Recently, a fellow adventurer told me about a ‘cave’ on the Dunmore estate, Airth, which is apparently known as the ‘Hermit’s cave’. I have not been able to find any archive material on this ‘cave’ . It has no mention on Past Map. Last week I went to try and find it. This is no easy task as it is so well hidden!
The ‘Hermit’s cave’ appears to have been built into an old quarry seam. It has a vaulted brick roof, which now has a hole in it due to the fall of a large tree. Inside there is a fireplace with a chimney.
It is not at all clear when this ‘cave’ was built or why? Was it part of the designed landscape of Dunmore House? A sort of ‘romantic’ folly?
On doing more research I came across the story of a ‘hermit’ from Alloa whose name was John Horne [1893-1965]. I cannot say for sure, I can only speculate, that John Horne may have used this cave as one of his hide-outs. Whatever, his early life was sadly troubled. As a result of his escapades in the remotest parts of the shire, he became known as ‘Alloa’s Robinson Crusoe’. He died in Clackmannan County Hospital, where many years later, I was doctor in charge of ward 1.
I have made this short film about my visit to the ‘Hermit’s Cave’:
To play this short film please click here or on the image above.
Here is an incomplete timeline for John Horne:
5 November 1893, Birth of John Horne:
1 August 1910, Edinburgh Evening News:
29 October 1913, Dundee Evening Telegraph:
29 October 1913, Dundee Evening Telegraph:
Alloa Harbour in the time of John Horne:
30 October 1913, Manchester Daily Citizen:
12 March 1915, prison entry:
2 May 1916, Devon Valley Tribune:
30 September 1916, Bridge of Allan Gazette:
16 October 1917, Stirling Observer:
20 October 1917, Alloa Journal:
1 December 1917: John Horne, discharged from Army:
March 1928, John Horne marries Mary Lynch:
8 June 1965, Death of John Horne:
