Wells of Bon-Accord - Torry Point Battery & Well Traditional Geocache
Wells of Bon-Accord - Torry Point Battery & Well
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This cache has been placed for the 'I Love Geocaching' event on 26/02/2011, and has added to a series of well caches around Aberdeen - Wells of Bon-Accord. The above co-ordinates are for the cache. The well itself is near the below co-ordinates.
Torry Battery has been a landmark for Aberdeen since 1860. On a promontory at the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour it has a history of coastal defense, emergency housing and a sanctuary for migratory birds. It replaced a series of earlier structures going back to 1514. The Battery was built due to fear of invasion from the sea. It is a fort-like structure and was manned by a volunteer force - The 1st. Aberdeenshire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers)...the forerunners of todays T.A.'s. It was armed with 9 heavy guns. The Battery was dismantled in 1895, but was still used as a training ground. Smaller guns were installed again and the Battery was manned permanently during WW1. Between the wars the barracks were used as temporary living accommodation due to an acute housing shortage. During WW2 there were anti-aircraft guns and searchlights and again, after the war, the barracks became housing until 1953. There is no record of piped water at the Battery, so we can assume the defense forces through the years relied solely on the well for clean water. Around 1972 a tractor, when clearing the site, started to sink down a hole. It quickly retreated and on inspection the well was discovered. They sent down a plumb line to strike water at 40ft, and it seemed that the water was flowing strongly. Although there were rungs going down into the darkness, no person descended! The well was covered over again and so it remains until someone else decides to investigate. A dye indicator would surely reveal where the water exits into the sea. The Torry Battery remains a very popular place for people to visit at any time of day...or night! There are great views of the busy harbour area, and over Aberdeen itself. The well itself, I realise now, may not be right beside where I have the well co-ordinates, but it's pretty nearby....nearer the entrance I think, but there is no marker.(See photo of model..it has white marker where the well was discovered) The Battery is an open structure available 24hrs a day. Cache was a clic loc box but I have replaced it with a 'magnetic' micro due to vulnerability here. (As the Battery has an 'Ancient Monument' status the cache cannot be within the walls of the Battery, so please do not search in there)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gnxr n frng jvgu Rhavpr naq rawbl gur ivrjf