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Ingleborough Cave, North Yorkshire
Ingleborough Cave
Clapham Cave
Clapdale Great Cave
county:-   North Yorkshire
locality type:-   cave
locality type:-   show cave
coordinates:-   SD75167123
1Km square:-   SD7571
10Km square:-   SD77
SummaryText:-   Explored 1837; extended by the Northern Speleological Group, 1954, and others.
SummaryText:-   Grade IV; but partly a show cave open to the public.
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

photograph
BMC92.jpg (taken 26.5.2006)  
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BMC91.jpg (taken 26.5.2006)  
evidence:-   descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) 
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.
image WS21P274, button  goto source
Tour to the Caves in the West Riding of Yorkshire, late 18th century 
Page 274:-  "..."
"There are several other caves, all along from hence, on the south side of Ingleborough, above the village of Clapham, to Ingleton; but we postponed the pleasure of exploring these hidden recesses of nature till another summer. ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (8th edn 1849) 
placename:-  Ingleborough Cave
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.
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Page 205:-  "..."
"CLAPHAM is a sweet village, about four miles south of Ingleton, on the Settle road. About a mile and a half from hence is a cavern, which, for magnitude and beauty, is second to none in the British dominions. It may be visited on application to Mr. J. Harrison, the guide, who resides near the church. The walk to it is delightful, the road leading through the pleasure grounds of Ingleborough, the residence of J. W. Farrer, Esq., Master in Chancery. The path lies for a short distance on the margin of a small artificial lake, and then turning to the left, enters a deep valley surrounded by lofty, precipitous hills, abounding in tremendous scars."
"At length you arrive at 'INGLEBOROUGH CAVE.' The entrance is at the base of an immense precipice of limestone, and forms a wide low arch, which gradually"
image OT80P206, button  goto source
Page 206:-  "narrows for about six yards, where there is an iron grating and a gate, kept constantly locked, save for the ingress and egress of visitors. To describe the interior of this cave is impossible - no language can convey an idea of its beauties - and the journey through it is so free from danger, that little children may go to the end of it with impunity. For the first 200 yards, the roof gradually lowers, from about fifteen to five feet. The surface is groined and crossed like elaborate gothic work, but the petrifactions are mostly of a dusky hue, though of every variety of form and size. This portion is called the 'Old Cave.' It was only in 1837 or 1838 that access was gained to the 'New Cave,' by letting off the water. Now, however, it is a stupendous cavern, said to be a 1000 yards in length, forming a succession of chambers, lobbies, &c., adorned with stalactites and stalagmites of infinite variety, single and grouped. A small stream of water flows through it, which tends to keep the air in agitation, and a path has been raised the whole way, so that visitors may walk through perfectly dry. The utmost care is very properly taken to prevent visitors from injuring the petrifactions, which have been and are forming the most beautiful natural curiosity that can possibly be conceived. ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Balderston c1890
placename:-  Clapham Cave
placename:-  Ingleborough Cave
placename:-  Giant's Hall
placename:-  Gothic Arch
item:-  stalactite
source data:-   Print, lithograph, Entrance to Clapham Cave, West Yorkshire, about 1890.
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page 49:-  "... A capital little stream for trouting with the fly during a summer freshet is the one called Fell Beck, which is here [Gaping Gill Hole] engulfed in the gaping jaws of this stupendous abysmal orifice, to appear, it is supposed, close to the mouth of Clapham Cave, with which, no doubt, it has direct connection; indeed, it is affirmed that such is the case."
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page 55:-  "..."
"Clapham Cave."
"Clapham, or, as it is sometimes called, Ingleborough Cave, has its entrance some distance up a little glen leading"
image BLD1P056, button  goto source
page 56:-  "from Clapham to the mountain. The key is kept at the village. The charge for admission for less than three persons is 2s. 6d.; for three or more, one shilling a head. The mouth of the cave is in a lofty rock, sixty-one feet in height, whilst mossy trees and creeping parasites add charms to the scene without, ere an entry be made to view a widely different class of natural beauty, the result of slow chemical and physical changes within the womb of the earth. In olden times access had been gained to the extent of about sixty yards within the cavern, but the late Mr. J. Farrer made various explorations, diverting the water, and opening out the passages in certain places, so as to render the cavern accessible for about one thousand yards; it is even said that exploration was made further than the point which is called the Giant's Hall. The first so-called Gothic arch is about two hundred yards from the mouth of the cave. In the centre of one chamber, the Pillar Hall, is a solid column of spar, or stalactitic matter, from roof to floor, six inches thick; there are also stalactites and stalagmites still at work forming new, but as yet incomplete, columns, having interspaces between. There are at different places vertical rows of fluted stalactitic plates, called organs, by striking the edges of which in rapid succession musical notes are formed. There are the jockey's huge cap, flitch of bacon, elephant's head, bridescake, bed and cushion, fortification; slender coral-like incrustations, or tufted processes like leafless shrubs, inverted, or groups of lustres. The path is good, being raised above the water in some places; the old line at which the latter once stood being marked by a band or free edge of white concretion. Once or twice a low bridge has to be traversed; here and there the roof is depressed, and in one case the act of progression entails an uncomfortable degree of stooping. After all the rest, the Giant's Hall is reached, and in this is the small orifice which is said to lead to Gaping Gill Hole."
image  click to enlarge
BLD1E5.jpg
image BLD1P057, button  goto source
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page 59:-  "This beautiful cave is one which can be seen, even by ladies, with pleasure, the passages being so free from water."
item:-  private collection : 27.6
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Balderston c1890 map
placename:-  Clapham Cave
source data:-   Map, the hills in the Ingleton area, probably by Robert R Balderston, engraved by Goodall and Suddick, Leeds, West Yorkshire, about 1890.
image
BS1SD77K.jpg
"Clapham Cave"
item:-  private collection : 27.1
Image © see bottom of page

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