BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB

The Bristol Exploration Club (BEC) is one of the major caving clubs based on the Mendip Hills and has had its headquarters in an area east of the village of Priddy since 1947. It currently has a membership of a little under 200 members who are nationally based and in 2000 the club celebrated the 65th anniversary of its formation in Bristol. In 1935 member No. 1, Harry Stanbury, wished to join one of the caving clubs in the area - the Wessex Cave Club (WCC) - but was told in no uncertain terms that the WCC did not have people like him in their ranks! Harry, furious, went away and formed a club of his own, which was the formation of the BEC. Before the war the club the Club prospered and its membership reached about 15 active members but at the outbreak of hostilities in 1939 the membership fell to levels that left the club in a dormant state.

It was reformed with a new constitution in March 1943 and, merging with a number of smaller clubs, its membership reached about 100 in the late 1940's. In the immediate post-war years, members were actively involved with the Cave Diving Group operations at Wookey Hole and elsewhere; in 1947 Club members extended Stoke Lane Slocker and explored the beautiful chambers of Stoke Lane II. In 1953 the club discovered one of the longest and most beautifully decorated caves on Mendip - St. Cuthbert's Swallet, access which is strictly controlled by the Club, via a leader system.

Since that time the Club been responsible for the discovery of a number of Mendip caves including Hunter's Hole, Wigmore Swallet and White Pit Hole. Major discoveries have also been made in other British and foreign caving areas. In its early years the club had a number of sections including one for those that were interested in climbing and hill walking and another covering archaeology.