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Balch Cave

Fairy Cave Quarry, Stoke St.Michael.

Once one of Britain's most beautifully decorated caves. Unfortunately it was severely damaged during quarrying operations in the 1960s, when a significant portion of the cave was completely destroyed. However, much of the system remains intact, which today is split into four distinct sections. The largest surviving remnant can be entered either via Pool Passage, or the two Erratic entrances, to achieve a short but entertaining round trip. There is also a third, very low entrance into this section of the cave, Hobgoblin Hole, which is often blocked. Part of the original streamway can be accessed through Conning Tower Cave (Fairy Cave 10), a hole in the floor of the quarry located immediately in front of W/L Cave. Two further sections of the cave, Coral Grotto and Aven Series are accessible from the top of the steep bank immediately above W/L Cave. Aven Series contains the best surviving formations and a large chamber.

Alternate Names: Balch's Hole, Fairy Cave 6, Guy Fawkes Cave

Notes: The cave was discovered during quarrying operations in 1961 and explored by CSS members, who named it in honour of H. E. Balch. The central portion of the cave was destroyed by quarrying in 1966. CSS reopened Conning Tower Cave in 1967 and Aven Chamber Series in 1970. The original entrance series and much of Balch Cave Great Chamber were destroyed by quarrying as operations came to a close in the late 1970s. The round trip linking Pool Passage (Gour End) with Erratic Passage via JW Passage was engineered by ATLAS in 2006. The cave is an important hibernacula for Greater Horseshoe bats.

Hydrographic Feeds: Withybrook Slocker (CSS 1975 - 2 hours)

Hydrographic Resurgences: St.Dunstan's Well West (CSS 1975 - 1.5 hours)