Banwell Ochre Caves
Caves in Somerset, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Banwell Ochre Caves (grid reference ST407593) are a 12.46-hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Banwell, North Somerset, notified in 1983.
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
  Location within Somerset | |
 Location of Banwell Ochre Caves. | |
| Location | Avon |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | ST407593 |
| Coordinates | 51.3297°N 2.8525°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 12.46 ha (30.8 acres) |
| Notification | 1983 |
| Natural England website | |
| Banwell Ochre Cave | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Banwell Ochre Cave | |
| Location | Banwell |
| Depth | 12m |
| Length | 62m |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Cave survey | Mendip Cave Registry & Archive: (1) and (2) |
There are five caves in total which contain the most extensive and accessible yellow ochre workings in the Mendip Hills. A wide variety of ochre types and iron hydroxides (limonites) can be examined in situ, and the evidence of their accumulation as residual ore-bodies associated with Ice Age (Pleistocene) sediments is clearly visible.[1] The caves are also a nesting site for the Horseshoe bat a protected species.[2]
The caves were first exploited for ochre mining in the 1930s and worked until 1948.[2]
Cave one is 62 metres (203 ft) long,[3] Cave two 154 metres (505 ft),[4] cave three 92 metres (302 ft)[5] cave four 62 metres (203 ft)[6] and cave five 31 metres (102 ft) long.[7] A small additional cave is choked with rocks at a depth of 4 metres (13 ft).[8]