The Bonnie Prince Charlie Cache Traditional Cache
JustAlan: After previous comments I decided it was time to go and inspect the cache.
On approach, the container was in full view, with a damaged lid, and the contents were, quite frankly, in a mess. Decided to archive it, and will hopefully replace soon with a new series along this path.
Thanks to all who have visited.
The Bonnie Prince Charlie Cache
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The cache is just off the Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk, a long distance footpath between Ashbourne and Derby. The cache lies north of Radbourne, towards the Derby end of the walk. There is parking for one car at the end of the public footpath that leads to the cache.
The Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk is a waymarked route from Ashbourne to Derby, created to celebrate the 60th anniversary, in 1995, of the formation of the
Ramblers Association. The route follows the general direction of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's march from Ashbourne to Derby in 1745, 250 years previously.
A contemporary Ashbourne resident wrote "On Tuesday 3rd December 1745, at night, the vanguard of the rebels came from Leek to Ashbourne. They were in number 2000, horse and foot. On Wednesday morning they proclaimed their Prince at the Market Cross, and then proceeded to Derby."
On December 3rd word reached Derby that a `nine or ten thousand strong' army was about to arrive, and the newly formed Derbyshire Blues, under the command of the Duke of Devonshire, billeted at the George Inn on Irongate, decided to retreat fifty miles to Retford and left Derby to its fate!
The entry of the Jacobites on December 4th was carefully staged to give the impression that Charles did indeed have nine thousand men under his command - a number far in excess of the truth! At eleven o'clock in the morning, his vanguard, consisting of thirty horse entered the town and ordered quarters for nine thousand men. About three o'clock in the afternoon the life-guards and some of the principal officers on horseback arrived, and these were followed during the course of the evening by the main body, which entered in detached parties to make the army appear as numerous as it had been represented. Amongst these `detached parties' came Charles himself, who entered the town on foot at nightfall.
Local legend differs from historic account inasmuch as it claims that the Prince himself called at the George Inn - the Duke of Devonshire's H.Q. - and demanded billets for his nine thousand troops!
Fact or fiction, the event is re-enacted every year on the anniversary of the prince's arrival, although nowadays the old inn is a pub called `Jorrocks'.
In the event about seventy highland men were sent to secure Swarkestone Bridge, reaching it four hours ahead of Government troops who had orders to destroy it to stop the prince's army from crossing, as it was the only route south to London. The seventy held the bridge whilst the prince and his generals held a council of war at Exeter House on Full Street, and some crossed over to Melbourne to prepare billets for the highland army's advance.
But Swarkestone Bridge was the farthest point south reached by Bonnie Prince Charlie's troops, for against what the prince believed was his better judgement it was decided by the council, led by his commander Lord George Murray, that in the face of advancing government troops, they should retreat. A commemorative cairn has been placed in the gardens of the Crewe and Harpur Arms near Swarkestone Bridge to mark the furthest point south reached by his army.
The above information comes from the website of the Ramblers Association, their local groups and www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk. The Ramblers Association's local group also publish a leaflet for those of you who want to complete the 28km (17.7 mile) full distance (or you could click on the 'Users Web Page' link at the top of this page for a link to an online version of the leaflet).
Congratulations to cats-eyes on being the FTF.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fghzcrq?
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