Alan Jeffreys devoured Howard Beck’s latest book, The Lost River, in one sitting and can’t recommend it too highly.
Gaping Gill Hole is probably the most famous pothole in the UK, aided by the considerable number of public visits via winches set up by the Craven and Bradford Pothole Clubs since the 1930s. A much-needed history of the system was written and published by Howard Beck in 1984, sub-titled ‘150 Years of Exploration’ (culminating then with the link to Clapham (Ingleborough) Cave in 1983). Since then, much has happened since and, after relentless badgering, Beck agreed to produce another book on the system, bringing its story up to date.
This is a handsome production, very liberally illustrated with photographs and clearly drawn survey extracts, and is well up to the standards I’ve come to expect of Wild Places Publishing. In design and layout, The Lost River is a pleasure to read. Beck’s writing too has evolved. The text is salted with humorous anecdotes and the book is clearly a complete re-write, not just an expansion of the 1984 book. Significant changes to Gaping Gill have included not only a collection of new entrances, but surprising hydrological links to more distant parts of Ingleborough still to be fully understood.
Although many readers will be familiar with the general narrative, Beck has produced a most engaging account, commencing with investigations in Clapham Cave in 1837 and bringing explorations right up to date with dives in the Northern Line, Far Waters in 2026. Every probe, dig and dive over the past 189 years is described, particularly advances from the Far Country since 1968, many involving the author himself.
Some facets will be a surprise: the links to Clapham Bottoms Pot and, beyond Hurnel Moss Pot, to systems on the fringes of Newby Moss may come as a revelation to many people.
One of the book’s most attractive features is the veritable treasure house of illustrations, historic and current, gathered from many archives and individuals over the years, including views of several knee-trembling free-climbs up the Main Shaft. Another nice feature, first seen in Adventures Underground in 2017 (also published by Wild Places) shows illustrations of books listed in the bibliography and a glossary, most items shown with a thumbnail photo. The extracts from surveys showing various advances toward Clapham Cave are clearly drawn and coloured and well annotated for easy reference, although I eventually became a little confused as to where each extract fitted into the overall survey, making the narrative a trifle difficult to follow in detail. There is a complete survey of the Gaping Gill system on page 6, limited by a 16 x 24cm book size. This is sufficient for textual support, but an aerial landscape picture with the survey superimposed – as was presented in the recent OFD volume, would have been a useful contribution.
Those minor observations apart, this is a magnificent book, beautifully designed, entertainingly written and an aspirational model for other authors. Beck maintains a thoroughly readable style that led me to read the book straight through without stopping! This is definitely a book to own and savour, a true work by a caver for cavers, the King of Caving Books for the King of Potholes.
Reviewed by Alan L. Jeffreys
THE LOST RIVER. Exploration in Yorkshire’s Gaping Gill
Howard M. Beck
Wild Places Publishing (2026)
ISBN 978-1-8382628-3-9
Hardback 304pp
227 illustrations (excluding thumbnails in glossary)
33 diagrams/survey extracts
Available from Wild Places Publishing
Price £25
