Peden's Cove

Reading Alexander Peden’s Prayers in the previous Messenger, reminded us of the discovery of Peden’s Cove while on holiday in Scotland two years ago. We were visiting Ayr Gorge, a steep ravine covered with ancient woodland and managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. Walking a lovely path along the south bank of the River Ayr, we were intrigued to find a sign pointing to Peden’s Cove. We went to investigate until the path was blocked by a barrier. Ahead was a flight of about 50 steps carved in the red sandstone cliff leading from the river bank up to the top of the cliff. A notice board explained that in the interest of preserving this important historical feature, as well as for our own safety, we should not climb the steps. It gave us the following information.

Peden’s Cove is an exciting feature of Ayr Gorge. These sandstone steps are believed to date form the 17th century, when they were cut, to enable the famous Covenanter, Alexander Peden to preach to his congregation on the other side of the river. Peden was legendary for his premonitions and was often referred to as Prophet Peden.

At the age of 33, Peden became the minister of the parish of New Luce in Galloway, but was expelled from his post in 1663 after the restoration of Charles II. He then took to the hills to preach to people. His popularity marked him out for immediate arrest by the authorities, who placed a price on his head. To hide his identity Peden took to wearing a cloth mask and a wig, which are now on display in the museum of Scotland.

For ten years he kept his freedom with many miraculous escapes, but in 1673 he was captured and taken to Edinburgh for trial where he was sentenced to imprisonment on the Bass Rock. He remained there for four years before being taken to the Tolbooth in Edinburgh. In 1675 he and sixty other prisoners were exiled to the plantations of America. When the captain of the ship found out the prisoners only crime was to be “true Christians”, he refused to take them and they were set free.

Peden returned to Scotland in 1679 to carry on his work as a preacher. He managed to evade capture for the next seven years but then, at 60, his lifestyle of living in the wilds caught up with him and he knew that his life was coming to an end. In 1686 he went to his brother’s farm at Auchinleck where he died. A few days later, he was secretly buried by friends in Auchinleck churchyard.

Six weeks later after he was buried, troopers from Sorn Castle, angry at never having caught him, exhumed his body with the intention of hanging the corpse from the gallows on the Esther Barr Hill in Cumnock, as a warning to others. The Earl of Dumfries stopped them carrying out their hideous plan and so to show contempt for Peden the soldiers buried him at the foot of the gallows. A granite monument, erected in 1891, now stands on the spot.

This is the best testimony we have seen displayed in a nature reserve!