This year marks the centenary year discovery of a cave near Burrington Coombe by the Sidcot School Speleological Society (SSSS) explorers. Now known as ‘Sidcot Swallet’, it is probably the most popular cave in the Mendip Hills for novice cavers, after Goatchurch Cavern. Anyone who has tried them, can attest to its narrow crawls and tight squeezes, which have kept generations of Sidcot cavers entertained! Despite its popularity, many calcite formations still remain intact in the farthest reaches of the cave. 

We are lucky to have years’ worth of caving logs from the very popular SSSS in our Archive, including the beautiful drawing of Sidcot Swallet pictured. While unfortunately the entry listing the Sidcot Swallet discovery does not remain, we have records dating back as far as 1929, with cavers experiencing the Swallet for the first time. Records were kept diligently. One such record, also pictured, reads,

“Wednesday: March: 20th ‘29

I was unable to go caving, but A.J.B and N.C.W went to get on with the work in the “Black Hole”, but they found the passage became too narrow to get through anywhere, and they daren’t move any more rocks and stones because everything was so loose. So they gave up the work.”

Other entries talk of work with crossbars as they investigate the chambers – very serious work!

Old Scholars speak very fondly of their time in the SSSS, and caving is a bit part of life at Sidcot still. While regulations might be slightly tighter (!), our students still enjoy living adventurously. Our latest cohort did note that Sidcot Swallet is now home to large cave spiders and the odd rubber duck! 

To learn more, please see Sidcot Swallet - Wikipedia

Were you a member of the SSSS? We’d love to hear your stories!