Three Counties System
Duke Street in Ireby Fell Cavern II
Map showing the location of Three Counties System
Map showing the location of Three Counties System
LocationNorth-West England
Coordinates54°12′25″N 2°30′23″W / 54.20699°N 2.506452°W / 54.20699; -2.506452
Depth253 metres (830 ft)[1]
Lengthabout 86 kilometres (53 mi)[1]
GeologyCarboniferous limestone
Entrances53 [2]
DifficultyVarious
HazardsVarious
AccessVarious[3]

The Three Counties System is a set of inter-connected limestone solutional cave systems spanning the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire in the north of England. The possibility of connecting a number of discrete cave systems in the area to create a single super-system that spans the county borders was first proposed by Dave Brook in 1968, and it was achieved in 2011. The system is currently over 86 kilometres (53 mi) long, making it the longest in the UK and the thirtieth longest in the world, and there continues to be scope for considerably extending the system.[4]

Description

The Three Counties System's most southerly entrance is currently Large Pot (54°11′11″N 2°29′18″W / 54.186439°N 2.488420°W / 54.186439; -2.488420, NGR SD 6821 7685) on the northerly flank of Kingsdale in North Yorkshire, and the most northerly entrance is currently Bull Pot of the Witches (54°13′35″N 2°31′10″W / 54.226398°N 2.519514°W / 54.226398; -2.519514, NGR SD 6623 8131) beneath Barbon Low Fell in Cumbria – a distance of almost 5 kilometres (3 mi). Between the two, the system passes beneath Ireby Fell and Leck Fell which are in Lancashire.

The system runs mainly north–south, its western extent being limited by the Craven Fault which truncates the limestone exposure, and the eastern extent where the limestones are conformable overlain by younger rocks. Streams flow from the higher topography from the east and sink into swallet holes at the edge of the limestone.[5] The Three Counties System contains a number of major subterranean streams, all of which combine to resurge at Leck Beck Head above Cowan Bridge. At the northern end, swallets in Barbondale close to the Dent Fault drain south-west through Bull Pot of the Witches, and the water enters the Ease Gill Caverns system in Lancaster Hole; most of Ease Gill Beck to the south drains into the extensive Ease Gill Caverns, although some drains into Link Pot and thus into the bottom of Pippikin Pot; most of Leck Fell drains into the Leck Fell Master Cave, which is part of Lost Johns' Cave, although some drains into Gavel Pot, and some into Notts Pot; Ireby Fell in the south drains into Notts Pot. All these streams eventually reach the phreatic zone where exploration is only possible by cave diving.[6] Some small streams in the south of The Three Counties System are known to resurge at Keld Head in Kingsdale, the next valley to the south.

The system is very complex, with sections formed at different times when the landscape topography and drainage patterns were different from today. Some of the system is believed to pre-date the Anglian glaciation which started at about 478 ka,[7] with one stalagmite in Lancaster Hole being dated to over 350,000 years old, whilst other sections are still being formed today.[8] Waltham has identified five distinct phases of development.[9] The Leck Beck Catchment Area Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is based around the catchment area of the Three Counties System, states in its reason for notification: "The scale and variety of the caves makes this a most important site for the study of surface and underground landform development over a long period of the recent past."[10] It is the interconnections between the sections that are the key to the existence of the super-system.[11]

The Three Counties System is 253 metres (830 ft) deep. The highest point is the entrance to Large Pot which is at an altitude of 402 metres (1,319 ft), and the lowest point is in Gavel Pot where the upstream sump has been dived to a depth of −64 metres (−210 ft), an altitude of 149 metres (489 ft).[12]

Major cave systems

Wilf Taylor's Passage, Lancaster Hole

The Three Counties System comprises a number of smaller cave systems, some with multiple entrances. Whether or not a particular cave qualifies as a system in its own right is somewhat arbitrary, and arguments can be made for excluding some and including others. Running broadly from south to north, the systems include:

History

Most of the individual systems that make up the Three Counties System had been explored to a greater or lesser extent a long time before the possibility of an extended system was mooted. Thus Lost Johns' Cave was explored by the Yorkshire Ramblers' Club in the 1920s, Ease Gill Caverns by a number of caving clubs from the time of the original discovery of Lancaster Hole in 1946, and Ireby Fell Cavern in 1949.

The existence for the Three Counties System was first mooted by Dave Brook in 1968, when he proposed that the many fragmented systems stretching from Barbondale in the north to Kingsdale in the south could be part of a much larger system.[6] Over the next 43 years, many discoveries by many cavers gradually knitted the fragments together, but the two most significant dates were 30 May 2010 when Rift Pot was connected to Ireby Fell Cavern, linking systems of North Yorkshire and Lancashire for the first time,[13] and 6 November 2011, when Notts II was linked to Lost Johns' Cave, which was when the northern part of the system (including caves in Cumbria) was connected to the southern part of the system (including caves in Lancashire).[14]

Following months of preparatory work, and with the support of over fifty cavers, the first complete traverse of the Three Counties System, between Large Pot in North Yorkshire and Top Sink in Cumbria, was completed by Chris Jewell and Jason Mallinson over the weekend of 25–26 September 2021.[15] In all, the two traversed 10.8 kilometres (6.7 mi) of passage, of which 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) were underwater, in 17½ hours.[16]

Fatalities

Sixteen cavers have lost their lives in the Three Counties System. These fatalities are listed in the chronology below.

