Darfar Potholing Club, based in the Manifold Valley, Staffordshire

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MANIFOLD AREA CAVES

Pre 1984 (1984 - 1998 | 1999 Onwards )

Around this time, an attempt to prevent the water from sinking down the swallets was made by concreting them over. Needless to say, this was in the main ineffective because when the river was in flood, pressure was built up to such an extent that many of the concrete plugs were blown off. Later, more successful attempts were made incorperating cast iron pipes to release the pressure. In modern times the concrete sometimes makes it easier for cavers to find the swallets. Just walk along the dry river bed and it can be seen why.

Until the 1970's the only caves of any size in the valley were St. Bertram's Cave at Beeston Tor and Redhurst Swallet near Wetton Mill. Many small caves were known, many of these archeologically excavated. Darfar Ridge Cave and Elderbush Cave being good examples. Near Blore, Waterways Swallet was found in 1958 by the Stoke on Trent Potholing Club showing great promise, but progress was halted under the great shakehole in an enormous boulder choke.  Digging has been going on sporadically ever since. In 1969 the Main Rising of the Manifold at  Ilam was dug out and divers investigated the pot for about 40 metres. Things began to change in the 1970's when  the Orpheus Caving Club and Birmingham Carabiner Club were very active exploring and digging in the area.

In 1977, Ladyside Pot was discovered and St. Bertram's Cave was extended with the discovery of Skull Rift. Near  Cauldon Low, the D.S.G. were digging Red Scar Swallet and got about 25ft. of passage.

In 1976, Weag's Bridge Resergance was found and Riverside Swallet at Wetton Mill extended to it's present length. Also around this time Pete Mellors, Simon Amatt, Pete Dransfield and others were pushing Gutterholes near Cauldon Low.

1977 saw the O.C.C still extending Ladyside Pot and Pritchards Cave at Beeston Tor was found. Ladyside Pot was now the biggest cave in the Manifold Valley at 1,500ft. (500m approx.) long. At the Main Rising, Bentham and Nelson relined  the bedding and reached about 45 metres from the surface, the flow seemed to emerge from low slots with poor  possibilities. Nelson tragically lost his life here on a subsequent dive.

In 1979, new club T.V.C.G. became interested in the area after reading about the O.C.C. work in the vaLley. Permission to dig at Wetton Mill was obtained and they started digging 'The Crater', fifty yards upstream of Redhurst. About 10ft. down it was abandoned after reducing to narrow joints 4-5 inches wide.

Rabbit's Hole, between Ecton and Wetton Mill was discovered and pushed. Concentration then turned to the main sink. Many people had done a lot work here, the O.C.C. had spent a lot of time excavating various swallets,  but with the exception of Riverside, all were too dangerous and were prone to collapse at the first flood.

A hole was dug in the centre of the main sink to try and find out where the water went. Water sank all round  the edge, but the hole was dry! Obviously, the water was  taking a near vertical route. The hole promptly run  in nearly burying those in it. In July the entrance of Darfar Pot was found by members of T.V.C.G., but it  wasn't until July 1980 after 3-4 bangs by Simon Amatt that they gained entry. It was quickly extended to 350ft.  long. Next Moonmilk Pot was dug into in the gully just downstream of Darfar Pot. A shaft of 3 Oil Drums was  installed and a short passage led into a small nicely decorated chamber with a choked sump at the bottom.

Also in 1980, the Upper Rising at Ilam was dug by the O.C.C., who entered a low chamber with the way on not  obvious. In August, digging by O.C.C at Raspberry Rising was continued and part of the tourist path collapsed hile digging, no-one was seriously hurt, however.

In 1981, the breakthrough into the new series of Darfar Ridge Cave was made and Prospect Chamber and several other small extensions were found in Darfar Pot. During the year work was done on many other swallets, including Darfar Crag Swallet, which with help from Wellwyn C.C., was emptied of half of its rubbish for about 30ft. The most promising sites, however, were Wednesday Pot and T-Pot (discovered late in 1980.) In 1981 this was pushed to 50Oft. long and still going with only a couple of hours digging needed to open it up.

In 1982, Wednesday Pot was extended to 15ft. deep and 50ft. long. Small extensions were made to Darfar Ridge Cave and Riverside Swallet was re-excavated. In the Hamps Valley, T.V.C.E.G. were doing a lot of preliminary  work in the river bed. Over 30 sites were found, the most promising being Lees Pot and Whirlpool Pot. (27ft.  long and 15ft. deep.) Pete Mellors was researching into the Back o' th' Brook sinks. Meanwhile Pete Smith,  Pete Allwright and others were continuing the digging up at Deepdale Farm at Grindon.

