Cancelled – Visit to William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust (Tavistock Branch)

A guided visit to the William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust and Joint Mitnor (Bone) cave at Buckfastleigh.

Apologies but we have had to cancel this event.

The William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust is a charity whose origins were in 1962 when Higher Kiln Quarry at Buckfastleigh was purchased with the intention of creating a cave studies centre. The quarry contains a number of caves, one of which (Joint Mitnor Cave) contains the remains of many species such as elephant, bison and hippopotamus dating from the period between the last two major glaciations (between 120 and 80 thousand years ago). This cave is internationally recognised as a type site for this period.

The organisation is named after William Pengelly who was a local man (and founder of the Devonshire Association) who, in the mid 19th century, excavated a number of cave sites in Devon, most notably Brixham Cave and Kents Cavern at Torquay. He was also responsible for establishing excavation methods and records that became a model for all modern archaeology.

The visit will cover all aspects of the site: geology, palaeontology, bats and unique fauna, local history, limestone flora and industrial archaeology (quarrying and lime kilns). 

Meet in car park at top of Russets Lane, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0DY

DA members £10, non-members £12.