Leckpatrick means Flat stone of Patrick and there’s a tradition that Saint Patrick himself founded the first church here. It can’t be verified but certainly there’s been a church here from a very early period, probably before the end of the first millennium A.D.
In the mediaeval period there was a parish church here which had a visit from the Archbishop of Armagh in 1397. By the start of the 17th century the church on this site was in ruins. It fell to the recently settled community to repair and rebuild it. From then until the early 19th century the church was used by the Church or Ireland, although the graveyard was used by all denominations. A brand new church was built about a quarter of a mile south of here in 1815.
Here at Leckpatrick there are mortality symbols carved into the stones. These were put here to remind others of their own mortality and to prepare themselves for death.
Some of these include a skull and cross-bones, a bell (bells were rung at funerals) an open book (representing the Bible) crossed spades. These are assumed to represent the tools of the gravedigger. Here also can be found the only example in Ulster of a tree with a serpent wrapped around it. This represents the “fall of man” from the book of Genesis.
This graveyard contains what is believed to be the oldest headstone in Ulster. On it is carved a coat of arms, a hand bearing a sword and a Celtic cross. The stone bears the inscription “To the memory of John Magee who died in 1617”. In the 1650s, one David Magee, presumed to be John’s son was the owner of nearby Holyhill House.
Some information was taken from the BBC.co.uk Website "Your Place or Mine" which has a lot more detail of this interesting site.
The Cache
The container is a medium-sized ammobox with a geocaching label on the outside. When placed it contained the usual logbook, pencil, sharpener and assortment of trade items.
The cache isn't at the above coordinates but the location can be caclculated using the clues from November, December and January and the following formula:
N 54 52.(Z-X)(W)(D)
W 007 25.(Y)(B)(Y)
Please note that the final cache location is outside the graveyard and that you should pay the utmost respect to the graves here and those who may be visiting them while you search for clues.
The Series
This series is based on the Irish calendar of 12 months and 4 seasons. A new cache will be placed each month and will contain a clue in the logbook that will lead to a season cache. This is the Winter cache. You will need to find November, December and January before you can look for Winter.
For more information on the Irish calendar check out Wikipedia.
PLEASE ONLY TRADE UP OR EVEN.
TBs MOVE BETWEEN CACHES AND REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE PERSON THAT RELEASED THEM. I DO NOT COUNT THEM AS TRADE ITEMS.
IF YOU WISH TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM THIS CACHE PLEASE DON'T LEAVE A TB IN IT'S PLACE. THANK YOU.
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