There he helped George Johnson, Dean of Wells, who had poor eyesight due to his age, by reading texts.

In the 1890s, Balch was introduced to the caves of the Mendip Hills by Thomas Willcox, manager of the Priddy lead mines.

He saved himself by catching a guide rope,[1] but the 60 feet (18 m) fall rendered him unconscious, suffering serious friction burns and back injuries.

[1] As Balch finished his formal education early, he compensated through self-improvement, even cycling to London to buy books.

[1] Balch's investigations into geomorphology and hydrology led to his decision to try to find the origins of the water that rose to the surface at Wookey Hole Caves, the source of the River Axe.

In 1901, he led a team of miners and cavers to dig into Swildon's Hole, where he found the 'Forty Foot Pot' as well as chambers full of stalagmites.

[1] Despite the publicity around the find, Balch refused to disclose the location of the cave as he believed it was too dangerous for amateur explorers.

The farmer who owned the land denied them entrance the following year, turning the valley into a fish farm,[2] so the team headed upstream where they discovered Eastwater Cavern, one of Balch's personal favourites.

[1] Balch was awarded an honorary Master of Arts by Bristol University in July 1927 for devoting his leisure time to exploring and recording the caves of the Mendip Hills, becoming an authority on the subject.

[9] He retired as postmaster on 31 March 1931,[3] whilst continuing his caving, working as the curator at the museum and giving lectures on archaeology.