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Giant's Caves, Torquin and
Lancelot
Bottesford, Sept. 27.
Mr. URBAN,
AS the trifling account of the Luck of Edenhall
(inserted in your Miscellany, p.721), appeared not unworthy
of your notice, I will venture to give at least an imperfect
description of another curiosity in the same neighbourhood,
called The Giant's Cave. From Edenhall, my
fellow-traveller and I were conducted to the banks of the
river Eamont, where we were gratified with a sight of this
curious den. Difference of opinion, unavoidable in most
cases, prevents me from calling it "a dismal or
horrid mansion". A flight of steps, cut out of the rock
(not so terrible as have been represented), led us nearly
half way down a bold precipice; and, by advancing a few
yards to the right, we came to the mouth of the cave, where
a part of the roof (otherwise not altogether safe) is
supported by a pillar in the centre. This pillar was
evidently intended for the conveniency of hanging doors, or
something of the sort, to prevent suprize; and the remains
of iron gates, I am told, have not long been removed. Here
visitors wish to perpetuate their names, but a soft
mouldering stone is unfavourable to the purpose; none of
more antient date appear than in the year 1660. This rock,
a soft red sand-stone, appears of a vast depth, and
the dipping of the strata about 23 degrees West. The
cave at the entrance is about 9 feet high and 20 wide, and
extends in length about 50, when it becomes more contracted
in every point of view. Stagnant water, and dirt within, add
to the natural gloominess of the place, and give an
unfavourable impression. But the situation is in many
respects beautiful - a fine winding river flowing at the
bottom of a lofty precipice (not so bold indeed as to alarm)
had to me at least a pleasing effect. This, with a very
extensive prospect, engaged my attention so much, that I
wondered I had overlooked, at a very little distance, on a
flat on the opposite side of the river, the church commonly
called Nine-Kirks, or Nine-Church, and the parish
Nine-Church parish, from is being dedicated to St.
Ninian, "a Scottish saint, to which kingdom," according to
Dr. Burn, "this church did probably belong at the time of
the dedication." A church situated at the extreme bounds of
a parish, far from any inhabitants, is not so uncommon a
circumstance as it is difficult to be accounted for. A
narrow path led us a little further to a chasm in the rock:
this is called The Maiden's Step, from the
traditionary account of the escape of a beautiful virgin
from the hands of Torquin the giant, who, after
exercising upon all occasions every species of bru-
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