Grahamslaw Caves

NT72NW 18 720 271.

These caves, 200 yds SW of Grahamslaw, are cut in the vertical cliff which faces SE and rises some 50ft above the right bank of Kale Water. The main group comprises seven caves arranged in two tiers. The upper tier, situated just below the top of the cliff, consists of three caves 2ft apart, each of which is a single cell. The SW. cave is 15ft long, 9ft wide at the entrance, and 6ft wide at the back; its original height is uncertain owing to a fall in the roof. The central cave is 11ft 6in long, 9ft wide, and 7ft 9in high. The sides converge slightly to the roof and the original toolmarks are visible at several points along the foot of the wall. As at Maggie Dunn's Cave, Ancrum (cf. RCAHMS 1956, No.25), a small pit 5in deep has been cut in the floor at the back of the cave, probably for a hearth. The NE cave is 18ft long, 9ft wide at the mouth, 7ft wide at the back, and 6ft 6in high. The sides again converge towards the roof, which is rounded.

The lower tier of four caves is separated by 5ft of rock from the upper tier. The SW cave is 17ft 6in long and 7ft wide; the roof has caved in. The second cave 9ft to the NE, is 16ft long by 7ft wide and is connected by a gap in the wall with the third cave which lies immediately beneath the SW member of the upper tier and is 20ft long by 9ft wide. The roofs of both these caves have collapsed. The NE cave, situated beneath the central cave of the upper tier, is 21ft long, 8ft wide, and 6ft 6in high. A rectangular opening in the NE side, 11ft from the back wall, leads to a small cell 12ft long by 10ft wide. The roof of the cell has caved in.

Traces of four more caves, largely destroyed by landslips, are visible in the area, while others have no doubt been completely obliterated. According to the New Statistical Account (NSA 1845) these caves served as refuges for the local Covenanters.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 5 June 1939.

The main group of caves is generally as described by the Commission except that the roofs have not collapsed. At the SW end of the lower tier there is a small cell. About 17.0m. NE of the upper tier is a cave, similar to those described, 3.7m. long, 2.7m. wide and 2.0m. high: about 6.0m. to the east of this, and at a lower level, is another cave, 3.4m. long, 1.7m. wide and 3.4m. high. Still known as Grahamslaw Caves they are undoubtedly natural but have been altered and enlarged.

Visited by OS (EGC) 4 December 1967.