Linley Cavern (trip report)

[Pink & Fluffy]

Hi all,

I have not foggoten you all, just been rather busy diving and working and just come back from diving Linley cavern .

It's quite funny, you park up at an industrial estate with all the lorries and builders and there you are kitting up in full diving gear . The looks from people is quite interesting . You enter this mine through a small muddy hole in the ground then down some more mud then into the water, and one would not believe what lies in-store for you inside .

The passages are huge the size of houses and you cannot see the celing the vis at the start of the dive was 0 for the first 2 meters but then was excellent all the way. I went in 273 meters at aprox 13m deep. I could have gone on much further but the burger van was closing and the hopes of a cup of tea were draining fast, so headed back.

Next trip will be with a hot water bottle and bigger bottles .
Fiona.

[Mr T.]

Hey Fiona,

thanks for this! Always like to read about your wee sojourns underground. Do you ever take any pics whilst you're down there? Wouldn't mind seeing them if you have any?

Take care and I look forward to the next report on your travels

Cheers,

[Edit: where in the UK is Linley Cavern, Fi ?]

[andy2tanx]

Never heard of this one. Where is it?

[NotDeadYet]

What's the deal with the stabilising works that were going on? Wasn't there talk of pumping grout into one of the passages at one point?

[Pink & Fluffy]

Originally Posted by andy2tanx

Never heard of this one. Where is it?

Hi its in a place called Aldridge just outside of Birmingham.

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

What's the deal with the stabilising works that were going on? Wasn't there talk of pumping grout into one of the passages at one point?

Not sure about any of that
thanks fiona.

[andy2tanx]

is there any websites with a bit of info?

[Duncan Price]

Originally Posted by andy2tanx

Never heard of this one. Where is it?

There are maps and stuff in past CDG Newsletters.

Linley Caverns are former limestone workings which were converted into munitions stores during WW2. Local rumour has it that the place still contains bombs but this is not true as the project was abandoned due to instability and flooding before any munitions were put there. Underground the passages can be up to 10 m square with excellent visibility. During 2003 there was a road collapse and the local council sunk boreholes into the mine to inject grouting. This has left a layer of cement dust in many parts of the mine and some bits that had been explored are no longer accessible. The maximum depth is -55 m about 900 m in. The workings extend for several miles in various directions.

I have met with the owner, police, local council and MOD bomb disposal squad over the past few years to discuss aspects of our work there. Our maps and surveys were very useful to the council in helping them stabilise the mine.

See also: http://cavediver.net/dive_reports/di...p.asp?DR_ID=86

And: "Disasters Underground" by N J McCamley (has a map of the munitions store and a few pages about its conversion).

[Pink & Fluffy]

Hi Duncan just been looking at your report on the linley . its an excellent report .I going back to Linley on Thursday for another long swim as I am up in derbyshire at TSG for a week diving .
thanks Fiona.