Hidden Earth 2019

Fairy Holes - Weardale. The history and continuing exploration of a cave that was almost lost forever.

Lecture45 minute Lecture|Adele Ward and Andrew Hinde

Abstract

Fairy Holes - Weardale was first entered prior to 1882. The main exploration took place in the 1950's and 60's before quarrying operations denied access to the cave for nearly 50 years. This classic North Pennines stream cave was described during exploration as "second only to Mossdale in its severity".

The cave is a salutary lesson in what can happen when Statutory Protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act bumps up against Big Business and the economic future of a local community.

Recent explorations by the late Ian Cummins and Adele Ward have added over 600m on unrecorded and new passage to the existing survey.

A new generation of cavers have uncovered a whole new set of questions about this cave and the assumptions on how it was formed.