Ancrum

Caves, Ancrum.

The largest group of caves in this area is situated in the left bank of the Ale Water NE of Upper Ancrum Mill (632 248). The Statistical Account of Scotland (OSA 1794, 294-5) records fifteen, but weathering of the cliff face has reduced this number to nine and the majority of these are now little more than shells. As at Sunlaws (RCAHMS 1956, No. 913), the caves have been excavated at two levels, the upper tier being 2ft above the lower one. The best preserved example is roughly rectangular and measures 14ft long by 12ft wide by 7ft to 8ft high. It has two entrances on the SW side, facing the river and flanking a central pillar; one is 2ft 6in wide by 6ft 9in high and the other 2ft wide by 4ft 2 in high. The cave is cut in conglomerate, and there are traces of tool-markings on the NW. wall. According to the Statistical Account of Scotland some of the cave exhibited "vestiges of chimneys or fireplaces, and holes for the passage of smoke from the back part of the cave to the outside of the bank." (OSA 1794, 794-5).

The Ancrum caves were probably in use as early as the middle of the 16th century, as "Mynto, the Cayves, Barnehyll, Over Anckrum, Nether Anckrum" are among the places mentioned in Sir Ralph Bulmer's order to make all possible haste to fray or fire, in 1548-9 (information from Hamilton Papers ii no.461, 626). See also p.49 supra.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 24, 25, and 29 May 1939.

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.