The Witches Stone (Bucks) Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

Rocky Balboa: This cache is being archived due to the amount of No-finds and the fact I live a fair way away from it now. Many thanks to all who visited and enjoyed the history behind this hide! Hopefully someone else will place their own here as the story is an interesting one!

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Hidden : 7/21/2003
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Looking back, once again, into the strange & paranoid depths of Buckinghamshire legend & folklore, we have stumbled across yet another local oddity which may take your interest. Standing stones have for many thousands of years been used as markers. This is a chance for you to visit an almost unknown & rarely discussed grave placed randomly or maybe not so, on consecrated ground at a border between two once isolated villages.
There are two vastly differing stories behind this landmark, the first states that long ago in the days of the 18th century, the residents of the local Buckinghamshire Upper hamlets were renound for their wealth and financial status. However, news soon spread of families carrying rich purses & gold via Highwood Bottom to Princes Risborough. A Highway man by the name of 'Cooper' used this to his advantage & throughout his life became rich himself through the spoils of his thefts. On his death it is said that he was buried with his riches at the location marked by the stone.
Another story tells of a local woman named 'nanny cooper' who would frequent a local lake, hanging a basket from the bow of a tree & swinging across. One day the basket snapped & she drowned. If this was as simple as it seemed though was never proven, suicide also a possibility. Was it this lady, whose place of rest is now marked perhaps.

Which ever story is true, it is said that a ghost still haunts Highwood Bottom to this day & that it can be seen on still crisp nights. Anyone who tries to take the treasure under the stone will be cursed. However, the fact that its regular name is the 'witches Stone' seems to fail to match either story; perhaps something more sinister may be associated with this location? Any further information will be welcomed as there are currently very few details about the stone anywhere. Many thanks to Alan Cleaver, one of the authors of the 'Strange Buckinghamshire' website for the research he has passed onto me. Coordinates will take you to the stone, from here, the cache can be located 100 paces along the footpath, then 10 metres to the right in a hole apon an old tree stump. Have fun, but take care not to disturb the rock, we wouldn't want anyone getting scared now, D&P...

*UPDATE* (13/7/04) - I received an email from a local resident who lives within 5 minutes walk of the stone. She told me that the 'Witches Stone' is known to her family as 'Coopers Grave'. She also told me the following about Cooper - "The Highway man - Cooper - was fully known as John Cooper. He was indeed a Highway man and from what some senior (and now moved on) residents of the lane told us, he lived in one of the cottages which are on the Speen side of the stone. The Cottages were constructed in the era of John Hampdens Grandfather - so precivil war we think, thus the story of John Cooper could have some antiquity, as other authroities (including the "Speen History Book") have placed the name "Coopers Grave Bottom" to be pre18th Century.

He was hanged on one of the trees on the roadside - and it being the death of a criminal he was not buried in consercrated ground of either of the near by churches, but buried at the boundary of the village. People - non-residents - have seen the ghost (either that or the hyper active imagination of a door to door sales man!). Another couple once reported walking down the lane in the day light, ducking under a rope strung across the road, they looked round to see no rope in sight, either across the lane or on the ground. I, myself have not seem him and neither have my family."

Apparently there are also two stones close to each other in the bush pictured above. The one which is present in the photo and another larger moss covered one. She did not however know which was which, but the smaller one is bench marked so my guess would be the other!, why not take a look and PLEASE send me a photo if you take one as I would love to add it to the site.

The story of Nanny Cooper seemed unlikely to 'Mary' the lady who sent me details, but who knows, after all, it is a very old story! - Still no mention of witches anywhere?!? thanks for the information Mary, have fun people!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur pnpur vf nsgre gur gho, ohg abg zhpu shegure, hc gur tragyr fybcr gb lbhe evtug.

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)


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