CLAPHAM 40A - Gaping Gill

Gaping Gill, Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales.
At a depth of 105 metres (344 feet), this is the largest, deepest and best known pothole in the UK. The main shaft was first descended by the Frenchman E.A.Martel in 1895 using wood and rope ladders. He stayed in the cavern for a couple of hours and did some amazingly accurate mapping. It wasn’t until 1983 that divers made a connection with Ingleborough Cave.
Local pothole clubs now organise public descents on May and August bank holidays. Strapped into a chair, you’d be lowered down the main shaft into the vast chasm. An unforgettable experience!