Introduction
The Peak Speedwell System is located in the village of Castleton, made up of Peak Cavern, Speedwell Mine, James Hall Over Engine Mine and Titan Shaft. The system contains about 18km of cave passage, one of the deepest underground cave dives in the UK, down to a depth of 74 metres; the highest underground pitch in the UK which is 145 metres high, it has six known entrances but only four are usable.
Castleton Flood - 20th October 2023
Storm Badet hit the United Kingdom throughout Friday 20th October 2023. A substantial amount of rainfall fell throughout the early morning of Friday and rained heavy through the day resulted in the Peak Speedwell System flooding.
The resurgences outlet to Peakshole Water and it flows through the village of Castleton.
Whirlpool Rising, Speedwell Mine
Whirlpool Rising Looking downstream in low and high water. © John Gunn
Update: Nov 2023 - A further dive has been made into the extension at Whirlpool Rising by the diving pair of Rob and Luke. Keeping high at the end, they followed a continution before descending down a pot to a depth of -41 m before returning due to air reserves. They will return at their first opportunity they get.
Between July 2022 and August 2023, Rob Middleton and Luke Brock have made ten dives bettwen them in Whirlpool Rising, with a view to extending the sump. On the 21/08/2023, Rob passed the constriction at the bottom of the pot, managing to extend the sump, adding 30 m onto the length of the sump, and down to a depth of -28 m.
A View Of The Present State Of Derbyshire - James Pilkington, 1789
The Pilkington Series in Speedwell Mine is a series of extensive mine workings that rise up from the Speedwell Far Canal to large cavity with a blocked mine shaft to the surface. James Pilkington in his book, A view of the Present State of Derbyshire, 1789; describes some caves in and around Derbyshire.
Read more: A View Of The Present State Of Derbyshire - James Pilkington, 1789
Pioneers Beneath the Peak
THE CAVES BENEATH THE PEAK DISTRICT have intrigued humankind for thousands of years. As people explored further into the caves, they would often reach a point where the roof sloped down into a pool of water and they could go no further.
This book tells the story of those who would not be stopped by the water and who, by a combination of determination, resourcefulness, technical innovation and a good measure of courage, sought to dive through those pools, to enter the unknown passages and to discover what lay beyond. This is a tale of true adventure and exploration, told by one of those involved.
Comprehensive List of Peak Speedwell System Surveys (with links)
These are the list of published complilation surveys that have appeared as full surveys of the Peak Speedwell System. This doesn't include surveys that have appeared in caving publications, accompaning articles etc about discoveries.
Read more: Comprehensive List of Peak Speedwell System Surveys (with links)
Peak Cavern Cave Rescue - 09th September 2023
A group were undertaking a routine tourist trip to Moss Chamber. one of the party decided to turn aroud and head out. The remainder of the party exited the cave and found this person was missing, after checking the start of Cohesion Crawl, they made a call to Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation.