40 
in many places, as at Cheddar, Banwell, and Uphill, are full of fissures, 
made when the great convulsions before-mentioned took place. Many- 
have been discovered and explored, but very likely many more are hidden, 
and waiting for the energies of future geologists. 
At the time alluded to in our subject some of the fissures were 
closed cavities— as at Cheddar, West Harptree, Hollwell, &c. — while 
in other places, by weathering or proximity to the surface, they opened 
to the air forming caves, which afforded secure retreats to the wild animals 
and afterwards to man. 
At Wookey Hole human remains were discovered in a remote and lateral 
fissure ; among them were jaws and teeth, embedded either in Red Marly 
Clay or bound together by a mass of Stalagmite. This cave is from 150 
to 200 yards long, and in some parts 50 feet high. 
At Burrington Comb are several caverns. One 100 feet in length was 
accidently discovered in 1795, by a man who pursuing a Rabbit suddenly 
lost it in a heap of stones. On pulling these away, an opening was dis- 
covered. Creeping in, he perceived the mouth of an inner opening, 
closed by a large stone. On entering 40 or 50 human skeletons were found 
laid end to end — not side by side. The bones were encrusted with 
Stalagmite. On the floor were the knawed bones of the Horse, Pig, Sheep, 
and the jawbone of a Fox. Some pieces of charcoal and a flint arrow-head 
were also collected. It evidently was a burial place, and afterwards a 
retreat for wolves and foxes. 
The most celebrated, however, are the caverns at Button, Banwell, 
and Uphill, and merit a short description. The oldest and most remark- 
able is that at Banwell. The existence of a cave on the north side of the 
hill was known for many years without exciting any interest till 1821, 
when a farmer named Beard, whose attention was attracted by Professor 
Buckland's description of the Kirkdale caves, determined on having an 
exploration made. Accompanied by a man he cleared out the entrance shaft, 
which was found to descend 20 feet. Another shaft 20 feet long was then 
entered, leading to an inclined plane 100 feet in length, which opened 
into a chamber by a narrow entrance. The bottom of this chamber was 
150 feet long, and still inclined at about an angle of 40°. The chamber 
is partially divided into two by a depression of the roof ; the furthest half 
being from 50 to 60 feet long and 40 feet high. The roof is covered with 
beautiful stalactites, and on the floor lie masses of limestone covered with 
stalagmite. The difficulty of access led to an attempt being made for an 
easier approach from the western slope of the hill. On examining a quarry 