In 1983, Darfar Pot was extended to nearly 1,200ft. long with the discovery of Darfar II. The terminal sump was  at a depth of 135ft. 4 pitches now existed in the cave, the deepest Pedigree Pot, 55ft. deep. A passage, The Wind Tunnel, was found which draughted very strongly and and headed straight for Darfar Crag Swallet. T-Pot  was pushed to 620ft. long, still going and work commenced on digging Darfar Crag Swallet out completetely. Work was also done in Darfar Ridge Cave and Wednesday Pot.

1984 - 1998 (Pre 1984 | 1999 Onwards)

In 1984, a new swallet Bent Chisel Pot, was excavated through a concrete plug by members of Darfar P.C. for 10ft. (3m.) The cave was seen to act as a sink and a resurgence.

Also in 1984, the new horizontal passages leading off from the base of the entrance shaft of Darfar Crag Swallet were discovered. Towards the end of the left-hand passage, a draughting continuation heading towards Darfar Pot was discovered, but it was too tight to progress any further.

In 1987, various members of Darfar P.C. were active down Waterways Swallet near Blore. They were attempting to find a way past the large choke at the bottom of the cave.

In August 1988, various members of Darfar P.C. dug into Hemmingslow Swallet at Cauldon Low near Waterhouses. Several passages and a sizeable chambe (Rift Chamber) were explored. In 1989, the cave was surveyed and found to be about 150ft. (50m) long and 45ft. (15m) deep.

Also in 1988, digging by members of Darfar P.C. in Riverside Swallet entered the foot of Tumbledown Aven. It was subsequently climbed by bolting (during 1988 and 1989) and found to be 60-65ft (18m) high, splitting into two near the top.

In 1991, a 30ft (9m) shaft was excavated by members of Darfar P.C. at Riverside 2, (20m downstream of Riverside Swallet), leading to a rift becoming too tight both upstream and downstream. River sank all around. The way on seemed to be upstream, towards Riverside Swallet.

Magic Mushroom Resurgence, situated half way between the Ladyside Brook Sinks and Weag's Bridge Resurgence, was excavated by members of Darfar P.C. in 1991 for 12ft (4m) to a narrow fissure a few inches wide which would need enlarging to make further progress. 

Also in 1991, various members of Darfar P.C. did a lot of work down Deepdale Pot and got to a depth of 40ft (12m). Digging was abandoned when large parts of the boulder walls started collapsing on the diggers. The cave needed a load more scaffolding. (Still does!)

During 1991 and 1992, digging by members of Darfar P.C. in Radcliffe Stables, extended the northerly passage round a couple of tight, sharp corners for 30ft (9m) before breaking into the sizeable Main Chamber up to 20ft (6m) high, 10ft. (3m) wide and 30ft (9m) long. A dig in the lowest part of the chamber looked promising, but ran in after winter floods. 

In 1992, ECP Passage was entered in Redhurst Swallet. A 25ft (8m) pitch led to a larger sloping passage with a narrow draughting rift on the right heading back towards the river. At the foot of the pitch was a deep looking sump. 

In May 1992, members of Darfar P.C. connected the new entrance to the main passage of T-Pot at it's largest point near the 'Hole in the Floor' dig.

In August 1993, the first pitch of what later became Darfar Pot Top Entrance was discovered by digging. It was descended to a sloping clay floor, where on this occasion the Darfar Pot sump was met.

During 1995 and 1996 the upstream passage of Wednesday Pot was enlarged by members of Darfar P.C. for about 30ft (9m) in the direction of Redhurst Swallet. The cave continued in the same direction, draughting strongly, but just too tight to negotiate and needed enlarging. Removal of spoil became a problem. 

In 1996, after enlargement work from above and below, (at the top of the southern-most aven in Glory Chamber), the top entrance was finally connected to Darfar Pot via the newly created, broken second pitch.

Also in 1996, at Wetton Road Swallet, a clean-washed passage was extended down the beds for about 10ft. (3m.) by members of Darfar P.C. until it got too tight. Needs enlarging. It took a very large amount of water.

In 1998, the start of the crawl in Weag's Bridge Resurgence was widened by members of Darfar P.C. who then extended the cave by several metres down a tight, descending rift at the end to an enlargement and parallel rift with water.

1999 Onwards (Pre 1984 | 1984 - 1998)

T.B.A. soon...