Stoke Field - Red Gutter Traditional Cache
La Lunatica: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.
Regards
Suzanne
La Lunatica - Volunteer UK Reviewer www.geocaching.com
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A small plastic container containing a log book and small swaps The cache contains a single magnetised plastic letter - which is a clue for my cache Vulcan Power - PLEASE DO NOT remove the letter. The Cache is located in woodland but it is near to a metalled parking area, with access via a green lane.
Most people think that the Battle of Bosworth was the last battle of the Wars of The Roses, however this is not the case
The Battle of Stoke Field on June 16th 1487 is regarded as the last battle. The cache is located close to one of the notable sites of the battle
In 1487 John De La Pole the Earl of Lincoln, rightful heir to the throne of Richard III and Francis, Viscount Lovell had risen in revolt against the usurper Henry Tudor. They declared a young humble born youth Lambert Simnel to be the son of Richard III's brother, (George, Duke of Clarence), Edward, Duke of Warwick, who Henry had incarcerated in the tower. Between them they raised an army in Ireland (which was always known for it's Yorkist sympathies), and also of German mercenaries paid for by Richard III's sister, Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy.
On June 16th this army faced the Royal Army, nominally commaned by Tudor but marshalled by the old Lancastrian veteran John De Vere The Earl of Oxford. Being much more lightly armoured than the Royal army the Yorkists rushed to attack and initially had some success but eventually better equipment and weight of numbers won the day for the Lancastrians and the Yorkist army broke and fled.
The cache is placed on the rearward slopes of the hill occupied by the Yorkists and down which they streamed in rout, the slopes were not wooded at the time, and close by the cache in the woods is the narrow defile known as Red Gutter in which many were caught and slain
De La Pole, Gerald FitzGerald leader of the Irish, and Martin Schwarz the German Mercenary captain all perished in the battle. Lovell is thought to have escaped and legends about his demise abound. Lambert Simnel eventually became a falconer in Tudors household
The village church of St Oswald has a memorial to the Yorkist leaders and some information boards about the battle (however these were locked away in the bell tower when I visited)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va gur obyr bs n fvk gehaxrq gerr
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