GCYW4C Well Anna is certainly not a lady. (Traditional Cache) in United Kingdom created by davidwk

This cache has been archived.

davidwk: This listing is archived until I can restore it. Sadly the cache contents were taken and I haven't had the time to restore them.

GCYW4C ▼

A cache by davidwk Message this owner

Hidden : 10/15/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This is the next of my history themed caches. This one is set in the Dark Ages.

When the Romans left Britain in the 5th century Saxon and Anglian settlers formed separate kingdoms in the land, each with its own king. In the 6th century the North and South folk living in this region were united into one kingdom. This was a powerful alliance and gradually this new kingdom of East Anglia, as it was called sought to push its boundaries into Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. This went down very badly with the kingdom of Mercia (who were attempting their own takeover bid) and as a result there were frequent battles over territory.

One such battle was the battle of Blythburgh which was fought in 654 on the banks of the Blyth River. The battle resulted in the death of Anna, King of East Anglia at the hands of Penda who was king of Mercia.

Anna (sometimes spelt Onna, perhaps because Anna gives the wrong impression for a fearsome Anglian warrior king) was the nephew of Raedwald who according to archaeologists was the occupant of the famous Sutton Hoo boat burial. Anna had to take the throne of East Anglia very suddenly as his elder brother King Egric had previously been killed by the same Penda.

Following his death Anna was laid to rest in Blythburgh church at the side of his son Jurmin also killed in the same battle - you can still see their gravestones in the church floor. However immediately following his death the body was removed to a safe place, half a mile or so from the battlefield. According to legend, over the place where his body lay a spring miraculously appeared at the spot and, as is usually the case with miraculous springs it was later found to have curative and health giving properties. The spring was eventually covered by a well which later also known as the ‘Lady Well’.

The well was covered over in the early 1800's with an ornate brick traveler’s rest which has more than a passing resemblance to a rather fancy bus shelter

This place was called Springhole Lane, a gentle track way where Victorians could enjoy a bit of ancient history and have a sit in the well / shelter, however we now know it now at the extremely busy A145 that turns off the A12 from Blythburgh heading to Beccles, so any cache seekers are advised to take extreme caution. Sadly this is not a place for any kind of pushchair or wheelchair as getting to it requires walking on the margin of the road and there is no real footpath. For that reason I have rated its accessibility as difficult. You can park safely at the beginning of the footpath at N52.19821 E1.35641

Apologies in advance that this is a very easy find. Most of mine are pretty straightforward because although I get a kick from hiding the caches I also derive as much enjoyment from spreading a bit of local history info, especially when these places are sites that thousands pass by every day without realizing their significance.

The cache contains all the normal bits and pieces.

Additional Hints ()

Gur obk vf gbhpuvat gur furygre

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)