Longwood Swallet

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Longwood Swallet
Location Charterhouse, Somerset
Depth 175m
Length 1.65km
Coordinates grid reference ST48615571
Discovery 1944
Geology Limestone
Hazards Frequent flooding
Access Restricted

Longwood Swallet (grid reference ST48615571) is a cave near Charterhouse, in the carboniferous limestone of the Mendip Hills, in Somerset, England. The cave is part of the Cheddar Complex SSSI and connected to August Hole.

It is 1.65km in length and reaches a depth of 175m.[1]

The cave was discovered in September 1944 by boys from Sidcot School.[2]

The cave is locked and access is controlled by the Charterhouse Caving Company. There is a warning sign posted at the entrance to the cave about flooding. This has always been a problem, but is more pronounced due to the extraction of water from the spring at Charterhouse. When the pumps owned by Bristol Water stop this can cause a flood wave to travel down the stream and into the cave.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mendip. UK and Ireland Cave Lengths and Depths. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
  2. ^ Johnson, Peter (1967). The History of Mendip Caving. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. 
  3. ^ Charterhouse Area. Council of Southern Caving Clubs. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.

[edit] See also