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Fitz's Cross and Well Traditional Cache

Hidden : 7/27/2024
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


Fitz's Cross and Well are a little hidden by grass and reeds (the cross is not very tall), just off Camp Road, on the western side of the road, high above Okehampton. The coordinates for this artefact are N50 43.589 W003 59.785, and the cache is a fairly short distance away through terrain which, in part, depending upon the weather, may be a bit boggy.

According to Bill Harrison in his book, "Dartmoor Stone Crosses" (page 293, published by Devon Books):

"The cross stands by the side of the 'Well' which is, in fact a small pool or spring. There is not always water present and, as early as 1676, Richard Shebbeare recorded in his journal that owing to the drought 'Fitze' was dry. Page was able to write in 1889 of cattle slaking their thirst at the pool and of the cross laying on the ground.... Only the top part of the cross remains, the bottom part of the shaft is lost. ...there is a well-defined cross incised on the face (road-facng side) between the arms...."

When I visited the Cross and Well before setting this cache, there were two 'clouties' (photo in gallery) attached to the adjacent tree. Clouties are personal tokens of prayer or memorials for deceased or sick loved-ones. I've seen them - more comonly - at holy wells in Cornwall, and got to recognise these coloured ribbons, and other associated decorations, during my holidays in that beautiful, geocache-rich County. 

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Cyrnfr erpbire gur pnpur jvgu fgvpx-b-syntr be, vs gur jbbq vf pehzoyvat, ybbx nebhaq sbe fbzr bgure ovgf naq cvrprf nf ercynprzragf. Znal gunaxf.

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)