In a few days’ time, on Sunday 19th April, we will be clearing overburden from the interior of the pumphouse. To prepare for this a few hours’ of effort were needed to find out how deep we can go without disturbing any features connected to the well. One square metre of the area was carefully…
At the end of our previous session, we had to leave the bank behind the newly-exposed brickwork with a slight overhang. This has now been tidied back which should prevent the weather washing the ground back over the excavation at this point. Although this was not a big step forward for the investigation, it has…
22nd March – our first full day with the whole team! All photographs by Laura Brown.
Our plan for the day was to uncover the wall foundations on the north-eastern side of the pumphouse and, time permitting, to start a two metres-wide trench to reveal the floor of the building parallel to the newly-exposed wall. This was a little ambitious, however, a great deal was accomplished and we finished the day…
We took advantage of a mostly dry day to extend the trench exposing the NW wall of the pumphouse and have now found the north corner, complete with several courses of brickwork making up a buttress or roof support column at the corner.
To start the whole project off National Trust volunteers had recently cleared away a few dying or unhealthy trees that would have prevented us conducting the excavation easily. Once the ground was clear three of us visited the site on 9th March to remove the remaining vegetation and to locate one of the side walls…
For three hectic days, Reigate Tunnel Caves were turned into a busy film set. Members of Wealden Cave and Mine Society were there to witness all the action. Peter Burgess reveals (not quite) all! For some years, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has licensed various borough properties to film companies to use as sets for…
It is with regret that I have to report that Frank Edwards, who joined the club soon after its inception in 1967, passed away on 18th November at a care home in St. Leonards, near Hastings. Frank had been a resident there since the summer of 2022, after being diagnosed with serious dementia. I attended…
On 3rd December 2022, the Reigate Business Guild held their annual Christmas Fayre in the town, with many stalls in Church Street and lots of activities taking place and seasonal fare to buy. As part of the event, WCMS opened the caves in nearby Tunnel Road, and entry to the caves was by donation to…