LUCC Journals
The Journal of London University Caving Clubs [LUCC]
Members of LUCC:
- Chelsea College Caving Club [CCCC]
- Imperial College Caving Club
- University College London Speleological Society [UCLSS], and later
- Queen Mary College Caving Society [QMCCS]
"... the three University Club's histories are very closely inter-related and now the journal should ensure that this pattern of beneficial co-operation will continue. It is hoped that it will even stimulate some people to do some caving with a purpose - certainly far more rewarding than the old tourist trips. A mere write up of the log book has very limited interest, while an entirely scientific publication is beyond the scope of the clubs, so this journal is attempting to strike a happy medium." -- Tony Waltham, LUCC 1 Editorial, December 1966
Alas, we are the sole surviving member of the LUCC collective. We have a (complete as possible - we believe there were 14 in the series, Dec '66 - June '73) set of LUCC journals freely downloadable here as PDFs, in testament to the achievements of the now defunct clubs and as a record of original exploration both within the country and abroad. As the last of the members of the LUCC, we are happy for their content to be freely distributed.
If you have a copy of LUCC No.1 or 2 we would be most interested in talking to you, as they haven't been spotted in the wild since 2000!
A summary of the contents of the LUCC journals can be garnered from the first half of our 25 Yr History of the Club (1987) [12mb PDF] (typed version on Wiki).
Thanks are due to the library of the Northern Pennine Club, where copies of many of the LUCC journals have been retained and were available for digital scanning.
Journals
In 2024, Journals 3-14 were scanned by individually photographing each page. Journal No.12 had been scanned at a prior date. As of this date, ICCC retains original copies of Journals 5, 7 and 9, and a printed copy of Journal 12.
Journal No.3 June 1967
(scanned July 2024)
LUCC Journal 3 (copy lacking supplement)
Editorial Geology of Mongo Gill - Stump Cross Caverns Frog Pot - Priddy Meets List Extensions in Ogof Fynnon Ddu Notes and News Gingling Hole Review - H.W.C.P.C. Supplement: Revised Tackle Lists
Journal No.4 October 1967
(scanned August 2024)
Editorial and Committees list To Hell and Back? or the Berger Expedition Boating in the Krizna Jama Review - N.P.C. Journal U.C.L.S.S. Pindus Expedition The Grotte Gournier Notes and News Meets List
Journal No.5, January 1968
(scanned March 2024)
Editorial Some observations on Helectites Ogof Ffynnon Ddu 2 - Ogof Ffynnon Ddu Survey Lost Johns - Wet Pitch Correspondence - The Berger Expedition A note on the depth of the Gouffre Berger Review - CPC Journal Notes and News Meets List Winter Lecture Programme 1968
Journal No.6 April 1968
(scanned August 2024)
Editorial I.C.C.C. Christmas Meet - Grenoble Smeltmill Beck Cave A Minor Epic (Abridged Version) A note on The Structural Control of Tatham Wife Hole Review - M.S.G. Journal Review - Wessex Caving Club Journal Notes and News Journal Exchange Meets List
Journal No.7, June 1968
(scanned April 2024)
Editorial Rumbling Hole and Its Survey - Rumbling Hole: Plan and Section Skocjan Cave, Jugoslavia Some Notes on Eastern Mendip and its caves A Few Visits to Marble Steps - Marble Steps Pot survey: Plan and sections Nick Pot Review - White Rose P.C.Journal Far East Gaping Gill A Note on Recent Meets and Events
Journal No.8, Autumn 1968
(scanned October 2024)
Editorial Ireland, 1968 La Fontaine de Vaucluse Turkey, 1968 Survey [Insert] The Joint British Universities Speleological Expedition to Rumania, 1968 Rumania Maps [Inserts] Volcanic Caves, Suswa Crater, Kenya Journal Exchange Club Addresses and Officials 1968/69 Notes and News
Journal No.9, Spring 1969
(scanned April 2024)
Editorial Swalletts and Caves in the Chalk Map Washfold Pot The I.C.C.C. Expedition to France, 1968 Tourist Trips in the Tour du Glaz Surveys A note on Caving in the Vercours and adjacent areas Pen-y-Ghent L.U.C.C. Journal - Review of Past Editions Journal Exchange Note and News
Journal No.10 Autumn 1969
(scanned July 2024)
Editorial The Exploration of the Epos Chasm A Dive in Notts Pot Quaking Pot The Discovery of Lyle Cavern High Level Series Some Cave Dimensions Notes and News Surveys - Epos Chasm - Lyle Cavern High Level Series
Journal No.11, Spring 1971
(scanned October 2024)
Editorial
St. Cuthberts 2
Gaping Gill Aven Series Survey
Lost Johns':
Battle Axe - Sink Chamber
Other Recent Work
Providence Pot - Dow Cave
L.U.C.C. Expedition to Ireland
