Footpath Folly - North Waltham #1 Traditional Cache
Footpath Folly - North Waltham #1
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A relatively straightforward cache on a well defined and footpath on the western side of North Waltham. Parking can be found in the village - by the village pond (N 51° 12.734 W 001° 11.808) might be best because you will see the church and the victorian school (attended by some of Pricesses and Pirates) on the way to the cache.
The path to the cache is quite well used my muggle dog walkers so please make sure you re-hide the cache well.
North Waltham is a glorious little village. Archaeological remains from the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age indicate continuous occupation in North Waltham from pre-historic times.
North Waltham, or Wealtham, belonged from an early date to the See of Winchester, and the manor was included in the Domesday Survey under the heading of Overton. The land continued to be the property of the Bishops of Winchester until 1648, when it was sold to George Wither and John Yate. At the Restoration the land reverted to the bishopric and John Yate continued to occupy the manor house.
The sites of three Roman buildings have yielded tiles, pottery, tesserae and metal goods.
The fourteenth century Church of St Michael was rebuilt in 1865-6 and contains some of the original fabric together with a fifteenth century font from Popham church.
Until the early 1950s, North Waltham had its own troupe of mummers, who performed traditional plays at Christmas as characters including St. George (or King George in some versions), Father Christmas, Turkey Snipe (corrupted from Turkish Knight) and Little Johnny Jack (who represented Everyman): actors wore elaborate costumes to disguise their identity so the magic of their ritual performance would not be spoilt.
"Quishions, Kewerings and a Poul Cat - A View of North Waltham from the Parish Records" has lots of interesting information about the village - visit www.nwsadhs.co.uk
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ol n srapr cbfg pybfr gb gur onfr bs gur gehax bs gur ynfg ohfu orsber n tnc va gur urqtrebj.