Holm House and the Crawick Glen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holms House and the Crawick Glen |
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 The old Holm House Stables and Walled Garden |
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 Holms House and the Crawick Glen
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| OS grid reference | NS782112 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Fire | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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Holm House and the Crawick Glen were once part of a small estate. They are located less than 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) upstream from the village of Crawick. This area is near the A76 road, close to Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland.
History of Holm House
Holm House, also known as The Holm or Crawick Holm, was once a small estate. It was owned by a Mr. Mcnab and surrounded by the lands of the Duke of Buccleuch. The land on the southern side of the Crawick Water was rented from the Burgh of Sanquhar. The Duke of Buccleuch bought this lease when he purchased the rest of the estate from Mr. Mcnab.
In the mid-1700s, Holm House was described as a "handsome stone building." It had two stories and was in good condition. It also had a garden and land. At that time, Gaven Lindsay lived there, and it belonged to the Duke of Buccleuch. The house was in a peaceful area, hidden by trees. It had a view across the Crawick Water. A driveway led from the house to the road to Crawfordjohn.
The main building of Holm House has since been taken down. It was later used as a hunting lodge. It had large stables, kennels for dogs, a walled garden, and a special room for storing game. The old stables have now been fixed up and are used as a private home.
The Game Larder
A path from the lodge once led to an artificial cave. This cave was dug into soft red sandstone next to the Crawick Water. It was close to a spot called the Soldier's Pool. Locals called it the Witches' Cave. It was located below the old Holm Hunting Lodge.
The cave is next to a bend in the Crawick Water. The river bank here is protected by a stone wall, which is now partly broken. A stone path and steps go down to this area from the Holm Walks above. The cave has some features like an ice house. These include double doors, its location in a wooded area, and insulation from the soft red sandstone.
However, the cave does not have a deep pit. Its main purpose was a game larder. This is shown by several large iron nails hammered into the soft red sandstone. These nails were used to hang game birds, rabbits, and deer. The animals would hang there until they were ready for cooking. You can still clearly see the marks from the stonemason's tools. These marks show how the single room was created, especially near the entrance.
Exploring the Crawick Glen
The Crawick Glen is a deeply cut, wooded valley. It has deep pools and waterfalls. The glen is made from hard blue whinstone rocks. In some places, red sandstone lies on top of these rocks. The Crawick Water itself is formed from the Wanlock and Spango Waters. It then joins with the River Nith.
The Holms Walks
The Duke of Buccleuch created a network of walking paths. These paths went throughout the wooded glen. There were bridges at the top and bottom of the glen, and places to sit. The path going upstream past the bridge ended at a bench. This bench was at a viewpoint. One of the original bridges has fallen down, and the other has been replaced.
People were allowed to use these paths. Most of them are still used today. The Duke also planted many trees, creating the Moor Plantation. This area is still a popular place for local people to visit. Volunteers help to keep the main paths in good condition. The Crawick Multiverse is also located nearby.
Legends of the Crawick Glen Witches
Witches' Linn
This place is called "Witches' Linn" because of old stories. It is said that witches who lived in Crawick village used to perform their magic here. It is a dark, shady glen where the Conrig burn flows. This burn is close to where it joins the Crawick Water. Many local tales about the witches' actions have been told.
Witches' Craig
This is a large, noticeable rock. It is close to where the Conrig burn meets the Crawick Water. This spot is near Sarah's Trough. Old stories say that this was a favorite meeting place for fairies or witches. They were said to live in the nearby Witches' Linn.
Sir William Douglas's Secret Soldiers
A legend says that Sir William Douglas of Douglasdale hid his soldiers in the Crawick Glen. He was planning to capture Sanquhar Castle from the English. He was doing this for William Wallace. Sir William used the glen to scout the area and hide his troops. His plan was successful in the end.
The Soldier's Pool
The Soldier's Pool, or Sodger's Pool, is near the old Holm House ruins. It got its name from the 60 to 70 Napoleonic prisoners of war. These prisoners were from France, Italy, Germany, and Poland. They stayed in the Sanquhar and Crawick area between 1812 and 1815. Many of them were officers from the army and navy. Some even had servants.
These prisoners were on "Parole of Honour." This meant they had a lot of freedom to move around. They could go up to 3 miles from the town boundary. The pool has a small beach. It was a favorite spot for the prisoners to visit.
Napoleonic Prisoners' Graffiti
As mentioned, about seventy Napoleonic War officers stayed in Sanquhar Burgh. This was between 1812 and 1815. These prisoners had a lot of freedom. They often visited the Crawick Water to swim and walk in the woods. Overlooking the glen near Sarah's Trough is a large, flat rock. This rock is covered in graffiti left by the prisoners and other visitors.
Much of the writing is now hard to read. However, the words 'Luogo di Delizia' can still be seen. These words are in Italian and mean 'delightful place'. The dates 1812 and 1814 are also visible. There might be a coat of arms and some well-carved initials. The French word 'Souvenir' is also there. This word can mean 'memory', 'remembrance', or 'memento'.
Some of the pictures and many initials might have been added later. Some of the Holm Walks paths in the Crawick Glen are no longer used and can be dangerous. The upper bridge has fallen down. The rock panel with the prisoners' graffiti has become hard to reach. The path along the riverside downstream is also dangerous. A few beech trees in the area have initials carved on them. These carvings might be from the time of the Napoleonic prisoners.
Covenanters' Cave
There is a cave (NS783114) located just off the Holm Walks path. This path runs upstream near the Sarah's Trough pool. Locals call this the 'Snake's Cave'. It is believed that Covenanters hid in this cave. They were hiding from the King's troops long ago.
Sarah's Trough
This is a deep pool in the Crawick Water. It is located below the Witches' Crag. It is named in memory of a girl named Sarah. She is said to have drowned there a long time ago.
What's in a Name? Etymology
The name Crawick comes from 'Carwick' or 'Carraig'. These words mean 'rocky'.
A Note on Villages and Hamlets
In Britain, 'Crawick' is technically a hamlet, not a village. This is because it has never had its own official church.
