Passage to Silkingrad Multi-cache
bill&ben: Unfortunately we have moved out of the area and can no longer maintain this cache
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Size: 
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All parts of this cache are reachable from well maintained footpaths. The cache is a magnetic key safe. You will need to bring a pen.
This cache was inspired by the excellent Hitchin Blues cache by Gruffalo and is the first cache by Bill & Ben. The geocache involves a stroll through Stevenage’s past followed by a short walk (2miles round trip) out into the surrounding country in search of the cache. To find the cache you must collect dates from plaques on various buildings which enable you to not only find the next building with a dated plaque but also eventually the cache itself.
The cache is totally centred on the Old Town of Stevenage. The history of Stevenage can be traced back to the Roman occupation of Britain, however the new town of Stevenage is a post war development. In the post war years the new town development was not universally popular in Old Stevenage, being given the nick name Silkingrad after the then government minister Lewis Silkin. On one notorious occasion the local railway station had its name changed over night to Silkingrad by angry locals.
For those arriving by car there is a public car park at the rear of Waitrose in Stevenage Old Town at
N51 54.677 W000 12.571
Clue 1 : N51 54.687 W000 12.467
King Edward 1 granted Stevenage a fair and market on June 5th 12A1.
Clue 2 : N51 54.(A-1)04 W000 12.4A1
Henry Trigg “Hit the roof” in the year 1B24.
Clue 3 : N51 54.B25 W000 12.(B-2)12
When did the good burghers of Stevenage have the time as well as the inclination – 17C7?
Clue 4 : N51 54.7C9 W000 12.((C+1)/2)26
Stevenage had a major blaze in 18D7
Clue 5 : N51 54.8(2*(D+1)+3)6 W000 12.5(D+4)2
Samuel Pepys stayed at the Swann Inn in 16E7
Clue 6 : N51 54.(E+2)90 W000 12.5(E-2)3
Vincent motor cycles were first made in Stevenage in 19F8
Clue 7 : N51 54.9(F-2)9 W000 12.5(F+1)4
On the gates to the left of F Bradbeer and his comrades there are two dates. The earlier of the dates is 15G8
Once you have the numbers from clues 1-7 the path to the left of the gates in clue 7 will take you to the cache at
N51 55.(C-E)(B)(G) W000 11.(C)(A+1)(3*F-D)
On the way to the cache you will pass through the churchyard of St Nicolas’ church, parts of which date back to the 12th century. Within the churchyard you will see a monument to E.M Forster, the writer of A Passage to India, who contributes the first part of the name of the cache. If you go through the gate into the field and look to the right you can just about see Rooks Nest through the trees, the childhood home of E.M. Forster.
To return to the car park go through the churchyard back onto Rectory Lane. Follow Rectory lane down to the North Road, turn left and the North Road will take you back to the Old Town.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp