Working Class Heroes- Regular Cache
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Size: 
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A multi cache, on a journey from Glasgow to Condorrat, and Cumbernauld.
There are some famous dates in Scottish history, 1297, 1314, 1715, 1745, 1820.
I’m sure you knew the first four (and shame on you if you don’t), but 1820?
In 1820 the union between Scotland and England was just over a hundred years old. Across the country many people were struggling in poverty, working long hours with poor working conditions. Across Britain revolution was in the air and Scotland was no different. Scottish Nationalists, the Radicals, had been meeting in towns mainly across the central belt, where they voiced their plans for a new Scotland. In England the previous year, The Peterloo Riots had shocked the government, and fearing a repeat in Scotland they set about infiltrating Scottish reform groups. Membership of these groups was not something you advertised as it was likely to send you to jail or to be transported to Australia, and the meetings were held in secret. These groups or ‘cells’ as they would be known nowadays operated independently so that if one were found they could not give away the others. This strength was to prove their downfall.
As a mood for change built up in Scotland government agents plotted to capture those actively involved and kill off the Radical movement. These agents were circulating false plans, passing off rumours of support and readiness to march. On1st April 1820 the Radical's Committee For Organisation for forming a Provisional Government began putting up posters calling for a national strike, demanding better rights and an independent Scottish parliament, among other things. Little did they know that the promises of support and arms were false, and they had been tricked into exposing themselves. Having taken up arms these groups expected to be joined by many hundreds more. Instead they gathered a few followers along the way, but nowhere near enough to achieve their aims.
A small contingent, marching to the Carron Iron Works at Bonnyrigg engaged with government soldiers at the Battle of Bonnymuir, where they were quickly routed, and took prisoner, to Stirling Castle. The 'ringleaders', John Baird of Condorrat and Andrew Hardie were hanged and beheaded on September 8th 1820 after a show trial, a further 18 people involved were transported to Australia. Another man, James Wilson was hanged and beheaded on 30th August 1820 after taking part in an uprising at Strathaven.
There were numerous other incidents, and these are detailed in the book The Scottish Insurrection of 1820 by Peter Berresford Ellis and Seumas Mac A' Gobhainn, which is well worth reading.
In 1835 those involved were pardoned, after a campaign by Peter Mackenzie, exposing how they were duped by English spies.
In 1847 a monument was erected in Sighthill Cemetry, Glasgow, to those executed or transported after the 1820 uprising. Permission was sought to have Baird and Hardie interred there, and this was granted. James Wilson is commemorated on the same monument, but is buried in Strathaven.
The men who took part in this rising were true working class heroes. The events of 1820 were not about kings or crowns, but about fairness, equality and a right to self determination. I'd like this cache to draw attention to those ideals, and to ensure that those who took part in the 1820 uprising are not forgotten.
The monument can be found at N 55 52 565 W 004 14.146. Please be respectful of the area while gaining the following information.
On the north side of the monument you can read how the monument was repaired at considerable expense in the year ABCD. On the west side of the monument you can read that Hardie and Baird were exhumed at an early hour on EFth July GHJK.
You will now drive to Condorrat, where John Baird lived. A monument to the Radicals can be found at N55 DC AJ3 W004 FG CC3.
This monument is in three section, from left to right, the left section being the Radicals memorial, the centre to a mining disaster, and the third a war memorial. There is a date on the left section, this is LMNP. There are a list of names on this section, the total making Q.
The final cache is located just off a footpath to the south of Cumbernauld at N55 QJ CPQ W003 DM N(N+L)C.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf n ybpx'a'ybpx pbagnvare ng gur onfr bs n pbavsrebhf gerr. CYRNFR OR NJNER BS ZHTTYRF.