21 Apr 2023 - The electronic version of Andrew Edwards’ report on the exploration and archaeology of Brownes’ Hole Cave, Stoke St Michael is now available to view and download.

29 Mar 2023 - Vince Simmonds’ digging logs for Hallowe’en Rift, Home Close Hole/Wigmore Swallet and the Wookey Hole 20 extensions added to the logbooks archive.

10 Jan 2023 - For those living in the stone quarries patch around Bath and Corsham, copies of all three volumes of Somerset Underground are now available direct from Chris Smart. This is in addition to the outlets mentioned below.

8 Jan 2023 - Two log books from Nick Chipchase uploaded to the archive.

3 Jan 2023 - ATLAS digging logs for 2022 added to the archive.

30 Dec 2022 - Caving and digging log books for Pat Cronin and Maurice Hewins added to the archive.

11 Dec 2022 - The MCRA would like to thank everyone who braved the arctic conditions to attend last nights book launch of Volume Three of Somerset Underground at the Hunters. Happily, it was a great success, which once again far exceeded expectations. For those of you who were unable to attend, copies of all three volumes are now available locally from the usual suspects (myself, James Begley, Estelle Sandford, Dave King, Mike Moxon, Alison Moody, Alan Gray, Rich Witcombe and also Graham Mullan soon. Postal copies are now available direct from the For Sale section but please note that due to a combination of the wintry conditions and the extensive Christmas post and Royal Mail strikes, it is not guaranteed that your book will be delivered before Christmas.

14 Nov 2022 - The MCRA is pleased to announce that the eagerly awaited third volume of Somerset Underground will be officially launched at the Hunters' Lodge on December 10th, starting around at 7.30 p.m. Comprising 266 pages, it contains details of almost 500 natural caves, mines, sinks, risings, springs, holy wells and artificial underground sites in Central and South Mendip, encompassing the major catchment areas of Cheddar Risings and Wookey Hole. Priced at a mere £10 (plus p&p), this is a stitched, flexibound, full-colour production especially designed for use in the field. Postal sales will be available shortly after.

6 Oct 2022 - The MCRA is delighted to announce that the prestigious Tratman Award for 2020 has been awarded to Rob Taviner for volumes 1 and 2 of Somerset Underground. For 2020 the judges were Joe Duxbury, Chris Howes, Alan L. Jeffreys, Martin Mills and Linda Wilson. The following comes from Chris Howes on behalf of the judges:

The Tratman Award is granted annually to the best publication of the year, including books, journals and even individual articles. This report considers those that appeared in print in 2020. The five judges took into account not only the quality of writing, but also the presentation: the binding, paper quality, printing and not least, accessibility and importance of the content. A phenomenal amount of work went into the compilation of these two volumes, producing a clear and visually attractive format using a clean, simple layout. These are, after all, guidebooks intended to be used in the field, and the degree of thought and planning is evident. That extends to personal visits made to each location together with carefully written descriptions, demonstrating the background research that should be undertaken by any good author. Suffice it to say that the content covers everything relevant to the caves and associated sites of the area. These are outstanding works that deserve all the plaudits they have received.

Tav and the MCRA would like to thank everyone involved in the making of these guides, along with the judges and the other nominees, all of whom produced outstanding work.

1 Jan 2022 - ATLAS digging logs for 2021 added to the archive.

25 Jul 2021 - Dr. W. I. Stanton's 'Map of Mendip Depressions', on which he plotted hundreds of karst features, many of which have since been lost to farming or development, has been digitised thanks to Tom Harrison and is now included for viewing as part of the Mendip Cave Registry Google Earth browser. You can also view the map overlay separately using this link. (You will need Google Earth installed to open these links.)

3 Jan 2021 - ATLAS digging logs for 2020 added to the archive.

28 Aug 2020 - Do you shop at Amazon? You can now select MCRA as the charity Amazon will donate a small percentage of your purchase to. It'll cost you nothing and every little contribution helps. Just start shopping from smile.amazon.co.uk.

14 Aug 2020 - Volume Two of Somerset Underground is now available for purchase online. See the For Sale section for details, where Somerset Underground Volume One can also be found.

