Behind St Ninian's Episcopal Church lies an old medieval well. It takes the name of the Convent Well or Bruce's Well as it is connected with King Robert the Bruce, hero of the Wars of Independence. Legend tells of how one day, Robert I,(1306 - 1329), tired from fighting and disease, came to that place known as Kincase. Sticking his spear into the ground, he sank wearily to the ground and fell asleep. He awoke to discover that fresh water had welled up through the sand, he drank from it and found himself much improved. He endowed the site as a hospital for up to eight Lepers, this was known as a Lazar House.
The well is lined with stone and was kept in good order right into the 20th Century. The site was restored in 1912.
Nearby is the Chapel of St Ninian and The Graves. Excavations in 1912/1913 uncovered the Chapel and the present ruin has been incorporated into the modern wall as shown by tiles of red slate.
In 1824 at the east end of the chapel, the graves of former community members were to be seen. Some were removed in 1913 when excavations uncovered 24 bodies, and coffins were also removed during the 1926 excavations. To understand why there was a separate graveyard it is necessary to to know something of the history of leprosy in Britain.
The term "leprosy" was applied much more generally in the past than is the case today. It could be the result of poor diet or lack of proper hygiene as well as the actual disease. Today leprosy (Hansen's disease) can be cured, it is not as contagious as once thought. However in the 12th Century, leprosy was a terrible scourge and those smitten with it were isolated. In England alone there were over 200 Lazar Houses. Pope Alexander III commanded that all lepers were debarred from worshipping in churches, and at their death they were not to be buried in chuchyards but in a cemetery of their own.
At the well you can read the information plaque and then work out the 10 coordinates for the cache by walking in an anti-clockwise direction round the railings. You can safely assume that they are within the range N55 XX.XXX W004 XX.XXX! The first number is 2.
The cache site is about two minutes walk away and is a small plastic tub. Please do not try to remove it, all that is required is that you unscrew the top to access the log.
There is no need to enter anyone’s garden, or to go on to the golf course, or even climb any RAILINGS.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
This cache meets the urban placement guidelines. Please try not to distract the golfers! And remember, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again!
Congratulations to Ayrshirelass for being FTF on a wet Sunday mornng 14.4.13.