The word eavesdropper has been in use for over a thousand years dating back to the 900s. It comes from the Old English word “yfesdrype,” which means place around the house where the rainwater drips off the roof. The meaning now as it was then is the same—someone listening to a conversation in secret.
Beginning in the 1500s, carved faces were tucked into the “eaves” of ceilings as an architectural feature to serve as a reminder not to gossip because you never know who might be listening. The most famous eavesdropping figurines are found in Hampton Court Palace. King Henry VIII had these carved and painted figures added to the eaves of the palace’s Great Hall as a stern reminder to both staff and guests after he took ownership in 1529.
To visit the Lancaster Eavesdropper, travel to East King Street, #121, and look up . The property is historic for several reasons. Built-in 1762 by German immigrant William and Elisabeth Bausman, it has the only known “eavesdropper” and the last surviving cut sandstone facade remaining in Lancaster City. The eavesdropper hangs from the corner of the cornice. The sculpted head gazes down at pedestrians from three floors up. This Georgian home definitely unique in an area dominated by brick buildings. It has also designated a Lancaster County Historic Preservation Trust Site.
Constructed in the days before air conditioning, this unblinking fellow served as a good reminder that voices on the street could easily be heard from inside open windows, especially during the hot summer months.
To claim your find, message or email me with the date on the second story date stone, along with the number on the Historic Trust Site Plaque.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.