series limestone cave tourist attraction village southern edge near wells somerset england river axe flows cave site special scientific interest biological geological reasons cave cave formed process natural acid rocks water originates rain flows streams rocks plateau sinking limestone boundary cave systems hole rest rain directly limestone temperature caves constant caves humans years demonstrated discovery tools period animal remains evidence stone occupation continued corn grinding mill operated waters early waters river paper mill oldest extant britain began operations circa low temperature caves means cheese caves site cave britain undertaken 1930s divers explored extensive network chambers developing breathing apparatus novel techniques process extent cave system unknown approximately metres including chambers having explored cave system opened cave following work tourist attraction owned recently circus owner cave noted witch hole roughly human shaped legend says witch turned stone monk location film television productions description cave consists dry gallery connecting large chambers contains witch formation high level passages leading chambers small exits tourist entrance river axe formed water entering cave systems flows chambers flows resurgence metres metres long leaves cave enters open air river maintained artificially high level falls couple metres lowered allow access fourth fifth chambers small air spaces normally accessible cave diving fifth chamber submerged route followed metres passing large air spaces surface ninth chamber chamber metres long high high level passages lead resurgence blocked metres current resurgence artificial tunnel metres leading chamber allows cave visitors cross seventh chambers bridges skirt ninth chamber walkway exiting near resurgence second excavated metre long tunnel chamber allows visitors visit chamber ninth chamber dive metres passes immediately limestone descends steadily metres depth metres couple high enclosed air spaces water roof reaching air space nineteenth chamber twentieth chamber large boulder slope metres long metres wide metres high passage metres long blocked fossil resurgence gorge total length passages area metres passage near end cleared attempt provide easier connection estimated metres away continuation found nineteenth chamber metres passage descending depth metres surfaces second chamber metres dry passages levels static pool way pool depth metres metres passage surface metres large passage followed short arrive metres described guide book magnificent river passage metres high metres wide finishes cascade falling metres long lake metres high level passages river way continues underwater metres reaching depth metres called thick mud deposits end metres maximum depth metres gravel prevented progress end located metres north east entrance geology southern resurgence drains southern flanks second largest resurgence estimated area square kilometres average discharge litres imp gal gal second water origin drained non limestone rocks collecting streams surface sinking near lower limestone black rock limestone boundary plantation near lead works hunter pools passes major cave systems hole water directly limestone southern slopes largely follow flanks fold rock convex upwards oldest beds core crest truncated erosion forming plateau rock strata dip south west outer slopes mainly exposed centre cave mainly formed limestone chemical naturally acidic rocks unique cave formed cemented fossil limestone representing fill valley cave formed conditions local water table lowering base levels subterranean drainage flowing resulted passages abandoned river evidence number abandoned particular passages twentieth chamber interpreted spring waters surfaced gorge uncertain original rising formed main rising blocked current resurgence located close base head short gorge formed erosion subsequent collapse morphology passages determined rock strata formed outer cave system formed characterised shallow loops linking low chambers tall narrow passages known developed fractured inner system formed limestone characterised deep loops reaching depths metres water flowing dip planes rising enlarged joints far reaches cave passages descend metres sea level history suggests derived cave gave early names cave hole cave latin norman hole cave basically means cave cave cave gives alternative old english meaning snare animals fossils range animals found including pleistocene lion leo cave occupied humans iron age possibly nearby occupied stone age hunters dry caves slopes near hole resurgence contain cave sediments laid ice age outside cave foundations 1st century identified built roman era end 4th century products roman lead working area discovered lead mines produced contamination water emerging underground hole lead water believed affected quality paper produced designation water area covering large area far away 1970s 1980s controversial conflicts interest land owners recreational cave scientists initially proposals forward designation restrict farmers landowners allowed cover entire area opposed restrictive difficult enforce argued agricultural uses fields directly contact cave entrances little detrimental effect caves debate caves cave features considered important final settlement resulted smaller area designated agricultural practices removed list potentially damaging operations entrance gate paper mill built tunnel excavated chamber daylight dug coal miners area cave extended tunnel chamber chamber constant temperature caves mature cheese cheese tunnel excavated tunnel exit cave