Saintbury Cross Service Traditional Cache
Willow Wisps: We have not been able to get over to deal with this one and since neither of us is able to drive at the moment, sadly we are archiving this one.
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Film canister
Fifth in a series of 13 caches on a figure of eight 7-mile walk centred on Saintbury, just opposite Saintbury Cross.
This is a really haunted spot, according to locals ... Saintbury manor was listed in the Domesday Book as Suineberie, after King Sweyne, King of Denmark from 1047 to 1074, although born locally and father of King Canute. Various prehistoric and pagan settlements have been recorded in the area and a ley line about 3.5 miles long runs from the crossroads and cross (Saintbury Cross) through Saintbury church (St. Nicholas) and through prehistoric mounds and pagan burial grounds (now Broadway golf course) and on to Seven Wells farm.
The base of Saintbury Cross dates back to the 15th century, surmounted by a 19th century dial and Maltese cross. It was a resting place for funeral processions on the way up to Saintbury church. It stands at a crossroads formed by the A46 and the minor road leading up the hill to Saintbury. This minor road now exists as a track north of the main road, an area noted locally for its spookiness. The track, cross, crossroads and a substantial section of the verge of the Saintbury road all fall on the line of the ley. From the cross the spire of Saintbury church is visible - it is the next ley point.
The church is set high on the slopes of Willersey Hill, the beginning of the Cotswolds proper. The spire is unusual in that it sits on a tower in the south transept, so is fairly central to the body of the church as a whole. The present church is Norman and later, but a Saxon church stood on the site. Fragments of this are preserved in the remarkable Saxon sundial on the south side of the church, and a gargoyle or two. Within the south transept is a strange octagonal stone, known commonly as 'the pre-Christian altar', for it is believed by many to pre-date the Saxon church at the site. In the north transept there is another great stone underneath a Jacobean table, and it is thought this may have been used as an altar in medieval times. The ley passes through the eastern end of the church.
Let's hope a bus comes along before you get spirited away, or continue on up into Saintbury, looking out for the footpath on your left just after Cusack's Glebe and your way on to #6: Crossroads Motel and the mid-point of the figure of eight.
Congratulations to walktall on FTF!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Erfg n juvyr naq envfr lbhe fcvevgf, naq jul abg ybbx bhg bs gur jvaqbj ng gur cbfg!
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