Night at the Mausoleum Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size:
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Small tub with log book and a few goodies. Could be a cache n grab but why come all this way without taking a look in the churchyard. Signposted off A862 the village of Kirkhilll. go round left of cemetary to car park.
I keep seeing this sign for WARDLAW MAUSOLEUM and wondered what it was.
The mausoleum was built onto the eastern gable of the old Church of Wardlaw, dating from 1220 AD. Built in 1634, this is the burial place of at least four Lovat or Fraser clan chiefs. For many years the Wardlaw Mausoleum was the burial place of Lord Lovats, after Lord Hugh, ignored the traditional burial ground at Beauly abbey and buried his father Simon Lord Lovat in Kirkhill, at the East end of the church, in 1632. It was completed 1634/5 but fell into disrepair and a major renovation took place at the end of the last century and it was reopened in 1998.
A number of mural plaques, to the various Fraser branches, are to be seen on the walls, including one to Rev James Fraser of Phopachy, the author of the Wardlaw Manuscripts but the most famous is the memorial raised by Simon, the Red Fox, to his father Thomas, 10th Lord Lovat. Below there is a crypt, a private burial chamber, where, the Red Fox and his immediate family are buried. It isn't certain he is in there, after his beheading at the Tower of London, it is said his body was smuggled back. Whether or not this was achieved is open to debate.
From the tower there are stunning views over, what was Lovat Castle but you can only see outlines, to the Beauly Firth. There was a field in front of the Castle where the Frasers of Lovat would have assembled, their war-cry A'Mhorfhaich was taken from it
To obtain key for entry from Pilgrim Cottage or Rochelle, the house adjacent to the Mausoleum. Wish I knew this when I was over as I really wanted to have a look inside.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pbeare bs pne cnex haqre urqtr.