Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Dunald Mill Hole, Lancashire


	Dunald Mill Hole, Lancashire
	Dunald Mill Hole
Street:-	Dunald Mill Lane
county:-	Lancashire
locality type:-	cave
coordinates:-	SD51606762
1Km square:-	SD5167
10Km square:-	SD56

evidence:-	old text:- Morgan 1759 placename:- Dunaldmill Hole
source data:-	MG02q029.txt "LANCASHIRE." "... ..." "About a mile from Lancaster is a cavern called Dunald-mill hole, a curiosity which is not perhaps exceeded by any thing of the kind in Derbyshire. It is on the middle of a large common, and you are led to it by a brook nearly as large as the New Ri-" "ver," MG02q030.txt "[Ri]ver, which, after turning a corn-mill just at the entrance of the cave, runs in at its mouth by several beautiful cascades, continuing its course two miles under a large mountain, and at last makes its appearance near Cranford, a village in the road to Kendal. The entrance of this subterraneous channel has something of both the pleasing and the horrible. From the mill at the top you descend about ten yards perpendicularly, by means of chinks in the rocks, and shrubs or trees. The road then leads to the right, a little winding, till you have some hundreds of yards thick of rocks, and mineral above you. In this manner you proceed, sometimes through vaults so capacious that you can see neither roofs nor sides, and some times on all fours from its narrowness, still following the brook, which entertains with a kind of harmony well suited to the place, and adds much to the solemnity of the surrounding horror."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) placename:- Dunald Mill item:- echoes
source data:-	Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821. goto source Page 189:- "..." "Between Burton and Lancaster, see Dunald-mill [2], a subterraneous cavern, with a brook running through it, and many curious petrifactions, in style and kind like those in Derbyshire." "[2] This place is particularly described in Article VI. of the following Addenda." goto source A Walker's Description of Dunald Mill Hole, 1760 Page 236:- "Lancaster, August 26th, 1760." "LAST Sunday I visited a cavern about five miles from hence, near the road to Kirkby Lonsdale, Called Dunald-Mill-Hole, a curiosity I think, inferior to none of the kind in Derbyshire, which I have also seen. It is on the middle of a large common, and we are led to it by a brook, nearly as big as the New-River, which, after turning a corn-mill just at the entrance of the cave, runs in at its mouth by several beautiful cascades, continuing its course two miles under a large mountain, and at last making its appearance again near Carnforth, a village on the road to Kendal. The entrance to this subterraneous channel has something most pleasingly horrible in it. From the mill at the top, you descend for about ten yards perpendicularly, by means of chinks in the rocks, and shrubs of trees; the road is then almost parallel to the horizon, leading to the right, a little winding, till you have some hundreds of yards thick of rocks and minerals above you. In this manner we proceeded, sometimes through vaults so capacious, we could not see either roof or sides; and sometimes on all four, from its narrowness; still following the brook, which entertained us with a sort of harmony well suiting the place; for the different height of its falls were as in so many keys of music, which all being conveyed to us by the amazing echo, greatly added to the majestic horror which surrounded us. In our return we were more particular in our observations. The beautiful lakes (formed by the brook in the hollow part of the cavern) realize the fabulous Styx; and murmuring falls from one rock to another, broke the" goto source Page 237:- "rays of our candles, so as to form the most romantic vibrations and appearances upon the variegated roof. The sides too, are not less remarkable for fine colouring: the damp, the creeping vegetables, and the seams in the marble and limestone parts of the rock, make as many tints as are seen in the rainbow, and are covered with a perpetual varnish from the just-weeping springs that trickle from the roof. The curious in grottos, cascades, &c. might here obtain a just taste of nature. When we arrived at the mouth, and once more hailed all-chearing day-light, I could not help but admire the uncouth manner in which nature has thrown together those huge rocks, which compose the arch over the entrance; but, as if conscious of its rudeness, she has clothed it with trees and shrubs of the most various and beautiful verdure, which bend downwards, and with their leaves cover all the rugged parts of the rock. As I never met with an account of this place in any other author, I therefore think it the greater curiosity; but its obscure situation I take to be the reason." "(Parties, returning from the tour of the lakes to Lancaster, who choose to see the above natural curiosity, must leave the Lancaster road to the left, at the guide-post for Kellet, about four miles from Burton. When in the village (a mile farther on) enquire for the road to the mill, which is then near two miles distant. ..."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)
source data:-	Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes. goto source Page 93:- "... a natural cavern, called Dunald Mill Hole: it is inferior in extent and grandeur to some in the West Riding of Yorkshire and in Derbyshire; but to those who have not an opportunity of visiting others, it may give some idea of the nature of these subterranean cavities. ..."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) placename:- Dunald Millhole
source data:-	Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839. goto source Page 152:- "..." "Carnforth.- Two miles hence is the remarkable cave, called Dunald Millhole, into which a brook descends, and runs under ground, until it breaks forth again at this village."

:-	I am told:-
	"Dunald Mill cave is closed to the public, but, according to my butcher, who lives in Dunald Mill Cottage, potholers still occasionally go into it. The entrance to the cave is just across the road from the cottage."
	Haynes, Maureen: 12.2005: private letter

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