Poynton's Industrial Past
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A Multi-stage cache designed as a walk around Poynton taking in
some of the sites of historic industrial significance.
General Description.
The object of this cache is to show you just a few of the sights around Poynton that have helped to shape the village as it is today. The 7km (4.4miles) walk will include streets and tracks, some of which can be muddy in parts, especially after wet weather. There are also a couple of stiles to negotiate. It should be possible to comfortably complete within three hours walking at a leisurely pace, and there is the possibility of refreshments en-route. The entire walk is along public rights of way and public roads. Please take care when crossing roads. Apart from the last few metres to the final cache location, you should stay on the obvious footpaths. The route passes by some ponds and other deep water, so please take appropriate care, especially if there are young children in the party.
There is a grid at the end of the text. As you solve the clues, you should be able to assign a single digit number to each letter. These will be used throughout the route to define waypoints. Most of the caches are virtuals, where you will find clues that will help you define the coordinates for the other waypoints. The final cache is a ‘tupperware’ sandwich box with a snap-lock lid, contained inside a camo bag. Please ensure the lid is properly replaced to keep the contents watertight, and please also ensure the camo bag is left hidden as you find it.
The starting coordinates are for the free car park at Jackson’s Brickworks Nature Reserve. Please note the car park closing time, so that you do not find yourself locked in.
Waypoint 1
Head East to the top of the car park (furthest from the entrance) and exit the tarmac of the car park onto the path adjacent to the riding stables. Do not exit the Brickworks Nature reserve, but follow the path around to the left, go down the steps and take the first obvious path to the right, to lead eventually to Waypoint 1 at
N 53 21 . 435
W 002 04 . 997
Jackson’s Brickworks Conservation Area was once one of several brick making sites in the Poynton area and is now a Site of Biological Importance (SBI). It was owned by Messrs. I & A Jackson since 1934 which is how it acquired its present name. Christian Salvesen (now Chelwood Brick) took over in 1974, but transferred production to Denton Manchester in 1979. The large grassy mounds are heaps of clay and ash left over from the former brick making process and old bricks still lie alongside some of the paths.
Since the closure of the brickworks, plants have colonised the nutrient poor soil creating flower rich grasslands and water has flooded the clay soil to create a number of ponds and swampy areas that have in turn become colonised by small trees. These different types of habitat favour a wide variety of wildlife, which makes Jackson’s Brickworks site so special.
Once you reach the coordinates for Waypoint 1, you can use the information found there to determine the coordinates for waypoint 2 as follows....
Waypoint 2
Waypoint 2 is at
N 53 2A . QQT
W 002 0U . VXU
The coordinates can be calculated from…
AQQT = (the number of moths recorded on the site x 10) minus 3277
UVXU = (the year Jacksons Brickworks gained local nature reserve status) plus 3300
...where the answers to both calculations are a 4 digit number. Substitute the four digit numbers respectively into the above coordinates to identify waypoint 2 location.
Use the grid at the end of the text description to record the single digit number associated with each of the letters A - E, as you will need them later in the walk.
A = the single digit number A from AQQT above
B = U+Q+Q
C = A+Q
D = Q+Q
E = U+Q
Leaving Waypoint 1, the track joins Middlewood Way, a disused railway running from Marple to Macclesfield, and now is a linear park some 8 miles long. This railway was originally known as the Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway (MBM) and opened for traffic in 1869. Coal mined in Poynton was transported to the towns on its route, but also further afield via connections to LNWR and other railways. Make sure you go over (not under) the first bridge AF where AF is the two digit bridge number. Check carefully, the bridge number is easily visible from Middlewood Way. Record the appropriate numbers in the code grid at the end of the text.
When you reach Waypoint 2, find the number BA GH J prefixed with the letters BT, where BA GH J are five numbers followed by a squiggle. Note the numbers in the code grid at the end of the text as you may need them later in the walk.
Waypoint 3
Waypoint 3 is at
N 53 JA . AFJ
W 002 GH . DBD.
Leaving Waypoint 2, the track towards Waypoint 3 is pretty straight. As you pass along the track, which is a former mine railway and part of Princes Incline, you will need to cross a metallic stile. Stop to read the information board a short way further on, and learn something about the mining industry and mineral railways. Pay special attention to the description of the rails as you will pass examples some 500m from the information board. Negotiate another stile and follow the track downhill, eventually passing through a kissing gates, and crossing a dirt road that marks the line of yet another disused mine railway to Park pit. Continuing on and passing through another kissing gate, keep looking at the left side of the embankment as you pass over a small bridge, for examples of old the rail tracks, that are now used to support the embankment. You can see a variety of different cross sections of rail.
Passing through another kissing gate and as you reach an open area to your right, note the small, somewhat incongruous small isolated building in the middle of a field on the right – it was formerly used to store dynamite, hence it stands alone in the field. Finally, as you near Waypoint 3 after passing through yet another kissing gate, note the very small window on the last building on the right. Through this, the miners received their weekly pay packets.
At Waypoint 3, add up the three individual digits (ignore the decimal point) that represent the length of the pipeline. From this total, subtract 7 and the single digit answer is K. Add this to the grid at the end of the text. You now should have ten letters in the grid associated with the numbers 0 to 9.
As a check, using the code grid, K=A+D = C+J = B-D
Waypoint 4
Waypoint 4 is at
N 53 JG . FHJ
W002 GH . DGH
You will be passing along a road formerly known as Black Road where prior to 1935, coal was moved by rail to a coal yard near to Brookside Garden Centre. This is now bordered on the right by a housing estate built in the 1970’s. As you near Waypoint 4, you will cross the path of yet another former mine railway, known as Lady’s incline.
