Manor Farm Swallet

Manor Farm Swallet at Charterhouse is a swallet cave in the limestone of the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England. It is a site for experienced cavers rather than casual visitors, and it lies in the Charterhouse area, where access to caves is organised by a body of local clubs.

What kind of cave is it?

A swallet is a point where surface water sinks underground into soluble rock. The British Geological Survey lists Manor Farm Swallet among the classic swallet caves around Charterhouse, together with GB Cave and Longwood Swallet. Figures cited by Wikipedia and the Mendip Cave Registry give the cave a length of about 1,107 m and a depth of 179 m, with a BRAC grade of 2.

How was it opened up?

The story here is one of stubborn digging. From 1947 to 1973 cavers made repeated attempts to break in, but shafts dug from the surface kept collapsing. The breakthrough came in 1973, when an artificial shaft was sunk and lined with walling to hold it open. The cave was later described in University of Bristol Spelaeological Society papers, including a 1974 study of its description and geomorphology. Sources disagree on the exact date of first entry, so treat the broad sequence of digging as solid and individual dates with care.

Can you visit it?

Access in the Charterhouse area is administered by the Charterhouse Caving Company, set up by Mendip caving clubs and made up of representatives of eleven of them. The land is a nature reserve owned by the Somerset Wildlife Trust, so entry follows legal agreements with the Trust. Visitors usually need a permit from the company's online portal, and keys for gated caves are held by member clubs. The rules for Manor Farm Swallet itself were not confirmed in one place, so check with the Charterhouse Caving Company or the Mendip Cave Registry before you travel.

What should you know before going?

• This is a cave for people with caving experience and proper equipment, not for tourists without preparation.
• Go with a caving club or someone who knows the system.
• Leave a call-out time with someone on the surface.
• Swallets react to heavy rain, so check the forecast before descending.
• There are no visitor facilities, and the surrounding land is protected countryside.

Why does it matter?

Charterhouse is one of the key caving areas of Mendip. Manor Farm Swallet sits alongside GB Cave and Longwood Swallet in a landscape studied by geologists and cavers alike. For anyone interested in exploration history, it shows how years of volunteer effort opened a long system beneath the surface.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Manor Farm Swallet?

At Charterhouse in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, in south-west England, at roughly 51.298 N, 2.721 W.

How long and deep is it?

According to Wikipedia and the Mendip Cave Registry, about 1,107 m long and 179 m deep.

Can a casual visitor go in?

No. It is a swallet cave for cavers, and access at Charterhouse normally requires a permit from the Charterhouse Caving Company.

When was it opened?

In 1973, after decades of failed digs, through an artificial shaft lined with walling.