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What's In a Name?
The city's name is a subject of dispute between nationalists and unionists, with nationalists calling it Derry, and some unionists, Londonderry. The majority of the city's inhabitants use Derry. The district council is controlled by nationalist parties, and officially changed its name to Derry City Council. The name of the city is specified by its Royal Charter as Londonderry, and many unionists continue to call it Londonderry. The city is also nicknamed the Maiden City by virtue of the fact that its walls were never penetrated during the Siege of Derry in the late 17th century. A local DJ once referred to the city as 'Stroke City' and in a typical display of the humour of the area, many citizens have adopted it as the city's unofficial name. (More information can be found at this link)
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History of The City
Derry is one of the longest continuously inhabited places in Ireland. The earliest historical references date to the 6th Century A.D. when a monastery was founded there, but for thousands of years before that people had been living in the vicinity. Colonists organised by London livery companies arrived in the 1600s and built the walled city across the Foyle from the earlier town. The city has long been a focal point for important events in Irish history, including the 1688-1689 Siege of Derry and Bloody Sunday on 30th January 1972.
Derry was the first ever planned city in Ireland: it was begun in 1613, with the walls being completed 5 years later in 1618. The central diamond within a walled city with four gates was thought to be a good design for defence. The grid pattern chosen was subsequently much copied in the colonies of British North America. The Siege of Derry is commemorated annually by the fraternal organisation the Apprentice Boys of Derry in the week long Maiden City Festival.
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The modern city preserves the 17th Century layout of four main streets radiating from the Diamond to four gateways - Bishop's Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Shipquay Gate and Butcher's Gate. Historic buildings within the walls include the 1633 Gothic cathedral of St Columb.
At the time of the plantation of Ulster, the City of London sent master-builders and money to rebuild the ruined medieval town hence the name Londonderry. There is also a village called Londonderry in North Yorkshire, near another village called Scotch Corner. It would seem that their names are tied to the Plantation of Ulster. (For more information of the history of the city follow this link)
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Getting There
Derry City is easily accessible from any part of Ireland. It is well serviced by road (M2 and A6 from Belfast, N13 from Galway and Sligo and M1, N2 and A5 from Dublin), rail (NIR Homepage) and air (City of Derry Airport Homepage).
The best places to park are the multi-story adjacent to the Foyleside Shopping Centre (N54o 59.640 W007o 19.050) or in the nearby Foyle Street car park (N54o 59.524 W007o 19.137).
Click here for detailed maps of Ireland.
The Cache
The cache is hidden in a secret location within easy reach of the city centre. Its a small green container and when placed contained the usual logbook, pencil, sharpener, some small trade goods and a FTF prize.
The search for the cache stays within easy reach of the city centre and can be completed on foot. Some of the attractions include museums that require an entrance fee. However, the clues can be obtained without entering any buildings. When I placed the cache I covered the route by bicycle. Although there are some steps to negotiate the whole route is pretty bicycle friendly (please do not leave your bike unattended without securing it).
To find the cache you need to solve the puzzle at the bottom of the page. The clues below will help you to do this. The coordinates that are given for this cache are very close to the first clue location. Good luck and enjoy your visit to this beautiful (if sometimes troubled) city.
PLEASE ONLY TRADE UP OR EVEN.
TBs MOVE BETWEEN CACHES AND REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE PERSON THAT RELEASED THEM. I DO NOT COUNT THEM AS TRADE ITEMS.
IF YOU WISH TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM THIS CACHE PLEASE DON'T LEAVE A TB IN IT'S PLACE. THANK YOU.
The Clues
(i)"Hands Across The Divide" (N 54° 59.523 W 007° 19.216)
This peace statue, overlooks the Craigavon Bridge that crosses the River Foyle and joins Derry's mainly Catholic Cityside with the mainly Protestant Waterside. The sculpture was created by Maurice Harron and unveiled on 11th July 1991. (Visit Link).
CLUE: The coords are for an information plaque at the end of Carlisle Road. What is the first year mentioned on this plaque? Add the four digits together to get one number ie A+B+C+D=?
(ii) Ferryquay Gate (N 54° 59.679 W 007° 19.197)
Follow Carlisle Road towards the city centre and you come to the first gate on the city walls. Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples in Europe of walled cities. These famous walls which date back to the early part of the 17th Century have withstood several sieges, the most celebrated lasting 105 days. (Visit Link).
CLUE: What is the second year mentioned on the plaque? Add the four digits together to get one number ie A+B+C+D=?
(iii) Shipquay Gate (N 54° 59.832 W 007° 19.196)
Walk downhill inside the wall and climb the steps onto the walls themselves. Continue downhill to the only break in the walls as they meet Newmarket Street, past The Millenium Forum and around the corner to the second of the original gates.
CLUE: On the cannon just beyond the gate are metal plaques. On the first cannon identify the weight. Add the four digits of the weight together to get one single number ie A+B+C+D=?
(iv) Tower Museum (N 54° 59.851 W 007° 19.241)
Follow the wall to the next corner and descend the steep steps to Magazine Street. The Tower Museum is nearby and explains the history of the city from its geological formation up to the present day, covering subjects as diverse as early monasticism, plantation, the Siege of Derry through to the recent Troubles (Visit Link).
CLUE: Outside the museum there are large concrete balls. How many in total can you see?