Caving in the Himalaya - Autumn 1970
Journal No.12, Winter 1971
(scanned prior to 2024)
Editorial Economics of Cave Photography Chelsea College Caving Club Expedition to Yugoslavia 1971 Trou du Glaz Lost Johns: - Lyle Cavern High Level Series Large Aven - In Flood Another Episode in the Leck Fell Story Imperial College Caving Club High Atlas Expedition Gouffre Berger: - Description - Tackle List - Politics Peterson Pot Review Notes and News Surveys: - Lost Johns Large Aven - Kahaf Umal Almanjum Athaletha - Jfre ou Tageuileit - Jfre ou Drasse - Mitkane Area, Morocco - Gouffre Berger - Peterson Pot
Journal No.13, Summer 1972
(scanned July 2024)
Editorial Yorkshire Caving a Long Time Ago Imperial College Caving Club High Atlas Expedition Trou des Trois Soeurs The Trou D’Anaffed Kirk Pot Self-Lifelining a Self-Rescue Proceedure A Star is Born Caving in Peru 1972 Maypoling in Rowten Pot On Ropes and Ladders Available Light in Agen Allwedd Lost Johns’ Wet Pitch Area Entrance Heights on Leck Fell Reviews Surveys - Taza Area map, Morocco - Trou des Trois Soeurs - Trou D’Anaffed - Kirk Pot - Rowten Pot, Leak Inlet - Lost Johns’, Maypole Passage Extension
Journal No.14, Spring 1973
(scanned November 2024)
Editorial A Visit to Strans Gill Heator Hole The Three Counties System Pippikin Hole - Cross Hall Extension Car Pot - Extension Abseiling and Prussiking - Techniques and Equipment Gouffre Berger 1972 Ghar Parau - The Big One that wasn't Caving in Belgium Caving in South America Reviews Notes and News Cave Survey Grades
L.U.C.C. Journal - Review of Past Editions - Covers #1-8 Published in #9
Number 1, December, 1966.
Includes the 1966 I.C.C.C. summer expedition to the Trou du Glaz, Grenoble (with relevant tackle lists) and brief accounts of trips down Hammer Pot, Easegill and Meregill. This edition also contains a note on the Oxlow-Giants connection, a short article on Britain's longest caves and a superbly written 'funny' on Juniper Gulf.
Number 2, March 1967.
Contains an account of the 1965 U.C.L.S.S. expedition to Turkey, to the 'Bey Daglari' limestone mountain range on the south coast of the country. Also included are articles on poling in Lost John's, digging in Swildons 7, Car Pot, Short Gill Cavern, the Grotto of San Giovanni (Sardinia), and the Allt Non Leac Cave (Skye).
Number 3, June 1967.
This edition begins with a lengthy article on the development and geology of Stump Cross - Mongo Gill system (with maps), followed by short articles on Rumbling Hole in flood and Frog Pot, Priddy. After these there are descriptions of extensions in O.F.D. II (with survey) and a trip down Gingling Hole. A special feature of this issue is the supplement at the end:- Revised tackle lists of Major Yorkshire Potholes.
Number 4, October 1967.
Includes the 1967 Gouffre Berger expedition (lead by Ken Pearce) with sketch maps, boating in the Krizna Jama, Yugoslavia, the 1967 U.C.L.S.S. Pindus expedition (also with sketch maps), and a description of the Grotto Gournier.
Number 5, January 1968.
This issue contains a very good scientific article on helictites, types and formation thereof, supplemented by diagrams. This is followed by another lengthy description of O.F.D.II with survey and sections, and brief notes on Lost John's (Wet Pitch) and the Gouffre Berger.
Number 6, April 1968.
The saga of the 1967 I.C.C.C. Christmas meet forms the bulk of this journal, with descriptions of the Grotte de Coufin, the Grotte de Gournier, the Grotte au Bournillon and many others. It also contains a plan and section of the Grotte Favot. Also included are articles on Smeltmill Beck Cave (with sketch survey), Car Pot, and the structural formation of Tatham Wife Hole (with survey).
Number 7, June 1968.
This is, in most people's opinion, the best L.U.C.C. Journal yet produced with a description of Rumbling Hole (with plan and section), a geological article on eastern Mendip, a description of Marble Steps (with plan and two sections), followed by accounts of trips down Nick Pot and Far East, Gaping Gill. This last article could aptly be named 'How the I.C.C.C. missed the discovery of the year!'
Number 8, Autumn 1968.
A largely international edition with accounts of expeditions abroad to Ireland (I.C.C.C.), Turkey (with survey), the Joint British Universities Speleogical Expedition to Rumania (with maps) - organised by the Q.M.C.C.S., France and Kenya.
If you think you have a copy of one of our publications that isn't present here please get in contact; e-mail address is on the left. Like everything else on this website all this material is under a Creative Commons licence.