Cleeves Cove

Cleeves Cove
Location	North Ayrshire
Length	500 feet
Access	Safe
Translation	The word 'Cove' as used here means 'Cave'   (Scots)

Cleeves Cove is a cave system on the Dusk Water in North Ayrshire, Scotland, close to the town of Dalry.

The cave system

Cleeves, or Cleaves, cove cave system is situated in the lower bed of carboniferous limestone. It measures around 500 feet if all the passages were put together. The caves are now well above the level of the Dusk Water and lie close to Cleeves Farm and Blair Mill on the Blair Estate. Many of the stalactites and stalagmites have been damaged by visitors. The cave has three practical entrances facing onto the Dusk Water.

A number of older books refer to the romantic sylvan dell of Auchenskeigh, now Auchenskeith, derived from Achadh-na-sgitheach - the field of thorns.^[1] The calcareous incrustations in these caves were compared with Gothic fretwork. A number of old limestone quarries lie close to the modern day farm of Auchenskeith, but it is likely that Auchenskeigh is a synonym for Cleeves Cove.^[2]

History

The word 'Cove' in Scots means 'Cave'.^[3] John Smith published a monograph entitled Cleaves Cove Stalactites and Stalagmites, published by Mr. Elliot Stock in which he provided drawings and a detailed description of these structures within the cave system,^[4] many of which have been destroyed. The site was previously known as the 'Elfhouse' or 'Elfhame'^[5] the locals at that time believed that these magical creatures had made this their abode.^[6] Ness^[7] calls the site 'Glen O'Dusk' or the Elf-hame, the caves being the Elf-house.^[8]

The 1833 plan of the cave system before they were excavated by John Smith^[9]

One of the cave system entrances

The cave system was created in the Dusk Glen when the waters of the Dusk (Gaelic for 'black water')^[10] ran through and eroded the limestone, followed by a period when it was relatively dry allowing the stalactites and stalagmites to form and finally a progressive infilling with soil washed in from above, resulting in a partial infilling of the caves and passageways; at this point John Smith obtained permission from Captain Blair, R.N., of Blair House to explore and ultimately remove some 300 tons of material.^[11] The cave now lies 40 feet above the Dusk Water due to the excavation of the gorge by the river. Near the middle is a spacious chamber, 35 feet long by 27 broad and 12 high. The internal surfaces of the chambers and passageways are covered with calcareous incrustations and numerous crevices branch off in all directions. It was regarded in Victorian times as one of the greatest natural curiosities in Ayrshire.^[6]

An emerald, bronze finger-ring and two iron spears from John Smith's excavations^[12]

The fictional Dr.Duguid refers to "Smith's Room" in the caves although he did not know if Smith was a hermit, smuggler or covenanter. The name is a coincidence as the recollections are before John Smith's time.^[13]

Excavations

Smith started in January 1883, working at night, with six volunteers, removing and sifting through 300 tons of deposits over a period of six months. He organised a trip on the Clyde as a reward to his helpers.^[14] He recorded his work in several journals and books, producing a map and giving names to some of the features and entrances.^[15]

During his excavations John Smith unearthed a number of man-made objects such as a flint knife, spindle-whorl, bone spoon, bronze finger-rings, bone spoon, a stag's horn handle, spear heads, parts of a bridle, an iron battle-axe and a cut-glass emerald. Various bones were found, including those of beaver, sheep, hare, rabbit, cat, rat, dog, weasel, pheasant, partridge, duck, goat, ox, pig and goose. The seeds of fourteen species of plants were found; however, none were from edible cereals.^[4]

Human and animal occupants

Charcoal deposits were found, suggesting that fires had been lit within. The evidence suggests that the caves were used at some point by humans for either temporary shelter, refuge at times of crisis or both. Dobie^[6] records that the cave system was used as a refuge for the local Covenanters during the times of their persecution by the government of Charles II (1630–85) and Paterson confirms this, indicating that the Statistical Account of Ayrshire, written by the local ministers, was his source.^[5] Cummell records that the Covenanters held Conventicles in the glen.^[16]

The cave system has unsurprisingly been the haunt of foxes, bats and other animals.

Elfhame

Robin Cummell records that the caves were the Elfhame and that at Halloween they would come riding out of the caves on horses that were the size of mice, their long yellow hair straming or tied in knots with crimps of gold. Their quaichs were acorn cups and they drank wine beneath the toadstools. Their cloths were green velvet and their arrows were made of moss-reed tipped with flint arrow heads that were dipped in hemlock poison. The bows were made from the rib bones of unbaptised babies who had been secretly buried in the shaws and glens.^[17]

Views of the cave complex

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  A passageway

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  A passageway

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  One of several entrances/exits to the cave system from inside

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  One of the entrances to the cave system as seen from the Dusk Water

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  Another of the entrances/exits to the cave system from the inside

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  A passageway

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  A passageway

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  The Dusk Water below Cleeves Cove caves

The Pondery Geocache

A Geocache is located at Pondery Hill in the nearby Pencot and Bowertrapping Community Woodland. A GPS will be required to locate it.

Auchenskeith Quarry

A mineral line ran to this old limestone quarry and its associated limekilns in the mid 19th century.

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  Sycamore root system at Auchenskeith.

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  Old quarry buildings.

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  Old railway cutting.

References

Notes

1. ^ Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. Glasgow : John Tweed. p. 49.
2. ^ Harvey, William (1910), Picturesque Ayrshire. Pub. Dundee : Valentine & sons. p. 90.
3. ^ Warrack, Alexander (1982). "Chambers Scots Dictionary". Chambers. ISBN 0-550-11801-2.
4. ^ ^{a b} Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock. P. 62 - 68.
5. ^ ^{a b} Paterson, James (1863-66). History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. V. - III - Cunninghame. J. Stillie. Edinburgh. P. 140.
6. ^ ^{a b c} Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow. P. 125.
7. ^ Ness, J. A. (1969 - 70). Landmarks of Kilwynnyng. Privately produced. P. 31.
8. ^ Love, Dane (2009). Legendary Ayrshire. Custom : Folklore : Tradition. Auchinleck : Carn Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9518128-6-0. pp. 101 - 102
9. ^ Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.
10. ^ Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow. P. 124.
11. ^ Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock. P. 62.
12. ^ Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock. P. 65.
13. ^ Service, John (Editor) (1887). The Life & Recollections of Doctor Duguid of Kilwinning. Pub. Young J. Pentland. P. 58.
14. ^ Calder, Page 9
15. ^ AWAS, Plate 1
16. ^ Service, Page 56
17. ^ Service, Page 54

Sources

• Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to the counties of Ayrshire & Wigtown. Vol. VI. Edinburgh : Ayr Wig Arch Soc. 1889.
• Calder, Jenni et al. (1995). John Smith of Dalry. Ayr Arch & Nat Hist Soc No. 16. ISBN 0-9502698-8-3.
• Service, John (1913). The Memorables of Robin Cummell. Paisley : Alexander Gardner.
• Service, John (1890). Thir Notandums being the literary recreations of the Laird Canticarl of Mongrynen. Edinburgh & London : Y. J. Pentland.