Chronology

This chronology includes the date of the original explorations of the major systems; the dates when two systems were linked; and deaths that have occurred in the system.

A caver descending a 25-metre (82 ft) shaft in Notts Pot

Future prospects

Although Dave Brook's vision for the Three Counties System has come to fruition, there is considerable scope for extending it in both directions. To the north in Barbondale, Aygill Caverns is known to drain into Bull Pot of the Witches, but a route through the underwater passages has yet to be negotiated. This would add 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the total system.[58] Further north still, a major abandoned route in Aygill Caverns, known as New Year Passage, heads up the Barbondale valley, and may connect with other known caves.[59] To the south, explorations in Large Pot have extended the current system to within 500 metres (1,600 ft) of Kingsdale Beck.[60] Marble Steps, a major active system with large fossil fragments, could well be connected to Rift Pot. Marble Steps, some of Large Pot, and Low Douk Cave are all known to drain to Keld Head – a connection by diving would integrate both the West Kingsdale System (9 kilometres (5.6 mi) long) and the East Kingsdale System (7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long) into the system.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Allshorn, Sam; Swire, Paul (2017). Northern Caves – The Three Counties System and the North-West. Leeds: High Mead. p. 7. ISBN 9781527210950.
  2. ^ Gardner, John. "The Three Counties System – A List Of Entrances". Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Caving Access: Three Counties System & the North West". Council of Northern Caving Clubs. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  4. ^ Gulden, Bob. "World's Longest Caves". Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  5. ^ Waltham, A.C. (1974). Limestone and Caves of North-West England. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. pp. 273–275. ISBN 0715361813.
  6. ^ a b c d Brook, Dave (September 1968). "The Three Counties System". University Speleological Association Review (3): 15–19.
  7. ^ Waltham, Tony; Murphy, Phil (2013). Waltham, Tony; Lowe, David (eds.). Caves and Karst of the Yorkshire Dales. Buxton: British Cave Research Association. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-900265-46-4.
  8. ^ Gascoyne, M; Ford, D.C. (July 1984). "Uranium Series Dating of Speletherms, Part II Results from the Yorkshire Dales and Implications for Cave Development and Quaternary Climates" (PDF). Cave Science:Transactions of the British Cave Research Association. 11 (2): 65–84. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  9. ^ Waltham, A.C. (1974). Limestone and Caves of North-West England. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. p. 285. ISBN 0715361813.
  10. ^ "Leck Beck Catchment Area". Natural England. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  11. ^ Waltham, A.C. (December 1971). "Leck Fell and the Three Counties System". Journal of the British Speleological Association. VI (48): 29–30.
  12. ^ Brook, D; Griffith, J; Long, H; Ryder, P (1994). Northern Caves: The Three Counties and the North West. Skipton: Dalesman Publishing Company Ltd. pp. 76, 92. ISBN 1855680831.
  13. ^ a b "The amazing story of Adulterer's Bypass and the underground cave system connecting three counties". Lancashire Life. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  14. ^ a b Wainwright, Martin (7 November 2011). "Potholers break through the final Three Counties link". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  15. ^ a b Young, Ambrose (30 September 2021). "Heroic Thai cave rescuers complete historic feat in Cumbria". The Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  16. ^ Jewell, Chris (December 2021). "The Grand Traverse". Descent (283): 22–26.
  17. ^ Hastings, C. (1930). "Gavel Pot in 1885". Yorkshire Ramblers' Club Journal. 6 (19). Leeds: YRC: 60–62. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  18. ^ a b c Cuttriss, S.W. (1922). "The Leck Fell Pot-Holes". Yorkshire Ramblers' Club Journal. 5 (15). Leeds: YRC: 60–64. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  19. ^ YRC Committee (1900). "Club Proceedings". Yorkshire Ramblers' Club Journal. 1 (2). Leeds: YRC: 134–141. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  20. ^ Foley, Innes (1930). "Lost Johns' Cave". Yorkshire Ramblers' Club Journal. 6 (19). Leeds: YRC: 54–59. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d e Eyre, J; Ashmead, P (March 1967). "Lancaster Hole and the Ease Gill Caverns, Casterton Fell, Westmorland". The Transactions of the Cave Research Group. 9 (2): 117–19.
