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Wallace's Cave [Orbiston/Bellshill]

Orbiston, North Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

Possible Covenanter's Cave, overlooking the South Calder Water (S of railway, opposite Corby Craig). Marked as Wallace's Cave, a historic cave on OS maps.

'Plan of part of the Estate of Orbiston'. [NRS, RHP3676]

[1:4000] 1 in = 5 Imperial chains 50 x 63 cm

Plan of Douglas Park and policies, and coloured to show Townhead, lawmuir, Mains of Orbiston, Bank Slap and Bankhead farm. 'Roman' bridge, lint mill, Wallace's cave and manufactory noted. Names of adjacent lands. Endorsed '13 May 1825. This is the plan of the South Lot of Orbiston referred to in my Feu Disposition in favour of Abram Combe, tanner in Edinburgh as Trustee for the Company to be called the Orbiston Company bearing this date. John Hamilton'.

A cave, called "Wallace's Cave", on Orbiston on the side of the River [ScotlandsPlaces]

At Orbiston XII-9 Trace 6. there is another "Wallace's Cave" and both are generally known in the Parish as names. [ScotlandsPlaces]

The area round which this supposed antiquity is located was thoroughly searched, especially the cliff area by the side of the Calder Water, but no trace of a cave was found. There is no local knowledge, or documentary evidence, of a cave here. It would appear that this site was printed here in error and has been confused with "Wallace's Cave" (NS75NE 5) which occupies a similar topographical position. No further information was found during field investigation, or in the relevant Ordnance Survey Name Book (ONB). Visited by OS (JLD) 28 August 1953. [Canmore]

This is a natural cave in a whinstone rock overhanging the Calder [between Orbiston and North Motherwell]. The entrance to the cave is got at by climbing the perpendicular rock for a distance of about 13 feet. Tradition gives it the name "Wallace's Cave" , from, according to the same authority, Wallace using it as a place of retreat. The name is known throughout the Parish. There were formerly works about here which belonged to a Company called the "Orbiston Company", & the workmen's houses were named "Babylon" , a name well known now and used in referring to the locality. [ScotlandsPlaces]

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: See also Wallace's Cave [Cleland House].