General Wade 4 Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A small flip top container with log, pencil and some small swaps.
Fact File 3
Not since the days of the Roman Empire in Britain had such a road building programme been undertaken for the same reasons. These were military roads built for the suppression of a local population. The chief builders were to be soldiers. Wade arranged for them to be paid double wages while on road building work, an extra 6p a day.
His military work parties consisted of: 1 captain, 2 subalterns, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 drummer and 100 men. He would have 5 parties working on each road during the road building season between April and October. He used skilled craftsmen such as masons, smiths and carpenters to build bridges and other structures. The roads were 16 feet wide (4.88 meters), a revolutionary width in 18th century Britain, built on a foundation of large stones with layers of small ones above, finishing with gravel surfaces. Like Roman military roads, they were built in a straight line, going straight up slopes unless they were too steep, when they were made to traverse or zigzag. They were well drained with cross and side drains. At ten mile intervals along each road were soldiers camps and “Inns” called “Kingshouses”, often developed alongside them. Some of these survive until this day.
Some sizeable rocks were ‘shifted’ out of the way, often with severe consequences for the mental well being of the local folk, as one observer recorded.
‘The first design of removing a vast rock was entertained by the country people with great derision, of which I saw one instance myself. A very old wrinkled Highland woman on such an occasion, standing over against me when the soldiers were fixing their engines, seemed to sneer at it, and said “what are the fools doing? That stone will lie there for ever, for all of them” but when she saw the vast bulb begin to rise, though by slow degrees, she set up a hideous Irish yell, took to her heels and ran up the side of the hill just like a young girl, and never looked behind her while she was in our sight. I make no doubt she thought it was magic and the workmen of warlocks.’
Do not forget to note down the clue for the bonus cache
Take care and enjoy the walk. JTH
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ynfg cbfg