Frome History: The Monmouth Rebellion Traditional Cache
tsiolkovsky: Replaced it but the replacement went within 24 hours so I guess this is compromised. Well it has had a good run, however all good things must come to an end.
Frome History: The Monmouth Rebellion
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Another in a series of caches placed at spots of local interest. Again this is close to a main road so please keep an eye on children and animals.
Most people who know anything about this area of Frome know that the co-designer of the cantilevered Forth Railway Bridge, Sir Benjamin Baker, lived close to here but in fact this corner also has a much darker past.
For it was on this spot, that the few Frome rebels who survived the battle of Sedgemoor were hung to serve as an example to all who would consider acting against the King, after first being sentenced by the infamous Hanging Judge Jeffreys at the guild hall in Bristol.
The Monmouth Rebellion starts with James Scott the 1st Duke of Monmouth, who was Charles II eldest and most favoured illegitimate son. After gaining experience in France as a military commander he returned to England and helped to defeat the Scots rebellion of 1679. This success sparked within him a deep desire to become the next King of England. Of course for this to happen, it would mean that both his father Charles II and Charle's legitimate son James would have to go. Monmouth egged on by certain Whig politicians first tried to assassinate them in what was to be known as the Rye House plot. Following the failure of that particular attempt, Monmouth fled to Holland where he was tolerated by the royal house there.
However, in 1685 he was persuaded by the Whigs to have another go. The plan was simple. An invasion fleet would land in Dorset and from there march to Bristol whose occupants were exceptionally favourable to the Whig's cause. Boosted in numbers, Monmouth would then sweep across the country and finally arrive in London where he would be declared King.
All seemed to go well at first. He arrived in Lyme on 11 June 1685. From here he marched across the South West collecting a rag-tag band of men some 3000 strong, mostly disaffected weavers and shepherds, proved to be hopelessly untrained. By the time he reached Frome, many were deserting and Monmouth realised that reaching Bristol was now totally out of the question, so he decided to gamble everything on a night attack on the King's forces who were encamped outside Sedgemoor.
It was a total rout for Monmouth and his forces. In the aftermath, Monmouth was captured and taken to London where he was tried and executed on the 15 July 1685, whilst most of his surviving men were taken to Bristol for trail.
These days, a Fire station sits on this corner and where the Gibbets are thought to have stood is a garden remembering the brave firemen who have given their lives to save others.
**Congratulations to Hellspaw on the FTF**
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq Furcgba
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