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Glass Cave

East Wemyss, Fife.

Site of raised beach cave eroded into red-brown sandstone, now collapsed/blocked.

The cave's name related to glass manufacture works established by Sir George Hay in 1610. The cave roof reportedly collapsed in 1901 owing to activity from Michael Colliery; the OS map of 1961 shows the cave site was located between branches of the colliery's mineral railway.

"(NT 3342 9585) Glass Cave (TI). On the walls of the Glass-house, or Glasswork, Cave are engraved the arch symbol (repeated three times) and six small crosses. The roof of the Glass Cave fell in about 1900. The roof-fall referred to above occurred near the mouth of the cave, and no carvings are now visible." [Trove.scot]

"Nobleman Sir George Hay began making drinking glasses and windows at East Wemyss in 1610 and the works became so renowned they soon attracted artists from as far afield as Venice... At the beginning it was just bottles and windows, but by the 19th century, we were seeing designs for important stained glass, and by the 20th century, we had John Moncrieff in Perth becoming a world leader at making gauge glasses for steam engines... Contemporary records suggest Hay's cave measured 200 by 100 feet... the Fife coast glassworks remained active, and in 1698, the third Earl of Wemyss obtained an act of parliament giving him and his associates a monopoly for making different kinds of glass." [Scotsman]

"Two other caves containing early carvings, both now blocked, are known to the south-west of East Wemyss. Glass Cave (NGR: NT 3340 9585), one of the largest in the area, collapsed due to subsidence caused by mining activity in the late 19th century (Guttmann 2002)" [Northlight Heritage]

Alternative Names: Glass-house Cave, Glasswork Cave, Hay's Cave

Notes: 'Glass Cave' labelled on OS maps of 1856 & 1895, but shown as "site of" on 1966 ed.

Given coordinates based on NRHE report. However, OS 10k map shows symbol at [NT 3343 9586].

Hydrographic Feeds: formerly Firth of Forth