01 Jul 2020 - Following the lengthy lockdown we are pleased to announce the resumption of online sales of Somerset Underground Volume One and all other publications.

18 Jun 2020 - We are pleased to announce that the advances for Volume Two of Somerset Underground 2 have safely arrived, with the main shipment anticipated to appear towards the end of July. Priced at a mere £10, this stitched, flexibound, full-colour production comprises 261 pages and contains details of 600 natural caves, mines, sinks, risings, springs, holy wells and artificial underground sites in West Mendip, Burrington and North Mendip.

23 May 2020 - The MCRA logbooks collection is now back online, with a new look and additional features including search and full screen slideshow.

11 May 2020 - After many satisfying years with BCA Web Services the website hosting is being transferred. This has caused the Logbook viewer to be temporarily off-line. It will be replaced in a few days with a new and improved version.

1 May 2020 - Added a new and improved search and view screen to the Mendip Cave Bibliography

29 Mar 2020 - 31 Portland Cave Surveys added to the download archive.

23 Mar 2020 - Unfortunately due to the current Covid 19 shutdown we are unable to process any sales. Please bear with us and hopefully the situation will improve soon.

8 Mar 2020 - Many thanks to those who attended last night's launch of Somerset Underground Volume One. It was a very successful night and it's always good to see the Hunters' packed out.

21 Jan 2020 - COMING SOON - The MCRA is pleased to announce that Volume One of the long-anticipated Somerset Underground has now arrived, and will be officially launched at the Hunters' Lodge Inn at 8 p.m on Saturday 7th March. Priced at a mere £10, this stitched, flexibound, full-colour production comprises 275 pages and contains details of more than 750 natural caves, sea caves, mines, sinks, risings, springs, holy wells and artificial underground sites in Bristol, the Avon Gorge, Broadfield Down, the entire Bristol Channel and West Somerset including Milverton, the Quantocks, the Brendons and Exmoor.

2 Jan 2020 - ATLAS digging log for 2019 added to the archive.

14 Nov 2019 - New MCRA e-book published: 'A History of Mendip Cave Rescues & Incidents' by Alan Gray, available now from the Articles and Books page.

11 Sep 2019 - ATLAS logs from 2002-2008 recovered from the lost ThrupeLite website added to the digging log archive.

03 Jan 2019 - Collated report for 2018 added to the ATLAS digging log archive.

18 Aug 2018 - Dave Yeandle's caving log books uploaded. Additional material added to the Luke Devenish archive.

• Read all previous news items

The Mendip Cave Registry and Archive (MCRA) is a constantly expanding resource of data for cavers and those interested in the subterranean world.

The information collated by the MCRA relates primarily to caves and mines in the area of Bristol, Somerset, Bath, Wiltshire and Dorset.

This website provides access to electronic versions of the Cave Registry, the Bibliography and a growing collection of material in the Archive including photographs, films and logbooks.

The Registry aims to systematically collect, record and publish useful information relating to the caves and stone mines of Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset. It currently contains well over 2,000 entries comprising individual sites and alternative names for known sites.

Search the full registry online using the MCRA Registry Search.

The Mendip Cave Bibliography provides a list of references relating to each cave or cave related topic that have been printed in caving publications or newspapers. This on-line edition includes over 30,000 entries from 883 AD to present.

New: Search the full bibliography online with the Mendip Cave Bibliography Search

Scans of cave surveys collected through the old Mendip Survey Scheme are now available online.

The archive provides a free digital information resource for cavers covering cave photos, photograph collections, postcards and catalogues, music and audio, log books and publications.

The articles section carries publications of spelaeological interest

The archaeology section contains links and downloads pertaining to caves of archaeological interest.

Links and downloads pertaining to the geology of the Mendip Hills and the surrounding region.

Mendip Underground 4th edition (5th has sold out), Somerset Underground (Vol.1 and Vol. 2), Mines and Minerals of the Mendip Hills, Earth Colours & Mendip - Its Swallet Caves and Rock Shelters: all the books that the MCRA has For Sale

More info! Has sold out.

The history of the Mendip Cave Registry and Archive.

See here for recent changes or use the RSS feed.