Ancrum

In late-January 2018 HES undertook a recording exercise on a series of artificial caves carved into the steep sandstone cliffs on the right (south) bank of the Ale Water at 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.

This possible artificial cave, which is most likely the third mentioned as ‘Two caves and the remains of a third at NT 6284 2469.’ when visited by the Ordnance Survey in February 1967, has been cut into the sandstone cliff that forms the steep right (southern) bank of the Ale Water at Ancrum. The front of the cave is situated 6m back from the river bank and on the date of visit it stood 10.2m above the level of the river. The entrance measures a maximum of 2.2m in width and the square-cut interior is 2.5m in depth and at least 0.7m wide and up to 3.3m in height. Except for a portion that projects 0.8m from the rear wall, most of the roof is now missing.

Visited by HES Survey and Recording (GLB, LAD) 29 Jan 2018.