Silver Glen

Some 40 tons of ore were raised and buried in barrels in the grounds of Alva House at the foot of the Ochil Hills, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Stirling, whilst the richest of the ore was smelted and the ingots concealed under floorboards inside the house.

The mine was then filled in during the aftermath of the failed rising, but its existence was revealed to the government by an employee of the Erskines.

Sir John was later able to secure a pardon for his role in the rising, on condition he revealed all he knew about the mine, and gave a tenth of the proceeds to the government.

Later, in 1759, a vein carrying erythrite, an ore of cobalt, was found and gave a new lease of life to the mines, but it was soon exhausted.

[2] Many of the old mineworkings can still be seen, but the new landowners, The Woodland Trust, have installed locked gates on the more extensive workings, as there are unprotected shafts within.