BCRA SEMINAR ON MONDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER VIA ZOOM 19.30 -21.00
Posted: Wed 27 Aug 2025 16:12
Forgotten Voices Speak: Recording historic graffiti in Kents Cavern, Torquay
with Linda Wilson of Bristol University
The Raking Light team are working with the management at Kents Cavern, Torquay on a
project to record and research the myriad inscriptions and other markings left behind by
visitors to the cave. Early researchers such as Father John McEnery and William Pengelly
noted many of the inscriptions they found but noted that some were already being lost to a
covering of calcite. As part of the cave's conservation plan, the aim is to record and
photograph the current state of the inscriptions as well as other marks throughout the cave
made with chalk, candle smoke and pencil. The project is amassing a wealth of detail about
early visitors to the cave and, working with genealogical and historic records, the team hopes
to shine a light on the identity of some of these people.
with Linda Wilson of Bristol University
The Raking Light team are working with the management at Kents Cavern, Torquay on a
project to record and research the myriad inscriptions and other markings left behind by
visitors to the cave. Early researchers such as Father John McEnery and William Pengelly
noted many of the inscriptions they found but noted that some were already being lost to a
covering of calcite. As part of the cave's conservation plan, the aim is to record and
photograph the current state of the inscriptions as well as other marks throughout the cave
made with chalk, candle smoke and pencil. The project is amassing a wealth of detail about
early visitors to the cave and, working with genealogical and historic records, the team hopes
to shine a light on the identity of some of these people.