Murdoch's Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murdoch's Cave |
|
|---|---|
| Murdock's Cave | |
The interior of Murdoch's Cave showing the fireplace
|
|
| Location | Lugar, East Ayrshire |
| OS grid | NS 59802 21549 |
| Elevation | 6 feet (1.8 m) |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Hazards | Access |
| Access | Private |
Murdoch's Cave is a small cave made by hand. It was created by William Murdoch (1754-1839) and his brothers and sisters. They dug it into the soft red sandstone cliff of the Lugar Water river bank. The cave is located near the old Bello Mill in Lugar, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The name 'Bellow' is sometimes used for the mill.
Contents
Exploring Murdoch's Cave
Murdoch's Cave sits in a red sandstone cliff. It is on the north side of the River Lugar, just below the old Bellow miller's house. We don't know if the cave was changed after William Murdoch left home in 1777. He moved to Birmingham and then Cornwall for work.
The cave's entrance is easy to see from the River Lugar. It is above the river's flood level. There are hand and foot holds carved into the rock. However, getting to the cave can be tricky when it's wet.
Inside the Cave
This small cave has several interesting parts. There is a shelf for sitting and a small window. The ceiling is well-finished. It also has a special fireplace. A chimney pipe made of clay went from the fireplace up the cliff. It connected to the kitchen chimney in the miller's house. This connection created a strong draft for the fire.
In the mid-1800s, there was a path from the miller's house to the cliff above the cave. This path made it easier to get to the cave. It helped people avoid the difficult route near the water channels.
Today, the Bellow miller's house is a private home. You need permission from the owners to visit the old mill and the cave.
The Story of William Murdoch
William Murdoch is known for inventing gas lighting. He was born on August 21, 1754. He was the third of seven children. His father, John Murdoch, was a millwright. He rented Bellow Mill in Auchinleck parish.
William is said to have done early experiments in this cave. He tested how to use steam and how to make and use natural gas. One story says he put a thimble with holes on a kettle's spout. He then lit the gases that came from the hot coal inside. This created a light source. He is also said to have heated coal in a copper kettle inside the Bello cave. This cave was about 70 feet (21 meters) from his father's oatmeal mill.
There are no written records of William Murdoch's experiments in the cave. However, he went to a lot of effort to build the chimney. This suggests he used the fire for more than just heating or lighting the cave.
Cannel Coal and Light
Cannel coal was a common type of coal in homes in Ayrshire. It was also called splint or parrot coal. This coal was known for producing bright flames and a tar-like substance. People would put earthenware pots of this coal in their fireplaces. This helped to light up the room, in addition to the heat it gave off.