cave archaeological investigations undertaken moved somerset study classics vicar hearing discovery bones local led excavations area den work led discovery evidence use man caves tools found association bones age years continued work led excavations entrance passage witch kitchen chamber hell ladder hole roman coins 3rd century discovered flint hole scheduled ancient monument work found feet dating iron age sealed place british artefacts finds included silver coin pottery weapons tools bronze ornaments roman coins fourth centuries work continued later work led explored human occupation hole showed fourth chamber great cave british cemetery excavations hole ground outside entrance cave foundations 1st century iron age pottery seen covered foundations roman buildings dating 1st late 4th century exploration cave far chamber galleries known iron age period prior construction dam resurgence feed water paper mill downstream chambers fourth fifth accessible upstream way lies underwater diving tried leadership equipment loan penetrated cave reaching seventh chamber standard diving dress events marked successful cave britain diving resumed early june home suit explore region resurgence chamber underground course river chambers british remains found archaeological work dominated early cave large ninth chamber entered april advance dive base tenth eleventh chambers discovered way deep divers breathing pure oxygen closed circuit cave claimed life april lost life returning ninth chamber fatality occur drowned routine dive upstream progress required apparatus overcome depth limitation breathing pure oxygen swimming fins reached eleventh chamber depth clear water discovered 12th 13th chambers unfortunately got separated divers eleventh chamber ending spending hours trapped chamber trouble getting safety opinion hardened use short duration favour longer duration closed circuit equipment likewise traditional approach walking preferred swimming employing semi closed circuit nitrogen oxygen went reach elbow upstream ninth chamber depth point known slot way deep gas mixture breathing year hiatus ensued open circuit air diving established free swimming use new generation cave mobile water able dive deeper approach able reach air surface eighteenth chamber chambers air spaces named limits exploration brief exploration occurred mess guidelines laid ninth chamber progressed large dry inlet passage twentieth chamber followed river axe upstream dive covering metres maximum depth metres second chamber way appeared lost climbing operations ninth chamber found abandoned outlet passage terminated close surface dry overland route downstream higher levels sixth chambers far fifth chamber discoveries enable cave extended ninth chamber cave divers start directly bypassing dive chamber onwards way second chamber found february explored line ran days later somewhat reached chamber laying metres line short surfaced fourth chamber confronted described magnificent sight river axe pouring passage feet high feet wide terminating blue lake metres lake days later metres maximum depth metres emerge fifth chamber muddy place named lake fifth chamber represents upstream air surface river axe rises deep progressive depth records cave diving british isles set firstly finally pair returned explore depth setting new british isles depth record cave diving record broken polish explorer dive ireland water samples collected points caves showed different chemical compositions results showed location water flows static second chamber different route majority upstream witch hole old legends witch preserved chamber caves story different versions basic features man engaged girl witch living romance fails man monk seeks revenge witch having frequently relationships monk witch cave hides dark corner near underground rivers monk water dark parts cave witch hiding blessed water immediately witch remains cave day year old skeleton woman discovered caves traditionally linked legendary witch remains collection wells founded excavated owner caves said wanted returned partly legend witch prompted haunted team visit hole caves mill explore location depth searching evidence paranormal activity aired march episode transmitted series run satellite cable channel living new actor play witch chosen amid media interest role selected ahead applicants tourism cave opened public owner captain following preparatory work years later wrote caves novel romance took offence portrayal fictional equivalent initiating costly libel suit current paper mill building water wheel powered small canal river dates grade listed building commercial production paper ceased february owner concluded longer market product sold historic machinery visitors site able watch short video paper cotton attractions include dinosaur yard small museum cave cave diving theatre circus shows house mirrors penny arcades cave guide husband family owned caves years contestant line cave mill joined purchase operated tourist attraction management team collection art sold present owner circus proprietor introduced circus school cave filming episodes bbc series doctor serial revenge starring referenced comedy cave filming british series blake robin caves doctor end time including scene doctor sharing thoughts visions august cnn reported employed security dog destroyed parts valuable collection bears including belonged elvis_presley estimated worth insurance company exhibition stuffed animals insisted having guard dog protection february turned victorian bowling green caves crazy golf course obtaining planning permission
Wookey Hole Caves