| Stoke Lane Slocker | |
|---|---|
 Entrance (when dry) | |
| Location | Stoke St Michael |
| Depth | 30m |
| Length | 2.18km |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Hazards | Weils Disease |
| Cave survey | |
Stoke Lane Slocker (grid referenceST66874745) is a cave nearStoke St Michael, in theCarboniferous Limestone of theMendip Hills, in theEnglishcounty ofSomerset.
It is 2.18 km in length and reaches a depth of 30m.[1]
It was previously known as Stoke Lane Swallet, but now the local name is preferred. The origin of the word"Slocker" is obscure, possibly from"slock" meaning to entice or lure away[2] although theGaelic word forswallow hole is"sluighaire".
It is believed that the first person to explore the cave in modern times was a Mr Marshall fromStratton-on-the-Fosse around 1905, but major exploration and measurement of this cave really started in 1947 whenSump 1 was reached. That sump was passed the same year and the decorated chambers of Stoke Two discovered. Sumps 2 to 7 were passed over the course of the 1960s. The Bailey-Ward series of chambers was discovered in 1971.[1][3]
Cases ofWeils Disease have been reported in those who have been into the cave.[1][4]
The submerged entrance to the cave lies near the disused Stoke Lane Quarry, and from it an underground stream emerges into daylight to feed a water-source known asSt Dunstan's Well. The cave has been designated as aSite of Special Scientific Interest.[5]
Stoke One (the length of passage between the entrance andSump 1), is mainly made up of low passageways. However the Bailey-Ward Series of chambers includes Bernard's Rift, which is 20 metres (66 ft) high and contains crystal pools containingcalcite-encrustedgoniatite snail shells, andcave pearls.[1]
The area between Sumps 1 and 2, Stoke 2, contains a number of highly decorated chambers including the Upper Grotto, Traverse Grotto and the Throne Room which contains a 3 metres (10 ft) highstalactite boss namedThe King and a second stalactite, 2 metres (7 ft) high, namedThe Queen afterQueen Victoria. The once-spectacular formations in the Princess Grotto have suffered damage since the cave was discovered. When the Bone Chamber, which is not decorated, was found it contained a number of human and animal bones, along with ash and charcoal.[1]
Beyond the second sump is a long stretch of passage containing a further six sumps.
| Sump | Length of dive[1] | Notes[1] |
|---|---|---|
| Sump 1 | 18 inches (46 cm) | Free-divable |
| Sump 2 | 10 metres (33 ft) | Fully equipped divers only |
| Sump 3 | ? | Can be by-passed |
| Sump 4 | 20 metres (66 ft) | Fully equipped divers only |
| Sump 5 | ? | Can be by-passed |
| Sump 6 | 12 metres (39 ft) | |
| Sump 7 | 15 metres (49 ft) | Very tight |
| Sump 8 | ? | Boulder-choked; cannot be passed |
51°13′31″N2°28′33″W / 51.22527°N 2.47581°W /51.22527; -2.47581
