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Petherton Effigy Traditional Cache

Hidden : 9/5/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


This is a traditional straightforward cache, almost a cache and dash!


The Cache brings you to a bridge on the A303, underneath flows the River Parrett. There was probably a Roman bridge here, for it is on the line of the Fosse Way. Built into the north side of the Western abutment of the bridge is a relic of a previous bridge, showing two much worn carved male and female figures, which were once on the end of a parapet of the former bridge. There is no record of their true origin or meaning: one story is that the figures once adorned an old chapel at Stoke Sub Hamdon; another is that they represent two children who were drowned by falling into the parrett from an even older wooden bridge, replaced by a stone bridge by their grieving parents. Yet another version is supported by Thomas Gerard who, writing in 1633, relates that it was "a faire stone bridge, at the end of which I have seene graven on a stone the effigies of the founder and his wife, now much defaced by lewde people, and the memory of them for want of an inscription lost". The truth is buried somewhere in these last two stories.

Also preserved beside this stone is another, formerly at the other end of the parapet, an early signpost inscribed thus:

THE RIG HT HAND ROADE LEADDE TO YEO

Either 'vil' was never inscribed at the end or has been defaced, but the stonemason evidently could not adjust the size of his lettering to the width of the stone!

This text was taken from the Curious Somerset book.

There is parking close to the cache but it can only be reached from the east bound carriageway. Please take care when making short journey from the parking to the cache. Edit to add - this is not as easy as previously as it is overgrown between the parking and the bridge

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Unatvat arne gur puvyqera

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)