The Greta Way - Black Hole Traditional Cache
The Greta Way - Black Hole
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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See parking instructions below, terrain can be wet and slippy wear suitable clothing, trees may play havoc with your GPS
The cache is located in the picturesque village of Burton in Lonsdale. Today it is hard to imagine it as a thriving industrial centre; it seems nothing more than a small village. However, in the 18th and l9th Century, Burton in Lonsdale was a market town of considerable local importance due to its pottery industry. At their peak in the 1850’s, there were 11 working potteries. Today there are no potteries left, the last having ceased production in 1944.
Burton in Lonsdale is still frequently referred to as 'Black Burton'. The name originates from the pottery period and one may presume it refers to the Black Smoke produced by the pottery kilns. However, this may not be true. After talking to a number of old potters and villagers, I learnt that 'slack Burton' might indeed have referred to the morals of the people living there. The potteries brought people into Burton from the cities, also their 'Black' habits such as an over indulgence in alcohol, nonattendance at church, blasphemous language and cock fighting.
The industry began to experience financial difficulty during and after the First World War. By 1920 only the Baggaley Pottery and Waterside Pottery remained. These potteries then went into gradual decline. The Baggaley Pottery closed in 1942, followed by Waterside Pottery in 1944.
There are no potteries in Burton-in-Lonsdale now the nearest pottery being Bentham Pottery at Low Bentham just up the road, well worth a visit, and only 1 public house where there used to be as many pubs as potteries, usually owned by the owners of the potteries, so what they earned they spent at the pubs
In Victorian days it was a ritual for the gentry to go and take a stroll down by the River Greta on a Sunday. Very much like promenading.
The wood is now owned by the Woodland Trust and you are free to roam anywhere in this wood you don’t have to keep to the foot paths but be careful.
In later years these woods were a way of getting to The Black Hole a favourite place for swimming
I suggest you park your car opposite the children’s play ground, which if you come down the big hill from Burton-in-Lonsdale, go over the bridge and turn left and park on the left
Go back to the main road and cross over the road and precede along the riverside passed Greeta House (note the different spelling) and follow the footpath sign, you will go over a very narrow old bridge there used to be a brick works to your left and further on to the left you will see the stone quarry, most houses in this area will probably be made from these stones
Carry on this footpath until it starts to rise then go on the narrow footpath to you right this will lead you to the last 5 remaining Victorian steps although you will see remnants’ scattered about
Carry on through the woods and field and watch out for Kingfisher’s which are seen quite frequently here and Grey wag tails, Herons and Jays. You will see many signs with names these are names of the fishermen who fish the river and you will see many seats at the rivers edge to rest on and you can walk down on the river shingle which contains lots of pottery and the remains of the old water wheel
When you have found the cache go a little further and down steep steps to the river and sit awhile and watch the river life
Please be very careful as the banks of the river can be very slippy, it is advisable to wear Wellingtons or waterproof boots. Please don’t disturb the fisherman if they are about.
And Have Fun
Original contents
Log Book and pen
Toy car
Pen
Dinosaur Eraser
Note book
Crayons
Bag Clip
Pencil sharpener
Trumpet
Playing Cards
Dice
Trumpet
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va gur ebbgf bs n gerr, ohg juvpu bar