The cache can be accessed by back tracking up the road to
the entrance of Ufton Court and proceeding up the main entrance
drive (ignoring the private property sign, this is definitely a
public footpath!). The
footpath goes around to the right of the house and the cache can be
found very close to the footpath.
- o O o -
The beautiful Elizabethan Ufton Court was originally
a minor manor, possibly split off from Ufton Robert in the
late 14th century, and called Ufton Pole. Some of the present
house still dates from the 15th century, including the
crossway of the great hall with the original buttery and
pantry doors. It was largely rebuilt by the Perkins family
who moved over from Ufton Robert in 1567. The Perkins were
well known catholics who were persecuted by the local
magistrates in the 16th century. They had to pay heavy fines
for refusing to attend the parish church, and Ufton Court was
raided at least twice by officials looking for priests in
hiding. In 1586, a Sulhamstead tailor ran the family in but,
although three servants were imprisoned, the expected
ecclesiastic was not found. Sir Francis Knollys Junior found
some of the priests' hiding places and a small fortune in
gold plate in 1599 but, again, the men had gone. The priests'
holes and the secret chapel up in the rafters of the court
still remains today, as well as traces of an escape tunnel
leading into the woods.