Ancrum

On 30 March 2017 HES undertook a recording exercise on a series of artificial caves carved into the precipitous sandstone cliff on the left (north) bank of the Ale Water NE of The Old Mill, Ancrum. Health and Safety concerns meant that none of the caves was entered on the date of visit and all dimensions given have been calculated from laser scan data obtained from the opposite bank of the river.

Information from HES Survey and Recording (GLB) 21 June 2019.

At least five, possibly seven, artificial caves have been excavated into the steep face of the sandstone cliff that forms the left (north) bank of the Ale Water immediately NE of The Old Mill, Ancrum. The Statistical Account mentions fifteen caves along the banks of the Ale but these include others along the river to the west -- see NT62SW 4 (one cave) and NT62SW 14 (eight caves). Research by RCAHMS for the Roxburgh Inventory (1956) suggests that at least some of the caves were already in use by the middle of the 16th century. Few of the caves are now readily accessible and therefore the architectural features said to present in some, for example the vestiges of chimneys or fireplaces, cannot be easily confirmed. The caves opposite The Old Mill were visited by HES staff on 30 March 2017. None could be entered, and the following site descriptions are based on laser scan data obtained from the opposite bank of the river.

NT62SW 3.01 NT 63214 24872 Cave

NT62SW 3.02 NT 63220 24869 Cave (Possible)

NT62SW 3.03 NT 63225 24863 Cave

NT62SW 3.04 NT 63227 24860 Cave

NT62SW 3.05 NT 63231 24858 Cave (Possible)

NT62SW 3.06 NT 63249 24845 Cave

NT62SW 3.07 NT 63251 24844 Cave

Information from HES Survey and Recording (GLB) 21 June 2019.

This cave, which is situated immediately above 3.03, has been excavated into the steep face of the sandstone cliff that forms the left (north) bank of the Ale Water. It is situated 50m NE of The Old Mill and on the date of visit stood 12.8m above the level of the water in the river Its entrance measures 1.7m in width by 1.5m in height; the interior stretches back a distance of at least 2.1m, but it was not possible on the date of visit to scan either the roof or the rear of the cave.

Visited by HES Survey and Recording (GLB, LAD) 30 March 2017.