What the Dickens Multi-cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This is a multi cache with a gentle stroll around the historic town of Rochester which should take about 1 ¼ hours to complete. The cache name comes from the towns’ connection with the great novelist Charles Dickens who lived in Chatham as a child from 1817 until 1822. Dickens featured Rochester in several of his novels, such as Pickwick Papers and Great Expectations.
Free Parking can be found at the above co-ordinates. If full there is Pay & Display on street parking nearby
Final Cache co-ordinates are at
N051 A B. C D E
E000 F G. H I J
From the recommended parking walk along the river towards the bridge. On the castle wall there is a plaque.
HOW MANY COURSES ARE THERE BEFORE THE NORMAN WALL = B
Continue towards the bridge and take the steps into the castle. The bailey wall that exists today was built in 1088 and was one of the first to be built of stone and at 125 feet is the tallest keep in England. It was constructed by the Bishop of Rochester in around 1090 in the angle of the Roman town wall. The four-squared towers were added by Archbishop William de Corbell in 1127.
BUT WHAT DID THE FORTIFIED WALL COST? TAKE THE FIRST DIGIT = A, C AND F
Now out of the castle heading towards the Cathedral down Epaul Lane and cut through Two Post Alley, and left into the High Street to the Guildhall. This now houses a museum of Medway’s history, from pre-historic times to the 20th Century. The museum is free and well worth a visit. From the plaque outside you will see that the Guildhall is linked with Dickens’ Great Expectations where Pip was an apprentice.
WHEN WAS THE GUILDHALL BUILT? ADD THE 1ST & 3RD DIGIT TO GET E
Back along the High Street now to the main gates of England’s second oldest cathedral, established in 604AD.
FIND THE DATE THE STONE WAS LAID BY CLLR. TICKNER AND TAKE THE 2ND DIGIT OF THE YEAR = G & H
Continue along the High Street to No 97, where Richard Watts dedicated a home for poor travellers.
HOW MANY TRAVELLERS = D
Further along the High Street turn right into Crow Lane. You will soon come to Restoration House. The house takes its name from the stay of King Charles II on the eve of the Restoration. It is also the Satis House of Dickens' "Great Expectations", the home of Miss Havisham.
ADD THE 1ST AND 2ND DIGITS OF THE YEAR KING CHARLES II STAYED = I
Cross the road and walk through the park, past the ‘Monk tree’ and take the left path into the Vines then right into St Margarets Street.
HOW MANY BELLS IN LOVE LANE = J
You should now have the co-ordinates for the final cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gb gur yrsg bs gur oevpx jnyy nobhg 5’ hc va gur ebbgf