Underground Wales - Cambrian Cave Registry
A Database of the Caves of Wales
This datadase is now on-line. click here.
Version 2 - June 2009
Version 2 contains around 1400 records and exhausts all existing Registrar data - so that all future entries will be as a result of corrections or further research.
If you have any suggested additions, changes or have spotted any errors, then please contact the Cambrian Cave Registrar, Brendan Marris at registrar@cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk
Version 1 – July 2008
Background
The Cambrian Cave Registry was developed extensively during the 1970’s and 1980’s, but then fell into a state of neglect for some time. After a few false starts, a concentrated effort began in 2004 to transfer the existing hard copy Registry to an Access Database. This turned out to be extremely time consuming as almost none of the old pages were able to be scanned and OCR’d due to their poor condition, meaning that almost all the 1200 entries had to be done by hand. In addition to the existing Registry data, a considerable number of new and additional sites were added from guidebooks and other cave data research projects. The steps taken by the current Registrar were to :
- Enter every single entry from the original registry, updating and converting to metric as he went along. Also checking and entering the altitudes, areas, map numbers and counties.
- Add in a considerable amount of data that wasn't in the Registry (which seemed to stop in the mid 80's)
- Completely transfer the data from the Black Mountain and Penwyllt cave site research projects.
- Add a significant number of sites as basic details only - more data will need to be added later
Status in July 2008
The data for the Eastern area (Morlais to Abergavenny) was very sparse in the original Registry, whereas West Wales, Ystradfellte and Black Mountain were very detailed. There is still more work to do - particularly for North Wales and in filling in the gaps in the descriptions. We have all the information to do this, but have had to draw the line somewhere to get this Version 1 out.
There needs to be careful attention made to the bibliography, which needs updating and further research, especially in crediting information fully.
A further release (Version 2) could be done by September/October, followed next year by
the addition of Welsh Mines
So there is more to do, but we have a good start - everything we had, plus at least the same amount again.
Updates and Changes
Please remember that this Version 1 is in no way a complete record of all Speleological sites in Wales. It has been released to ensure that all existing Registry information was available plus everything that could be added in the time available. There is an absolute intention to continue to add, update and complete the database over the next 12 months.
If you have any suggested additions, changes or have spotted any errors, then please contact the Cambrian Cave Registrar, Brendan Marris at registrar@cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk
We would also greatly appreciate any information you have regarding new sites in order to ensure that the Registry remains up to date on a ongoing basis.
Thanks to Martyn Farr for permission to use the name Underground Wales. Martyn’s book of the same name can be found at http://www.farrworld.co.uk/acatalog/books.html