Secret cave system underneath Southmead inspiration for new film

An underground network of hidden caves beneath Southmead is the inspiration for a new film by Bristol artist Laura Phillips.

From Thursday until the end of the month, Spike Island is streaming Beneath The Mead: cigar.lend.shave about Pen Park Hole.

The land above the many chambers – which were discovered accidentally in the 17th century – was granted planning permission for homes in 2016, but this was thwarted when the caves were designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Phillips’ film combines the real and the imaginary, questioning what is known about this specific site and ideas of locality and home.

The 34-year-old artist lives in Bedminster but grew up in Southmead, where her parents still live.

“Through talking with my family about the area, Pen Park Hole cropped up. I didn’t know anything about it,” Phillips told Bristol24/7.

Artist Laura Phillips on Pen Park Road with her clockwork camera – photo: Laura Phillips

Phillips works at the University of Bristol Library, and researched caves via books as well as talking to members of the university’s Spelæological Society and visiting the Pen Park Hole website.

The cave system is not easily accessible with access only granted to members of a caving club, “and that was part of the mystery” said Phillips.

The subtitle to the film, cigar.lend.shave, are the coordinates to the Pen Park Hole site using a geocode system called What3words, which uses geographic coordinates that are represented by three different words from the dictionary.

“I am interested in the happenstance selection of words that are used in making a coordinate; but also the relationships to both common and commercial ownership of the service…

“A returning question for this film is how we come to know a place? What are the histories or the geological, social, economic, personal factors that make up an environment?

“How we see and interpret places are dependent on how we interface and process a space; what data and information gets distributed is part of that place’s identity.”

The cave system created 200 million years ago is located close to Pen Park Road, and accessed via a discreet metal trapdoor in the floor – photo: Martin Booth

In 1682, Captain Grenville Collins explored and mapped the caves. His plans published by the Royal Society in 1683 is thought to be the earliest publication of a cave survey in the world – photo: Martin Booth

Access to the cave is now strictly controlled with caving clubs operating a leader system with permission from Bristol City Council – photo: Martin Booth

Phillips said that through making the film, she has developed a deeper appreciation for Southmead.

She said: “Southmead is a place I know but also one I don’t know, especially concerning Pen Park Hole. For me, the hole is the MacGuffin in the process of making this film.

“I never managed to go down the hole (yet), or film the hole, but it informs the talking point and structure to the film as a way of reengage in the ‘local’ landscape, hear voices from the neighbourhood and to expose these findings within the context of my own practice.

“I wanted to dig into the zeitgeist of what constitutes a neighbourhood: its geology, ecology and community within an ethnographic approach of BS10.”

Phillips describes her work as a “very DIY” and non-linear short film, made using abstract 16mm film, lots of textures and shots from her walk to Pen Park Road, the street above the hole.

She added: “What interested me was the local knowledge about Pen Park Hole, rather than scientific experts. I wanted to know what’s known by people who live nearby; akin to an aural survey or local folklore.

“It’s not about the scientific facts but what is understood that is most important.”

Spike Island has also announced the appointment of five new trustees to their board. They are Linda Brothwell, artist and current Spike Island studio holder; Catherine Frankpitt, founder and director of Strike Communications; Imran Perretta, artist and educator; Marie Bak Mortensen, head of exhibitions & interpretation at the Royal Institute of British Architects; and Jazlyn Pinckney, inclusion producer at South West Creative Technology Network.

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: 12 Communities 1 Bristol podcast: Southmead