(v) The Guildhall (N 54° 59.846 W 007° 19.174)
From the Tower Museum head back towards the steps you descended earlier. Pass under the walls via the more recently added Magazine Gate and you will find yourself in Guildhall Square. The neo-Gothic style Guildhall is the civic and cultural centre for the people of the city. The building has one of the largest collection of stained glass windows of any building in Ireland (Visit Link).
CLUE: Above the main door of the Guildhall there is a crest and a Latin motto. What is the first letter of the second word?
(vi) Harbour Museum (N 54° 59.882 W 007° 19.172)
Pass down the lefthand side of The Guildhall and you will find yourself in Harbour Square which is the home of The Harbour Museum. It is a traditional museum with emphasis on the city’s maritime and riverine connections. (Visit Link).
CLUE: Above the main door there is a latin motto engraved in stone. What is the first letter of this motto? If the external refurbishments and scaffolding are still in place then the answer can also be derived from the 5th letter of the surname in the name of the construction company.
(vii) Magazine Gate (N 54° 59.845 W 007° 19.240)
From Harbour Square return to Guildhall Square and the gate you last came through. This is the newest gate on the walls.
CLUE: The coordinates will bring you to the bottom of the steps and an information plaque. What is the date on this plaque? Add the four digits together to get one number ie A+B+C+D=?
(viii) Bloody Sunday Monument (N 54° 59.801 W 007° 19.531)
From Waterloo Place take William Street (Sraid Liam also as many of the street names in The Bogside are also in Irish) past a mini roundabout to a full roundabout and turn left onto Rossville Street. Follow this towards the monument. You should be able to see Free Derry Corner in the distance as a guide. The monument was unveiled on 24th January 1974 to honour the memory of those who died during the much disputed events of 30th January 1972 (Visit Link).
CLUE: There are a number of symbols incorporated into the design of the fence and gates surrounding the monument (Photo). How many?
(ix) Butcher's Gate (N 54° 59.778 W 007° 19.408)
Continue past The Bloody Sunday Monument passing the H-Block Monument marking the 1981 Hunger Strike and Free Derry Corner. On the way you will pass gable murals depicting events in the history of The Bogside. You can follow this link for more information. Take the left turn up Fahan Street and back towards the city walls. Butcher's Gate is the 3rd of the original gates on the city walls.
CLUE: What number is on the right-hand lower corner of the plaque on the outside of the gate?
(x) Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and Garden (N 54° 59.717 W 007° 19.431)
Pass through Butcher's Gate onto Magazine Street Upper. Follow this uphill until it meets Society Street. The Apprentice Boys Of Derry (Visit Link) are a Protestant fraternal society with a worldwide membership that aims to commemorate the 1688 Siege of Derry. The Hall was opened in 1877, dedicated to the memory of the original 13 Apprentice Boys who closed the city gates in 1688. In 1937 the Hall was extended along Society Street. The extension is dedicated to the memory of those who died in "The Great War" of 1914-1918. It now houses the headquarters, Debating Chamber of the Apprentice Boys of Derry Association and their office. The Memorial Garden is next to the Hall.
CLUE: What is the first letter of the surname of the man who laid the foundation stone of the Hall nearest to The Memorial Garden?
(xi) Walker's Plinth (N 54° 59.713 W 007° 19.498)
Head back towards Butcher's Gate and rejoin the walls at the most convenient set of steps. Follow the walls along Grand Parade to the plinth. At the time of construction this supported a statue dedicated to Reverend George Walker. He was Governor of Derry from April 19th 1689, when Colonel Lundy fled the city, until the end of the siege. The Walker Memorial Pillar was erected in 1828 and was the scene for the annual Burning of Lundy on the 18th December until it was destroyed by an IRA bomb in the early '70s. The Memorial plinth was restored for the 300th anniversary of the siege. The Apprentice Boys placed the statue which was on top of it in the Memorial garden beside the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall.
CLUE: There is a treble-barrelled name enscribed on the righthand side of the plinth. What is the first letter of this name?
(xii) Bishop's Gate (N 54° 59.621 W 007° 19.491)
Continue along Grand Parade to the Double Bastion and eventually to the final gate on your tour of the city walls. There are three other gates (Magazine, Castle and New Gate), one of which you should have passed through earlier in the day. These were not present at the time of the siege and are more recent additions.
CLUE: What is the 2nd year on the plaque on the outside of the gate? Add the four digits together to get one number ie A+B+C+D=?
(xiii) Heritage Tower (N 54° 59.583 W 007° 19.521)
Go down the steps just before the gate and out through the Bishop's Gate onto Bishop's Street Outer. The tower is visble a short distance away. Located in the Fountain area of the city the Heritage Tower was built during the 19th Century and the Gaol was once the prison home to Wolf Tone and De Valera (Visit Link). If you wish to visit the tower you should proceed back into the city, down Bishop's Street Inner and enter The Fountain via London Street and Kennedy Street passing St. Columb's Cathedral (C of I) on the way.
CLUE: How many large crosses are engraved on the tower facing Bishop's Street Outer?
If you wish to complete the circuit of the walls, return to Bishop's Gate and walk around the walls back to Ferryquay Gate.
The Puzzle
Use the answers from the clues above to determine the coordinates of the secret cache. If the answer is a letter use the following grid to convert it into a number:
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Cache Coordinates = N54o59.(i + ii + iii + iv + v + vi + 330) W007o19.(vii + viii + ix + x + xi + xii + xiii + 227)
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