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Hidden Aberdeenshire - Fintray - St.Meddans Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

ShammyLevva: Caching 10 years to the day time to archive the lot.

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Hidden : 10/13/2017
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This fascinating church ruin lies hidden among trees on a south-facing terrace overlooking the meandering River Don, and the runway of Aberdeen Airport can be seen in the distance. The site is located on the north slope of the Don valley and is surrounded by large arable fields. 


The medieval church was in use until 1703, when a new church was built in nearby Hatton of Fintray. It's exact date of construction is unclear but it was one of a number of churches in the locality that were granted to the abbey of Lindores (Fife) by its founder, David Earl of Huntingdon, between 1191 and 1195. 

The surrounding graveyard is now completely overgrown and tree-covered, but a number of interesting medieval gravestones can still be found, including one with a dagger and cross and a table tomb monument. 

The church was aligned east-west and is surrounded by an oval-shaped graveyard. The ruined remains of the church were built into a new burial enclosure for the Forbes of Fintray family, likely in the later 18th century. The rectangular burial enclosure is built more or less on the footprint of the medieval church, with the remaining wall sections at the east end bbuilt into the new masonry. The enclosure is built from coursed granite blocks with coping stones on top, and measures approximately 20m by 8m. At the same point in the centre of the north and south walls are gateways into the enclosure, each with a metal gate. 

The remains of the medieval structure consist of a length of the north wall, part of the east gable and a small section of the south wall. The church was built using random rubble, mostly granite. Towards the east end of the 7m of surviving north wall is a medieval sacrament house still in situ. This consists of a red sandstone carved plaque or tablet, which has a low relief depiction of Christ on the cross flanked by two figures. The section below this contains the locker opening, which is framed by incised lines. The east gable has been reduced to the height of the other enclosure walls but has no openings or other features. 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Onfr bs Gerr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)