GCGPNA The Pepperpot (Isle of Wight) (Traditional Cache) in United Kingdom created by Dan and Pid

This cache has been archived.

Lactodorum: Hi guys. Rather than keep this cache temporarily disabled (which should only be used for shortish periods) I'm archiving it. If/when the cache is ever replaced I'll gladly unarchive it assuming it still meets the guidelines.

Lactodorum
UK Admin

GCGPNA ▼

A cache by Dan and Pid Message this owner

Hidden : 8/20/2003

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

An Eerie Medieval Oratory proudly crowns the top of a hill, Close to Blackgang on The Isle of Wight.

Thanks to Mike & Jill who are acting guardians of this cache.

Suggested parking is at: N50 35.293 W001 18.469

St Catherines Hill, on Chale Down towards the south of the Isle of Wight lies one of the Islands more unfortold mysteries. The "Pepperpot" as it is locally known is the only surviving medieval lighthouse in Britain. The hill offers some of the loveliest views I have seen and the tower is shrouded by local folklore.

It has been said that its helpfulness to shipping would have been impaired by the fact that its hilltop site is regularly covered by mist. A notorious shipwreck happened on the coast below it on 22nd April 1313 when the Ship of Blessed Mary carrying 174 barrels of white wine sunk at Tonnay in Aquitane, much of the cargo disappeared down the throats of thirsty Islanders. Folklore says the lighthouse was built by one of the culprits as a pennance.

The date of its building is not known, but it was there in 1312. There was a small chantry chapel on the east side of the lighthouse tower too, but after the suppression of the chantries in 1547 the deserted building became a quarry for stone robbers, and by 1575 the ruins of the chapel were being used as a shepherd’s shelter. Today nothing of the chapel shows above the ground, but the tower remains as an impressive monument to its medieval builders.

Whatever the weather be sure to check out the area! If you have Children you may wish to combine this trip with a trip to "Black Gang Chine" which is a just a short distance away - For Trigpointers there is a Trig only a few feet from the cache but....Please note:

The cache site is quite open, so please try to not get seen! Be Subtle, and Sneaky!

Hope you enjoy finding this cache as much as we enjoyed planting it! Good Luck.

Dan and Pid

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

<b>10 Zrgerf sebz gur Bengbel, va n ohfu sebz jurer fbzrbar pbhyq or jngpuvat lbh</b>

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)