Wigan on 'The Bartle Trail' Traditional Cache
barloworld: This cache has disappeared again, and having already replaced on two occasions we have decided not to replace for a 4th time. Apologies to fellow geocachers.
Wigan on 'The Bartle Trail'
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is placed in memory of our German Shepherd named Wigan.
Cache is a small tupperware box, initially with GSD Puppy Pound trackable, logbook, 2x Geocaching badges & a Cheeky Monkey Cachekinz trackable.
On the first Saturday nearest St.Bartholomew's Day (Aug 24th), West Witton is the scene of a unique ceremony called the Burning of Bartle. The origins of this ancient ritual are uncertain, but it involves carrying a straw effigy of a man through the village, reciting the doggerel telling of the chase of Bartle, before burning the effigy near the centre of the village.
The procession carries Bartle down Main Street, pausing outside pubs and houses where the doggerel is recited:
On Penhill Crags he tore his rags
At Hunters Thorn he blew his horn
At Capplebank Stee he brak' his knee
At Grassgill Beck he brak' his neck
At Wadhams End he couldn't fend
At Grassgill End we'll mak' his end
Shout, lads, shout!
Eventually Bartle is set alight to general merriment and singing.
The most widely held belief is that Bartle was a sheep stealer who lived in the area. Angry farmers took the law into their own hands, and chased him down Penhill. When caught he was probably tried at the village church court, which is why the effigy is burnt during the Festival of St.Bartholomew (West Witton Feast).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf abg ybpngrq va gur qel fgbar jnyy.
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