Peden's Cave is at least partly artificial and is set into a craggy outcrop of red sandstone rocks overlooking the
River Lugar
The Lugar Water, or River Lugar, is created by the confluence of the Bellow Water and the Glenmuir Water, just north of Lugar, both of which flow from the hills of the Southern Uplands in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Course
Source to Cumnock
Th ...
just below the farm of Auchinbay in
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire ( sco, Aest Ayrshire; gd, Siorrachd Àir an Ear) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland. It shares borders with Dumfries and Galloway, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The headquart ...
, Scotland, close to the town of
Ochiltree
Ochiltree is a conservation village in East Ayrshire, Scotland, near Auchinleck and Cumnock. It is one of the oldest villages in East Ayrshire, with archaeological remains indicating Stone Age and Bronze Age settlers. A cinerary urn was found in ...
. Traditionally it is said that this cave was used as a hiding place for
Covenanters
Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...
, including the famous
Covenanter
Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...
minister
Alexander Peden
Alexander Peden (162626 January 1686), also known as "Prophet Peden", was one of the leading figures in the Covenanter movement in Scotland.
Life
Peden was born at Auchincloich Farm near Sorn, Ayrshire, about 1626, and was educated at the U ...
in the 17th century, mainly during the so-called 'Killing Times' of the 1680s.
Cave and access
Peden's Cave is located near the top of a much eroded red sandstone cliff, the cave floor being around above the
River Lugar
The Lugar Water, or River Lugar, is created by the confluence of the Bellow Water and the Glenmuir Water, just north of Lugar, both of which flow from the hills of the Southern Uplands in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Course
Source to Cumnock
Th ...
on the south-western side of this water course, just off the old road that ran from
Stair
Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...
past Auchinbay Farm and over the old Slatehole Ford, later replaced by the now ruined Slatehole Bridge and its associated lodge, running into the
Auchinleck Estate. The cave is well camouflaged from directly above. The well known
Wallace's Cave' is located at the junction of the
River Lugar
The Lugar Water, or River Lugar, is created by the confluence of the Bellow Water and the Glenmuir Water, just north of Lugar, both of which flow from the hills of the Southern Uplands in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Course
Source to Cumnock
Th ...
and the Dippol Burn, a short distance upstream.
The cave is not very large ( high, wide, and about long) and the chisel marks add emphasis to its artificial origin or creation from a smaller natural cavity. A bench or shelf has been cut inside and six steps have been cut into the rock face leading down to it, however access is still hazardous.
The opening is obvious from the opposite side of the
Lugar Water
The Lugar Water, or River Lugar, is created by the confluence of the Bellow Water and the Glenmuir Water, just north of Lugar, both of which flow from the hills of the Southern Uplands in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Course
Source to Cumnock
Th ...
however this is difficult to access and it is likely that, as at
Dunton Cove
Dunton Cove or the Covenanters' Cave is an artificial cave in a craggy outcrop of rocks overlooking the Craufurdland Water just below the confluence of the Dunton Water and the Calf Fauld Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland, close to the village of ...
, a bush such as gorse or willow would be cut and then pulled up and tied with ropes over the entrance as camouflage. Next to the cave is a sizeable rectangular area which it has been noted has features indicating that it may have been artificially shaped or quarried and even roofed over for use in stabling of horses, storage of food, etc.
History
As a
Covenanter
Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...
minister preaching at various outdoor
conventicles
A conventicle originally signified no more than an assembly, and was frequently used by ancient writers for a church. At a semantic level ''conventicle'' is only a good Latinized synonym of the Greek word church, and points to Jesus' promise in M ...
,
Alexander Peden
Alexander Peden (162626 January 1686), also known as "Prophet Peden", was one of the leading figures in the Covenanter movement in Scotland.
Life
Peden was born at Auchincloich Farm near Sorn, Ayrshire, about 1626, and was educated at the U ...
is said to have used a number of other caves as places of concealment during his years on the run from the King's soldiers, including
Barskimming, one on Craigie Hill near the village, another at the Nick of the Balloch, a further example near the Water of Girvan and his final cave hiding place may have been the Cleuch Glen in
Sorn Parish which he reportedly asked to be made when he sensed that his illness was terminal, supposedly hiding beneath some straw when it was searched by soldiers.
The facts remain unclear, however one telling of the history is that a brother of the Covenanter minister lived at Tenshilling Farm, the surviving Ten Shilling Bridge lies close to the estate's so called Deer Cave. Alexander's brother is said to have brought food to the cave to feed him and the various other
Covenanters
Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...
who hid with Peden from time to time.
