Hermits cave. Traditional Cache
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Ed
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A walk to the hermits cave.
The Hermits cave.
Park at side of road on B5056, room for a couple of cars.
Cross road and walk up the track, go left at the footpath post uphill, to seat and take the path on the right follow this to the cache.
If possible take a powerful torch.
Cratcliffe Rocks
Here at the foot of the cliff is a cave that contains the crude yet unmistakable carving on solid rock of the crucified Saviour. The figure is four feet high and the arms about the same length. According to Pilkington it was quite perfect in 1789 except that one side of the face was injured. I regret to say that it has been further damaged in 1945 by hooliganism. Dr. Cox states that the small crockets of budding foliage on the stem and arms of the cross incline him to the belief that it was carved in the 13th century. The cross, known as a cross regule, is notched to suggest the tree of life and the extended arms of Christ are raised above the horizontal. The author of "Hermits and Anchorites of England" quotes a rule dating from the 14th century enjoining hermits to be sufficed with their image of the crucified Saviour. She adds that this was probably contemporary with the Cratcliffe crucifix.
By the right hand of the crucifix is a niche, probably used for a lamp or something similar. The cave does not appear to have been altered much except the roof, which has a dome shape. A rough seat or bench can be distinguished. The cave was evidently made into a large shelter by the erection of wooden structures in front of it. Numerous socket holes on the rock face can be seen similar to those at Rowtor. Above these holes are the usual runnels that testify to the hermits’ dislike of water dripping on his abode.
Popular imagination has always painted hermits as solitary men that "lived in wild in woods with bears and lions", clad in rags and skins, suffering hunger and thirst, but the typical hermit of the Middle Ages was quite different from this. Up to the 13th century any man who chose to live a solitary life was esteemed a hermit. About that time Pope Innocent IV decreed that all such hermits should be organized under a modified St. Augustine’s rule. They were to be properly appointed by the bishops and frequently had pensions and servants. There would no doubt be competition for vacancies. Generally they were placed in some position where they could perform useful services and good works as in guiding travellers through woods and over rivers. The Cratcliffe hermit would always be in touch with travellers on the highway that ran close to his home.
There is no local tradition of any hermits living here and this was the case when Pilkington wrote in1789. The names of two adjoining woods may be a memorial we can assign to them, Sanctuary Wood and Friar’s Wood, although both derivations are only guesses. In the Steward’s Accounts of Haddon Hall for the year 1550 there is the following entry. "Item delivered ye 23rd December by ye Commandmet of my Mr. Unto ye harmytt for ye brengynge of V Coppull of Counys frome bradley to haddon 8d." It seems likely that we have here a reference to a hermit living in this locality as late as the 16th century.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va gur ebbgf bs gur gerr ba gur yrsg jura snpvat gur pnir.
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