This is a cache which can be done on its own or as part of the
Dunblane Churches.
click here to visit Dunblane Churches Multi
The co-ordinates take you to the main entrance on the South side
of the cathedral. The clues below are all found around the
Cathedral Grounds. There is no need to go inside to find clues.
Christianity was first established in Dunblane by Saint Blane
around the year 602. Dunblane Cathedral dates back to the 12th
century, some of what stands now was constructed during the
bishopric of Clement in the 13th century. Clement was a Dominican
Friar who was appointed Bishop of Dunblane in 1233. He probably
found only the Tower (four lower storeys of the present Tower) and
a church attached to the tower which was incomplete. He removed
this church in order to build a larger one. The Bishop of Dunblane
before he died in 1258 was able to build the Lady Chapel and most
of the Cathedral largely as it now stands. For the next 300 years
until the Reformation the Cathedral was gradually filled with more
and more elaborate furnishings. In 1560 the Church of Scotland
became reformed or protestant. The use of the Cathedral was now
drastically altered and the congregation needed only the Choir for
use as the parish Church. The roof of the Nave fell in towards the
end of the 16th century and the Nave remained roofless for 300
years, during which the congregation worshipped in the Choir. In
1889 a great restoration of the whole Cathedral was begun under the
guidance of Sir Rowand Anderson, a leading Scottish architect, when
the Nave was re-roofed and public worship restored in it in 1893. A
further restoration of the Choir was carried out under another
noted Scottish architect, Sir Robert Lorimer, in 1914.
There are many interesting gravestones and epitaphs;
Remember man as you pass by As you are now, so once was
I As I am now, so you must be, So prepare, therefore, to follow
me!
The Cathedral is equally impressive from the inside. Although
the cathedral is used by the people of Dunblane as a parish church,
the building is now owned by the sate and is maintained by Historic
Scotland. As such, it is open to the public and there is usually a
guide available to answer questions. Opening hours vary depending
on the time of year and it is best to check in advance. Inside the
Cathedral there are a sentinel of towering pillars and archways of
weathered stone standing in the nave, overlooked by colourful
religious icons of stained glass. You will see some of Scotland's
finest medieval carved woodwork (each of the floral carvings on the
Scots oak pews is unique) as well as the 20th century carved
pulpit, choir stalls, reredos screen and the Flentrop organ case.
In the Choir there are three blue slabs of Tournail limestone set
in to the floor to commemorate James IV's wife Margaret Drummond
and her two sisters who were poisoned allegedly by some nobles who
wanted the King to marry Princess Margaret of England. There is
also a fine carved Celtic cross which has Pictish symbols on
it.
CLUES
1. From the co-ordinates, if you walk to the main
entrance by the clock tower, on your left you will see an obelisk.
This was erected as a tribute to McCowan
of Massachusetts Infantry who died at Camp Readville USA in defence
of the Union aged A7.
2. Near the Obelisk is a gravestone for a gardener,
Dunblane who died 4 June 1866 age
BC.
3. There are a number of trees in the grounds. Of
interest there are no trees or gravestones in the NE corner. Why?
Well this part of the grounds is reputed to have been used as a
plague pit with many hundreds of bodies buried here. To date no-one
dares to disturb it for fear of releasing the disease that ravaged
Scotland in 1645. There is a fairly recent landscaped garden near
to this corner. Locals noticed that fresh soil was brought in for
the borders, whilst the garden contractors took care not to dig too
far into the ground! There is a tree in the grounds South of the
Cathedral (on your right) that was planted by HRH Princess Royal.
When was it planted? In 199D.
4. In xxxx a Tolbooth was
constructed to the East of the Cathedral gate using stone from the
ruins of the Bishop’s Palace. It was demolished in
yyyy to be replaced by a new gaol. Add
all the numbers xxxx together to get
E. Add all the numbers
yyyy together to get
F.
5. If you walk round to the West side of the church there
is an intricate arched doorway to the cathedral. On a nearby
gravestone; What was Bank and Sheriff substitute William Christie’s
wife Isabella surname? Count the number
of letters in her surname and this is
G.
v6. Locate a yew tree nearby and by this tree is the gravestone
of William Stirling born in 1832. His wife
Elizabeth Eadie died in
19HJ.
7. Take a wee rest as you are nearly there. What was
James x Barty OBE Solicitor’s middle
name? Count the letters and this is
K.
8. Find Riccartons Stile.
Looking towards the Cathedral go to the first gravestone on the
right. This person died in Africa in
190L.
9. There is a small holly tree between two family
gravestones. James died 15 August 186M.
John was born N7 April 1785
Now, while you are sitting enjoying the peace or having a pint
and a piece in the Tappit Hen across the road, put the numbers
together like this:
N56 (A-D) (B-C). (F-E)
(A+D) G
W003 (J-H) K. L M (A-N)
If you are doing the Dunblane Churches Multi,
note down the 3 numbers written in the
cache when you find it. These will be needed later. You
will need a pen/pencil to log
You can check your answers for this puzzle
on
Geochecker.com.
Congratulations of Team Clova being FTF
