Evening star., 1933-11-26

| PASSUSAA4eJ ~ w ~ oSS~N~AAs
Hidden Near Castle.
Still another historic treasure is that
supposedly hidden In or near the keep
of ancient wallingford Castle Today
| little of the old castle remains, aside
from its half-ruined tower covered with
mantle Of ivy. But the immensely
strong stone walls that surrounded the
castle grounds are still in perfect shape.
| There is no valid reason for doubling
that the treasure was hidden there, for
the castles history is as old, as roman
tic and as filled with deeds Of violence,
of bloodshed and Of intrigue as that of
any old castle IN Britain. But there is
some reason to doubt that the hoard is
still secreted on the grounds.
Several years ago a gardener en-
ployed about the castle devoted consid-
erable time to digging In the earth
about the ruined keep. Then one day
he vanished completely, leaving behind
him steady job, his limited wardrobe
and goodly hole in the ground. Natur-
ally the local inhabitants put two and
two together and were convinced he did
find a hidden hoard, and if so he
, showed rare judgment in decamping
and saying nothing instead Of broad
casting his find and being forced to turn
it over to the crown. But he could
scarcely have made off with million
or so IN precious metals and the
chances are that If he did find treasure
trove it was some small sum buried in
time of stress or war and not the Wal
lingford treasure.
Far more romantic Is the treasure
reputed hidden on Covesham Heights.
Wallingford Castle.
Cast Jewels in Wall.
Here. from time immemorial, has been
the famous Well OF ST. Anne, which
during the middle ages was credited
with miraculous powers and was one OF
all Europe. Like the Lourdes Of today,
it attracted pilgrims from far and near;
the lame, halt and blind, cured Of aches
and ills by drinking the water Of the
well, cast offerings Of gold and jewels
into the shaft, until there was danger
of its being choked by the accumulating
mass of treasures.
In time of peril, when invaders or
enemies or the Cromwellian Roundheads
threatened the people hurried with
their treasures to st. Anne's Well and
buried their riches in the earth near
by, firm in the belief that even their
foes would respect its sanctity. As far
as known, the only treasures ever re-
covered have been a few stray coins
which have been dug up from time to
time.
Today the holy we'll is surrounded by
modern houses and villas. and the top
Of the shaft Is protected by an iron
grating Deemed unfit for drinking pur
poses, its miraculous waters are undis-
t,,~t Nd rxrttl 1iv>ra II fpY11 rfftt
fallen leaves. As one goes into the
dark moss and fern-grown stone shaft
it seems a most fitting repository for
ancient treasures; one can almost vision
the piles of golden trinkets, coins and
jewels hidden under the black surface
Of the water. Perhaps some day the
local officials will decide that the far
famed we'll is menace to public
health and, pumping 1t out, discover the
mass of mud-and-slime covered offer
ings made by devout pilgrims centuries
ago. But, on the other hand, the au-
thorities may order the well filled In. in
which case whatever treasures the shaft
holds will be lost forever.
Many-in fact. most-of the authentic
historical treasures of Great Britain are
lous days Of English history of centuries
pdSL tllc CIlu1Cll woo llOJ Oilly uillliCnc-
urably rich, but was forever the object
Of attack and looting by one faction or
another. In order to safeguard their
possessions in times Of danger the
priests and abbotS, the monks and bish-
ops sought to conceal their treasures in
the most effective manner-which, of
course, was burying them or dropping
them into some convenient moat, pond
or stream. In fact judging by the pages
Of history, the clerics must have devoted
most Of their time to interring and dis
interring their sacred and profane
treasures.
Practice makes perfect, as the old
saying tells us, and with so much prac-
tice at treasure hiding the priests be-
came past masters Of the art. AS
result, very few Of their many hidden
treasures have ever been found, al
though they undoubtedly exist. On the
other hand, far more Of their hidden
boards were recovered by their owners,
once danger was past, than was the
case with secular treasures-for the
prelates and friars were not fighting
men, and compared to the fatalities OF
civilians their losses were Insignificant.
Though monasteries, cathedrals, abb
beys and churches might be burned or
destroyed, there would always be monks
or priests left to disinter or salvage
their riches and their sacred vessels
and to carry on until the next outbreak
Of hostilities. But now and again the
vast treasures secreted by the church.
men were never recovered and still re-
main where they were hidden centuries
ago.
Golden Gates Secreted.
Among Slch are the golden gates OF
the Glastonbury Abbey, hidden in 1885
at the time of the abolition of monastic
orders. In addition to the golden por-
tails, there was q vast treasure In golden
vessels, silver and gold candelabra, altar
pieces. minted coins and enormous
sapphire that belonged to the Abbot Of
Glastonbury, who was executed by order
of King Henry VIII. Tradition tells us
that the worthy abbot invoked most
| turb his hidden treasures, which may
perhaps account for the fact that no
one has ever found them. But more
probably II Is because no one can def
| nitely say where the riches are con-
cealed. The people Of Caldey Island,
off South Wales, believe that the Glas-
tonbury treasure was brought from the
mainland and buried on their isle. But
| it is more logical to assume that the
treasure was buried or submerged within
short distance of the abbey itself.
| Then there is the treasure of Evesham
Abbey, in Worcestershire. In addition
to its other previous belongings, its jew
eled chalices and crucifxes, its golden
candelabra and altar pieces, the abbey
boasted huge bells Of solid silver.
Hidden in time Of danger by the
Abbot Lichfeld, these have never been
found Local tradition assures US that
the treasure was secreted in Subterra-
mean passage under the River Avon, and
that the secret tunnel since then has
caved in. leaving no trace of It's exist
ence. But another and equally reason
able tradition is that the bells and the
other valuables were dropped into the
old moat about the abbey. In this case
they doubtless are still there, buried
deep in the soft mud and silt and de-