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Grid Locked At South Wheal Frances Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

cachincallisters: I had a walk around the Great Flat Lode this morning and it would seem that this cache has gone even though it was replaced not long ago. So im archiving the cache, however if the little blighter gets found again it would not be the first time it has been lost for ages and then re found!

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Hidden : 1/30/2010
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

This is a small magnetic nano cache, please take care in the area, especially with children and animals as the shaft is 500 fathoms (914.4 metres) deep!

As the cache is relatively hard to find, I will check on the cache after at least 4 DNF's logs. This is due to taking a couple of maintenance visits over to the site and the cache still being there. You will need to bring your own pen, as there is no room to fit one into the cache.

South Wheal Frances lies roughly in the middle of the Great Flat Lode with its area bounded to the northeast by the sett of Wheal Basset and to the southwest by Grenville United sett.

Lady Frances Bassett, the mineral Lord, offered a lease on the land in 1834 and although there had been workings in this area since the early 1720's, this new lease offered a chance to make a viable business.

A pumping engine house containing a 75-inch cylinder was built at Marriott's shaft in 1847 and de-watered Pascoe's shaft as well as Marriott's. Ten years later, a 24-inch winder was installed nearby.

The shallow dipping ore body known as the Great Flat Lode was first encountered in about 1872-74, although its extent was not truly realised at that time. As the fortunes of the mine improved, it expanded its operations building a winding engine house at Pascoe's shaft in 1879 and a pumping engine house - housing an 80-inch cylinder in 1887. In 1892 the company reformed as South Frances United prior to its amalgamation with Wheal Basset in 1895. The new set-up was known as 'The Basset Mines Limted'. South Wheal Frances continued hoisting ore whilst crushing and ore dressing took place a mile or so away at West Wheal Basset Stamps.

South Wheal Frances today is a group of buildings centered on Marriott's shaft. Remaining buildings include the Boiler House, Compressor House, the Miner's Dry, Smithy and winder house as well as the bases of the ore bins.

Please take the time to explore this area, there are some very interesting information boards all around the area, there are also a few caches close by!!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vgf va gur anzr!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)