This is the cave entrance and memorial plaque to six men who drowned potholing in Mossdale Cavern in June 1967. The cave system is vast and extends some 5km, its takes 10-15 hours to reach the end and back and remains not fully explored.
On that day 10 experienced cavers entered the caverns with 4 returning after the first sump. 6 continued to try to remove rock at the extent of the known system. Upon returning to the entrance to the cave one of the original four was horrified to discover the waters had risen to cover the whole entrance of the cave. She ran 2 miles to the nearest farm to raise the alarm. A large team dug trenches and built a dam to hold back and redirect the water, the next day a team were finally able to enter the cave and make the grim discovery that 5 of the men had died. The body of John Ogden was not found until a further exploration some days later. The cave was sealed and the remains of the men lie within the cave to this day. It would be impossible to bring them to the surface. There is a memorial cairn above the position where the bodies lie on the moor. It is also worth looking at the Church and Churchyard in Coniston where further memorials are on display.