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Manside Cross Traditional Cache

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Hidden : 5/24/2003
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is situated in Harwood Forest.


There are several possible routes to this cache, though we should point out that you’re likely to have to walk at least a mile there and back. Initially we visited Whitlees to try to find the remains of the Bastle but had little luck. There seems to be a good number of large stones strewn around the area, but no definitive structure. The footpath from there to Manside is quite overgrown, so you’d be better off using the Border County Ride which is a hard packed and almost level track.

The medieval Manside Cross is a square stone with a hole in the centre, inside which stands another stone on end. There are a number of similar ‘crosses’ in the North East which consist of a base topped by a long stone, though this one is quite small in comparison. It was first recorded in the Border Survey of 1604 and is thought to have been used as a boundary stone in post-medieval times.

The co-ordinates of the cross are: N55º13.398 W002º01.482

Near to the cross is a rectancular iron age settlement with three ramparts and two ditches. The site was excavated between 1959 and 1960 and it was concluded that there were two periods of use, during the iron age and again in the Roman period.

We have also found some interesting aerial photos of the nearby earthwork - see pics. More photographs can be found on this website: http://www.davison03.freeserve.co.uk/manside%20cross.htm

We saw an adder at Whitlees, so watch out for snakes.

If anyone can find any more information on the history of this site, please let us know.


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Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Tybirf znl or n tbbq vqrn!

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)