UBSS Facilities

The Stables

These are the new rooms given to us by the University, to house our Museum and Library. After a great deal of work by many of the UBSS members, the rooms were officially opened by Sir John Wills in 1992. You can find the Stables behind the German Dept. on Woodland Rd.

The Library

This houses one of the finest collections of caving books and journals in the country. We obtain a great many British and foreign publications by way of exchanging our Proceedings for the journals produced by other club s and organisations. As a consequence, new material is always being added to the library. We also have a large number of cave surveys and a good collection of maps, covering in particular, Mendip and Co.Clare, Eire. Also, a unique set of aerial photograph s of Mendip, taken some years ago. New caving books are constantly being added to the library and you will also be able to find guide books and information on most caving and mining areas in this country, as well as abroad. Books and other materials may be borrowed by members, with the exception of some unique and valuable items, but everything borrowed must be signed out by a committee member in the book provided and may not be kept for longer than four weeks. Journals may not be borrowed, except by special arrangement with the librarian. A copy of the library rules is on display in the 'Stables'. Copies of some of the material published by UBSS is also on sale via the Library. Our librarian is always willing to help anyone doing research, so if you require specific information, ask, and if we haven't got what you want, we can probably point you in the right direction.

The Museum

The Society has been involved in a number of active archaeological digs, mostly in caves, both on Mendip and in the Wye Valley. Some of these have yielded material of national and international significance. Sadly, much was lost when the Museum was bombed in 1940, but much still remains. This material continues to be studied and is also still added to from time to time.

This contains a very good collection of material mainly from the Mendip area, which is available to anyone studying the local prehistoric and Roman periods. There is also an excellent comparative bone collection - useful for discovering what really is in those hall meals! Members of the society have been involved in, amongst other things, excavations of Goughs cave in Cheddar and at Westbury-sub-Mendip Quarry.

Most of our catalogues are in paper form, but as they are computerised they will be made available here. As there is, as yet, no formal recognised standard for online catalogues, these are presented simply as spreadsheet files which may be opened as the user sees fit or as PDF scans of the original paper catalogues. Other, more interactive, formats will be added as time and the material allows.

Currently available catalogues

There is now an excellent display of some of our best material on the ground floor. Anybody is most welcome to come and view the museum - it is best to contact our curator, Linda Wilson, to find the best time. There is still work continuing on the collection, sometimes on Tuesday nights before meeting in the pub, so if you feel like helping, do come along.

Tackle Store and Workshop

The UBSS has the use of a room at the rear of the Union building, next to the caretakers flat, which houses our store of caving equipment and our workshop. Access to obtain tackle can be gained by contacting the secretaries. All equipment borrowed must be signed out in the book provided, and must be returned as soon as possible after use, cleaned, and in the case of ropes, properly coiled. Washing facilities are available in the tackle store.

The tackle store also serves as a workshop, with some tools, a vice and a drill press. These can be used for the maintenance of caving gear and other purposes providing that it does not involve spreading oily engines about the place!