Hello All
Here is a treasure legend that could lead an intrepid treasure hunter to a fortune over one billion dollars. Missing since the 13th century. enough to get the metal detectors buzzing madly if only you knew where to look.
One of the most striking castles in England may hold a legendary treasure.Dating back to king Richard II of England.
The Castle is Beeston, in Cheshire, a 13th century fortress set atop a 500 foot high cliff. The site now occupied by the Castle has been used as a fortress since at least the Bronze Age. The current Castle was built by Ranulf, Earl of Chester, around 1226.
Ranulf built Beeston in the style of the Saracen fortresses he had seen in Syria while he was on Crusade. Ranulf and his son both died before Beeston was completed, and the Castle passed to the crown. It was used by Henry III as a garrison and prison during his Welsh wars, and the defenses were later strengthened by Edward II.
The defenses include two sets of perimeter walls, accessed by way of an impressive gateway. Beeston saw action in the Civil War, when a royalist garrison held out for 12 months against a Parliamentary siege until forced to surrender by starvation. after the siege Parliament ordered the Castle destroyed, creating the moody ruin we can see today.
But what of the treasure?
Persistent legend tells that King Richard II hid a fortune in gold coin and precious objects at Beeston before he went on a trip to Ireland in 1399. Richard never had a chance to recover his treasure because when he returned from Ireland he was captured, and eventually killed by the Duke of Lancaster, who then became Henry IV. Some historians claim Henry IV found all of Richard II treasure. Or did he? A lot of personal items and regalia was found but did he recover the British national treasury that was missing.
The treasure 100000 Marks. One Mark was equivalent of 8 oz of gold and by today's value the treasure would be well over one Billion dollars.
Old tales tell that the gold was hidden in a secret passage at the bottom of a deep well-shaft. Modern treasure-hunters used sophisticated electronic equipment to discover three passages leading off the well-shaft.
No trace of a treasure was found, but they conjectured that a fourth, as yet undiscovered, passage exists, and it is there that the treasure will generally believed to be found! Treasure hunter Peter Stewart had been given permission to explore the well under the guidance of Archeologist from British heritage.
So ends this intriguing tale of treasure or does it. There could be an alternative hypothesis of the fate of the British Treasury that may place the treasure in a different location.
It is interesting to note King Richard before he was deposed left his royal baggage and plate.in Haverfordwest Castle. In 1390 Richard II visited Haverfordwest 3 times. Some rebuilding of the castle was done at this time possibly in anticipation of troubles to come.
What is strange many years ago a cavity was discovered leading to unknown underground cellars in an area of castle dating back from the time of King Richard II. Structural engineers and archeologist deemed the cavity to dangerous to enter and the cavity was sealed up before being explored. Could this be the legendary resting place of English Treasury?
If they only dared to look.
Hardluck
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« Last Edit: January 21, 2011, 05:46:21 am by hardluck »
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