  22. ^ Gemmell, A; Myers, J.O. (1952). Underground Adventure. Clapham, Yorkshire: Dalesman Publishing Company. pp. 63–75.
  23. ^ F Atkinson (1949). "The Cavern. Ireby Fell. Lancashire". Cave Science – A Quarterly Review of Speleology. II (9). Settle, BSA: 21–27.
  24. ^ "CDG History 1960 – 1969". Cave diving highlights. Cave Diving Group. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  25. ^ Hobbs, Robin (1966). "Long Drop Cave 1965". Gritstone Club Journal (2): 26–29.
  26. ^ Wooding, M.J. (July 1967). "Lancaster – Bull Pot 19 November 1966". British Speleological Society Bulletin (75): 9–10.
  27. ^ Waltham, Tony. "Discovery of Lyle Cavern High Levels in Lost John's". Happy Wanderers Cave and Pothole Club. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  28. ^ Eyre (1988), p. 91.
  29. ^ "Easegill Tragedy". Speleologist. 3 (19): 3. Autumn 1969.
  30. ^ Smith, B (1970). "Gavel Pot". Northern Pennine Club Records. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  31. ^ Latham, Brian (April 1972). "EPC '71 (Stake Pot) Series – Lancaster Hole". University of Leeds Speleological Association Review (9): 3–11.
  32. ^ "Digs and Discoveries". University of Leeds Speleological Society Review (14). August 1976.
  33. ^ Eyre (1988), p. 195.
  34. ^ "Papard Dives to Link Notts Pot and Ireby Cavern". Descent (34): 4. August 1976.
  35. ^ "Link Pot". Northern Pennine Club. 3 (2). 1979. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  36. ^ "Ian Plant dies in Yorkshire cave dive". Descent (45): 4. March–April 1980.
  37. ^ Brook, D; Griffith, J; Long, H; Ryder, P (1994). Northern Caves: The Three Counties and the North West. Skipton: Dalesman Publishing Company Ltd. pp. 97–98. ISBN 1855680831.
  38. ^ Shaw, Chester (1982). "Lost Pot". Northern Pennine Club Journal. 3 (3): 76–79.
  39. ^ Eyre (1988), p. 200.
  40. ^ Edwards, G (1982). "The Exploration of Large Pot". NPC Journal. 3 (3): 51–61.
  41. ^ Davis, B (1985). "Rift Pot – A Brief History". Northern Cave Club Journal 'The Caver'. 5: 9–17.
  42. ^ Boothroyd, Colin (1987). "Lost John's Pot / Rumbling Hole Connection". Lancaster University Speleological Society. 4: 21. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  43. ^ Boothroyd, Colin (January–February 1986). "David James – drowned in Lancaster". Descent (86): 7.
  44. ^ Sudell, Barry (1987). "The Notts Pot Dives". Northern Pennine Club Journal: 6–9.
  45. ^ Boothroyd, Colin (June–July 1988). "Easegill Tragedy". Descent (82): 12.
  46. ^ Brook, D; Griffith, J; Long, H; Ryder, P (1994). Northern Caves: The Three Counties and the North West. Skipton: Dalesman Publishing Company Ltd. pp. 164–166. ISBN 1855680831.
  47. ^ Monico, Paul (April–May 1994). "Lost John's fatality". Descent (117): 16.
  48. ^ Monico, Paul (August–September 1997). "Lancaster Hole fatality". Descent (137): 11.
  49. ^ Monk, Pete (ed.). Shuttleworth Pot into Witches Cave II. Council of Northern Caving Clubs. pp. 4–7.
  50. ^ "Lancaster fatality". Descent (158): 10. February–March 2001.
  51. ^ Gerrish, Rich (2009). "Committee Pot Breakthrough Dig". Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club Journal (10): 81–83.
  52. ^ Speight, Alan (April–May 2001). "Twin fatalities in Ireby Fell Cavern". Descent (159): 10.
  53. ^ "Notts Pot fatality". Descent (181): 16. December 2004 – January 2005.
  54. ^ Nunwick, Mick (April–May 2012). "Going Head to Head on Leck Fell". Descent (225): 22–23.
  55. ^ Allen, Tim (December 2012). "The Manhattan Connection". Descent (229): 43–46.
  56. ^ Allen, Tim (August–September 2013). "Connection Fever". Descent (233): 16–18.
  57. ^ Beever, Susie. "Tragedy as man dies in Yorkshire Dales underground cave diving expedition". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  58. ^ Brook, D; Griffith, J; Long, H; Ryder, P (1994). Northern Caves: The Three Counties and the North West. Skipton: Dalesman Publishing Company Ltd. pp. 119–121. ISBN 1855680831.
  59. ^ Waltham, A.C. (December 1971). "Leck Fell and the Three Counties System". Journal of the British Speleological Association. VI (48): 31–32.
  60. ^ Pacey, Neil (February–March 2015). "Mud Mining on the Eastern Front". Descent (236): 19–22.

Sources

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