User:Boatgypsy/sandbox

= Birmingham Cave and Crag Club =

The Cave and Crag Club was formed shortly after the end of the Second World War, by young men returning from military service and seeking some diversion and excitement from the privations of the immediate post war period.

The club catered, unusually, for the somewhat different disciplines of caving and climbing, although there was some crossover. By clubbing together, individuals could share the relatively high cost of getting out of the industrial city of Birmingham, and travelling to areas where their sport could be indulged, such as the Peak District, Wales, the Lake District and Scotland.

Pant Ifan
In 1954, having climbed Dogs Head Pinnacle on the Craig Pant Ifan Cliffs, near Tremadog, four members of the club, Stan Moore, Trevor Jones, Ken Clarke and Pete Knapp, came across a deserted farm house, which they promptly broke into in order to obtain shelter from bad weather. The following day, remorseful about breaking in, they sought out the owner to make reparations. Pant Ifan farmhouse turned out to belong to the local landowner, Captain S.T.A. Livingstone-Learmonth, of Tan-Yr-Allt. As a result of their making contact Pant Ifan farmhouse became leased to the Cave and Crag Club as a climbing hut.

Dave Williams was the first hut warden and with many working parties the Hut was officially opened at Christmas 1954. The farmhouse is reputed to have been built in the 16th century and is the oldest building in the area above the cliffs.

Subsequent to the death of Captain Livingstone-Learmonth in 1984 the club was able to buy the property outright.

Notable Members
Harry Smith

Jimmy Jewell

Moelwyn Morgan

Alfie Beanland