The Society Quiz No 9 - The Answers

1. Caratacus Stone, Winsford Hill (© Ethan Doyle White) The Caratacus Stone is thought to date from the 6th century and is generally believed to be a memorial to a person who claimed the first-century British chieftain Caratacus as an ancestor, as the inscription can be translated as "grandson or immediate descendant of Caratacus”. In 1906 a shelter was erected over the stone, and an excavation in 1937 revealed that the stone was not associated with a burial site. The stone can be found just off the main road (B3223) that crosses Winsford Hill, near the cross-roads called Spire Cross with side roads going to Winsford and Tarr Steps

2. Fortescue Memorial, Sir John William Fortescue was born in 1859, the son of the third Earl Fortescue. His family owned the area around Simonsbath for much of the 20th century and he often stayed at Simonsbath Lodge (now Simonsbath House Hotel). He was librarian at Windsor Castle 1905-26 and was best known for his 16 volume 'History of the British Army'. He was a keen walker and naturalist and also wrote local books, including 'The Story of a Red Deer'. He died in 1933 and his ashes were scattered at Five Barrows. On the suggestion of his widow, Winifred, his family built the cairn above Drybridge Combe on the Simonsbath to South Molton road, land now owned by Exmoor National Park Authority, who restored it in 2001.

3. Froude Hancock Memorial, Anstey Common (© Guy Wareham) Froude Hancock was born in 1865 at Wellington, , and through a relative he inherited the manor of East Anstey in Devon. He was a member of several hunts, including the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, but most notably the Dulverton Foxhounds Hunt, whose territory covered East Anstey. It was written that "the outstanding figure, with the widest knowledge of the sport and of all that it implied, the best supporter of it, the readiest friend of all, be they natives of the west country or visitors it, in a word the most respected, admired, popular man on Exmoor was Froude Hancock of Wiveliscombe." The memorial stone of granite was placed on Anstey Common two years after his death, on a spot from which Hancock watched the hunt in his old age.

Froude was one of ten brothers, five of whom played rugby for Somerset. His local club was Wiveliscombe and later he played for the first-class English side, Richmond. In 1886 he represented England against Wales in the Home Nations Championship and in 1890 he became an original member of the invitational tourists, the Barbarians. He was chosen to represent the official British Isles team on their first tour of South Africa, playing in all three tests. In total Hancock played in 33 matches for the British Isles teams.

4. 'Robin' Negus Memorial, Challacombe Common. Robert Richard Negus, known as Robin, was killed by a fall from his horse, aged only 18 years. We have been unable to discover any further information other than the memorial was placed here because he was particularly fond of the site but it is unclear whether the tragedy occurred here. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has greater knowledge of this memorial and its story.

5. Staghound ‘Recorder’ Memorial, Horner Wood. ‘Recorder’ was a staghound in the Devon and Somerset pack who died at this spot on 10 September 1882. There are a number of photographs on the Web but no further information to shed light on why this particular hound was so honoured.