It may have been this cave where he took ill before moving closer to his brother's farm where he died on 26 January 1686. He was secretly buried at
Auchinleck
Auchinleck ( ; sco, Affleck ;
gd, Achadh nan Leac in the churchyard however he was later exhumed by the King's soldiers and later buried at the foot of the gallows tree in
Cumnock
Cumnock (Scottish Gaelic: ''Cumnag'') is a town and former civil parish located in East Ayrshire, Scotland. The town sits at the confluence of the Glaisnock Water and the Lugar Water. There are three neighbouring housing projects which lie just o ...
where a graveyard is now located with memorials to
Alexander Peden
Alexander Peden (162626 January 1686), also known as "Prophet Peden", was one of the leading figures in the Covenanter movement in Scotland.
Life
Peden was born at Auchincloich Farm near Sorn, Ayrshire, about 1626, and was educated at the U ...
and several over Covenanters. The soldiers had intended to hang the minister's corpse from the tree however William, second
Earl of Dumfries
Earl of Dumfries is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was originally created for William Crichton, 9th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, in 1633, and stayed in the Crichton family until the death of the fourth countess in 1742, at which point ...
prevented this.
Several other caves in Ayrshire and beyond are said to have been used as places of concealment by
Covenanters
Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...
in general, such as the
Cleeves Cove
Cleeves Cove or Blair Cove is a solutional cave system on the Dusk Water in North Ayrshire, Scotland, close to the town of Dalry.
Cave system
The Cleeves, or Cleaves Cove (Scots) cave system is situated in the lower beds of Carboniferous limes ...
on the Dusk Water near
Dalry and
Dunton Cove
Dunton Cove or the Covenanters' Cave is an artificial cave in a craggy outcrop of rocks overlooking the Craufurdland Water just below the confluence of the Dunton Water and the Calf Fauld Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland, close to the village of ...
on the
Craufurdland Water near
Waterside in
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire ( sco, Aest Ayrshire; gd, Siorrachd Àir an Ear) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland. It shares borders with Dumfries and Galloway, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The headquart ...
.
The cave's location is close to one of the few local fording places over the
River Lugar
The Lugar Water, or River Lugar, is created by the confluence of the Bellow Water and the Glenmuir Water, just north of Lugar, both of which flow from the hills of the Southern Uplands in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Course
Source to Cumnock
Th ...
that existed before any bridges were constructed, making it a surprising location for a hiding place and in addition
Dumfries House
Dumfries House (Scottish Gaelic: ''Taigh Dhùn Phris'') is a Palladian country house located in the town of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is within a large estate, around west of Cumnock. Noted for being one of the few such houses wit ...
,
Auchinleck House and
Ochiltree House were all in the immediate vicinity.
The cave may have seen various uses after the time of the
Covenanters
Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...
such as shelter for travellers or a base for people assisting travellers who were crossing the river by the ford, especially when the water was high or when it was in spate, certainly local anglers have found it to be a convenient shelter.
Many other sites have Peden's name attached to them such as the Peden's Pulpit near
Failford
Failford ( sco, Failfuird) is a hamlet in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is west of Mauchline, where the Water of Fail flows into the River Ayr.
History
A minor ford would have been located where the Water of Fail has its confluence with the River ...
, another at
Dalry and a Peden's Stone as well as Peden's Hut, etc.
Micro-history
The mound that is all that remains of Ochiltree Castle lies upstream opposite
Auchinleck Castle and the impressive red sandstone boulder known on the old maps as Kemp's Castle is located between Ochiltree Castle and Peden's Cave. A 'Kemp' in Scots is a hero or a champion of great strength and is a name applied to many hill forts, mottes, etc. throughout Scotland.
See also
*
Cleeves Cove
Cleeves Cove or Blair Cove is a solutional cave system on the Dusk Water in North Ayrshire, Scotland, close to the town of Dalry.
Cave system
The Cleeves, or Cleaves Cove (Scots) cave system is situated in the lower beds of Carboniferous limes ...
*
Dunton Cove
Dunton Cove or the Covenanters' Cave is an artificial cave in a craggy outcrop of rocks overlooking the Craufurdland Water just below the confluence of the Dunton Water and the Calf Fauld Water in East Ayrshire, Scotland, close to the village of ...
*
Hallhill Covenanter Martyrs Memorial
References
;Notes
External links
Video footage of Peden's Cave.Video footage of Alexander Peden's Memorial.Dunton Cove, Covenanter's Hiding Place.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peden's Cave
Caves of Scotland
Protected areas of East Ayrshire
Landforms of East Ayrshire
Covenanters
Presbyterianism in Scotland
Scottish Reformation
17th century in Scotland