In reply to jonny taylor:
It was nice and grassy all along the base of the crag way back then. An old bar towel was all that was needed to dry rockboots (or in my case plimsolls). I didn't get my first pair of rock boots until I was leading VS when I considered myself a 'proper' climber.
There was never an evil pool, though you could get a bit soggy in the winter if you came off the low level girdle on the bit below the Mauler.
The top outs were not eroded, and there was even a tree at the top of The Arete.
There were no nice big parking area or constructed pathways.
The track from the road at the bottom of the dip was often impassable to vehicles - deep ruts and mud - though in summer it was possible to get my minivan all the way along to the little bridge over the stream.
Wellies were often the favoured approach footwear - and the low level girdle has actually been done whilst wearing a pair.