Trafalgar: 200 Years On Traditional Cache
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A drive by.
Bronze award for obelisk
“A LONG-running restoration project has scooped a prestigious national award. Davison's Obelisk near Swarland was given a £48,000 face-lift thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers whose efforts were recognised in the 2007 Green Apple Awards which highlight environmental good practice.” Northumberland Gazette
200 year old Davison’s Obelisk has been given a £48,000 make-over following an extensive 12 year fund-raising campaign by local parish and district councillors. Funding of £43,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the remainder from local councils and the Nelson Society safeguarded work to restore the Grade 2 listed monument. Stones have been cleaned and repaired, along with the metal railings and the stone support wall and the surrounding area has been gravelled, with flagged wheelchair access. “It is intended to have information leaflets available to help with school projects and to supply workshops for those interested in Lord Nelson”. At the end of Project ceremony - Nelson Society treasurer Charles Stirling, Davison’s Obelisk committee chairman John Taylor, district councillor Vera Vaggs, Newton on the Moor and Swarland Parish Council chairman Derek Baugh and Sylvia Harrison from Felton Parish Council.
THE CACHE IS ALONG THE OUTER PATH BEYOND THE RAILINGS – PLEASE LEAVE THE CACHE SITE AS YOU FIND IT AND TREAT THE OBELISK WITH RESPECT - IT IS PART OF YOUR HERITAGE!
October 2005 marks the 200th anniversary of Britain's greatest ever sea victory, at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The British admiral Lord Nelson led the British navy to victory over the French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalgar.
He put an end to Napoleon I's plans to invade England, but was killed in the battle on 21 October 1805
A relatively obscure memorial to Admiral Horation Nelson, victor of the Battle of Trafalgar, is situated by the old A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick at Swarland. The white freestone obelisk was erected in 1807, two years after Nelson's death, by his friend and sometime agent, Alexander Davison, who owned an estate centred around the now demolished Swarland Hall.
Davison made his fortune in the late 18th century after travelling to Quebec City during the War of Independence where he met and became friends with the 24 year old Nelson, who was commanding HMS Albermarle, docked at Quebec. Later in life, Nelson engaged Davison as an agent to represent him at naval tribunals dealing with the distribution of the spoils of battle.
The obelisk is not the only Nelson memorial extant at Swarland; the estate also features one of a very few examples of forestry planted to represent a message. A line of trees on the estate represents the Nile delta, whilst other groups of trees represent the positions of French and British ships engaged in the Battle of the Nile.
There are three inscriptions on the monument; from top to bottom:
•England expects every man to do his duty
•Victory 21st October 1805 (the date referring to the Battle of Trafalgar)
•Not to Commemorate the Public Virtues and Heroic Achievements of Nelson, which is the duty of England; But to the Memory of Private Friendship, this erection is dedicated by Alexander Davison, Swarland Hall
In contemporary times, the memorial has become obscure since the course of the road has changed as the A1 passing Swarland was converted to a dual carriageway. Davison's obelisk lies on the old A1, used only by local traffic, hidden from the main road by a stand of trees. Carved onto the obelisk is an OS trig point and maps indicate the height of the mark as 117 metres above sea level.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng gur erne bs gur boryvfx oruvaq gur fgbar fho jnyy (ba prager bs gur boryvfx)va n phfgbzvfrq erprff va gur tebhaq, pbirerq jvgu n fgbar.