Geograph - photograph every grid square

Joint Mitnor cave is one of a number of limestone caves opening into Higher Kiln Quarry, and which were probably all part of one larger cave before the quarry was dug. They all formed under the River Dart when it flowed at a higher level. However about 100,000 years ago the Dart had deepened its valley and the caves were dry. At the back of Joint Mitnor a hole opened to the land surface which acted as a pitfall, and many animals fell in.Link
In about 1940 it was investigated by Antony Sutcliffe and the Torquay Natural History Society and in 1960 Leslie Neale worked on the cave to protect its contents and to allow it to be open to the public as and educational example of what how bones came to be fossilised in caves. It is now managed by the William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust Link

In 1961 Higher Kiln Quarry was purchased to protect Joint Mitnor cave and the many features of scientific interest in this long abandoned limestone quarry. The following year it was decided to set the site up as a cave demonstration and research centre. The Association of the William Pengelly Cave Research Centre was set up and became the William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust in 1969.
For details of the caves, the museum, and other activities see its web site Link