Walking and Climbing

A friend and I have decided to attempt all of JW Puttrells first ascents.

We are aware of (hopefully most of) the routes he put up in the Peak district, but are having problems obtaining information regarding his activities further a field (eg. Wales/Lakes/Scotland) any information about how we could find out which routes are listed with him as the First ascent, would be gratefully received.

You could try consulting the Putrell Collection at Sheffield Library.

Is that the main library, or one of the university ones?

It's a seperate collection in the main library. It contains details of all his caving and climbing along with original manuscripts maps etc.

That's quite an undertaking.


Good luck.

We're discovering this!

We've set ourselves a target of repeating all his first ascents above ground (after discovering when he got "bored" of the grit edges he went underground!)

However, this still leaves us with routes in Wales, Scotland, and, possibly the alps!

Daniel, why limit yourself to above ground? I'd be happy to do the below ground ones with you

I thought what he did was not in training for Alps, as was the vogue at the time, but rock climbing purely for it's own sake. As Neil Gresham says... "He was one of us!"

Unfortunatly, I don't know much about the man. That was partly the reason for attempting his FA's. Doing the research would tell me more about the person who pretty much invented grit climbing.

The only information I have so far found out about his alpine exploits comes from a poster on UKCLimbing.

"Had not economic necessity somewhat restricted Puttrell’s geographic range it seems likely the history of climbing in Britain and elsewhere might looked very different to the way it turned out, for it is clear that Puttrell’s ambitions were far from restricted to outcrop climbing. In 1898 for example, he made the first winter ascent (solo) of the North Face of Mam Tor (III). His big-mountain competence was also amply demonstrated on one of his rare visits to the Alps when, against the advice of guides at Zermatt, he soloed through storms and dangerous avalanche-prone ground to take food to a party who had been stranded for three days at the Dom’s Festi Hut.
"

I learnt quite a bit about him while researching back in the 80's about his caving exploits. Also living pretty close to Wharncliffe where he climbed a lot got me interested in him. I presume you know about the Puttrell exhibition in Buxton Museum as well.

As a caver he was on a par with Boyd Dawkins in an age when caving was a scientific exploration rather than a sport.

Hi, I am the Great, Great nephew of J W Puttrell and have a large 'chunk' of Blue John, that he gave my Grandmother (his Neice) in 1902. Presumably he 'mined' it himself on one of his Peak District pot holing adventures. I've just started researching him, any information or pointer would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks John