Attborough Swallet

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Attborough Swallet
LocationRed Quar, Chewton Mendip
OS grid ST56105181
Depth44 metres
Length244 metres
Geology Dolomitic Conglomerate and Marl
RegistryMendip Cave Registry [1]

Attborough Swallet (also known as Red Quar Swallet) is a cave in Chewton Mendip in Somerset, England.

It is unusual for a cave on the Mendip Hills in that it is formed from Dolomitic Conglomerate and Marl rather than ordinary limestone. The main part of the cave was first entered in 1992, [2] although Red Quar Swallet had been dug in the 1930s and the entrance shaft is now a concrete pipe. [3]

It takes its name from the Attborough field in which the entrance is situated. Red Quar Swallet comes from the small scale quarrying of red Triassic conglomerate. [4]

The underground stream feeding water into the sump flows into Wigmore Swallet. [5]

See also

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References

  1. "Attborough Swallet". Mendip Cave Registry & Archive. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  2. Irwin, David John; Knibbs Anthony J. (1999). Mendip Underground: A Cavers Guide. Bat Products. ISBN   0-9536103-0-6.
  3. Shipton, Dave (June 1998). "Attborough Swallet Progress report". Belfry Bulletin. 497: 14. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. Witcombe, Richard (2009). Who was Aveline anyway?: Mendip's Cave Names Explained (2nd ed.). Priddy: Wessex Cave Club. p. 9. ISBN   978-0-9500433-6-4.
  5. "Attborough Swallet". Mendip Cave Registry & Archive. Retrieved 23 September 2012.

Coordinates: 51°15′48″N2°37′45″W / 51.2633°N 2.6292°W / 51.2633; -2.6292