Shute Shelve Cavern
Cave in Somerset, England / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shute Shelve Cavern is a natural cave system located in Shute Shelve Hill, Somerset, England, above Axbridge in the Mendip Hills not far from Cheddar.
Shute Shelve Cavern | |
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Location | Axbridge |
Depth | 33m |
Length | 0.132km |
Geology | Limestone |
The phreatic cave contains fossils of speleothems over 350,000 years old.[1]
It was mined for its yellow ochre which was used as a dye in paint making, until the 1920s,[2] which gave it its alternative name of Axbridge Ochre Mine.
Access is controlled by the Axbridge Caving Group via a locked gate and completely closed during the bats' roosting season.
Chamber 1 has taped areas shows scallops to the right and miners supports and a large geode up to the left. Chamber 2 is a large rift with taped off areas for conservation. Further areas are known as Box Tunnel and Elm Street.
Carcass Cave dig is virtually feet away which used a monorail system, ladders and platforms.