped holes on the moorland not far above Crina Bottom. ... there is another of vast proportions and with rocky funnel, called Braithwaite Wife Hole, to the north north-east of Mere Gill Hole, having a girth at the top of one hundred and sixty-six yards, and a depth of seventy-five feet. ..."

evidence:-	old map:- Balderston c1890 map placename:- Braithwaite Wife Shake Hole
source data:-	Map, the hills in the Ingleton area, probably by Robert R Balderston, engraved by Goodall and Suddick, Leeds, West Yorkshire, about 1890. BS1SD77N.jpg "Braithwaite Wife Shake Hole" item:- private collection : 27.1 Image © see bottom of page

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