At Waypoint 4, Take the first 4 digits of the telephone number listed on the post box and add to this 132 to give a three digit answer = ‘Rail’.
The three digit number of the nearby Hockley House plus 616=’Way’
Waypoint 5
Waypoint 5 is at
N 53 JG .’Rail’
W 002 GK .’Way’
As you walk along the road, keep left, and note the building that were formerly associated with Lord Pit and Lady Pit. The building that housed a Cornish pumping engine now houses a consultancy. Note the name of the building! The pit workings and spoil heap are quite overgrown. The footpath is relatively narrow, so please take care. You will also pass a well preserved set of former miners cottages built in 1815 known originally as Worth Clough and later as Pear Tree Bank, now somewhat abbreviated to Petre Bank.
At Waypoint 5 note the sign to a museum. Using the simple code A=1, B=2, C=3 etc, sum the total value of the individual letters forming the first words of the name of the museum. The answer is a two digit number = ‘Coal’.
Perform a similar calculation on the second word of the name of the museum. The answer is also a two digit number = ‘Face’.
Waypoint 6
Waypoint 6 can be found at
N 53 JG . (FJG + ‘Coal’)
W 002 GK . (KAE + ‘Face’)
At the ‘T’ junction at Waypoint 5, note the remains of the bridge brickworks on both sides of the road, where the mine rail track passed overhead. As you climb the road and near Waypoint 6, you will pass the site of the former level crossing. See if you can spot it!
On arriving at Waypoint 6, you will find a sign for the Museum. Using the code A=1, B=2, C=3 etc, calculate the sum of the individual letters comprising the name of the engine pictured on the sign. The answer is a two digit number = ‘Steam’.
Waypoint 7
N 53 JA . G (’Steam’ -1)
W 002 GK . J (162 + ‘Steam’)
You will be walking along a former mine railway track, passing an excellent museum that is well worth a visit if you have time. Note also the large pit spoil heap behind the museum car park.
When arrived at Waypoint 7, find the two digit numbers associated with each of ‘Westdean’, ‘Broadview’, ‘Hazeldean’ and ‘The Copse’.
Waypoint 8
Waypoint 8 is at …
N53 JG . (726+’Westdean’ + ‘Broadview’)
W002 GK . (183 – ‘Hazeldean’ – ‘The Copse’)
Again, take care while walking along the road as there are stretches without a pavement.
There is the possibility to take some refreshment as you approach Waypoint 8, in either a pub or the tea rooms close by. At Waypoint 8 you can look in the visitor centre and learn a lot more about Poyntons’ coal mining past. Check the number of mines in the area. Each pit or shaft had a name e.g. Redacre. The coordinates can be obtained by identifying the two digit number associated with each named pit.
Make a note also in the grid at the end of the text, of the two digit numbers associated with the pits Redacre Rise, Wilsons, Lawrence, Jonathans, Lord Pit, Horse Pasture Pit and Water.
Waypoint 9
Waypoint 9 is at
N53 2 Redacre Rise Wilsons
W 002 0 Lawrence Jonathans.
The next leg of the walk takes you along the canal which was built to transport coal into the growing towns and mills of Stockport and Macclesfield. Follow the road up from Waypoint 9 and mount the canal tow path. Note the notches in the stonework at bridge 14 where the horse drawn tow ropes have eroded the stonework. Note also the views to the right into Lyme Park where ‘The Cage’ is clearly visible.
Waypoint 9 is at the site of the former aptly named Canal Pit, where some of the above-ground workings are still visible. There are no clues to solve at Waypoint 9, so you will need to trust your sat nav. to guide you accurately via GPS to Waypoint 10.
Waypoint 10
Waypoint 10 can be found at
N53 JA . AFH
W002 GK . GDG
This short stretch to Waypoint 10 brings you back down one of the ‘jigs’ or mine railways. The remains of the hauling gear at Canal Pit can be seen on the left of the path.
Once you reach Waypoint 10, you are on the last leg of the walk. Return onto Middlewood way, and head towards Marple as shown by the sign under the bridge.
The location of Final Cache is at …
N 53 Lord Pit . HorsePasture Pit K
W002 GD.E Lower Vernon
The final (and physical) cache is located only a short distance from the main path. It is easily accessible and it is not necessary to climb any fences or go through undergrowth. This is the only time when you will need to leave the main path, but only when you are within 30m of the final cache. Please respect the area as you seek the cache.
Please ensure the cache is replace exactly as you found it, and the lid is properly secured
ANSWERS TO CLUES
A =
B =
C =
D =
E =
F =
H =
J =
K =
Redacre Rise =
Wilsons =
Lawrence =
Jonathans =
Lord =
Horse Pasture =
Lower Vernon =
If you wish to learn more about the industrial history of Poynton then visit www.enginemuseum.org or read a copy of the highly informative ‘Poynton a Coalmining Village’ by W.H Shercliffe et al. (1983) ISBN 0 9508761 0 0
Finally, I would like to express my thanks to Mr Richard Doran and for the kind permission and support of Macclesfield Borough Council Ranger Service to enable this cache to be placed in its location. Please respect the area when seeking the cache.
Remember Cache In, Trash Out.
I would also like to acknowledge the help of Geoff and Rita, and Elaine who comprise the original Poynton Plodders and who helped to debug this walk before its posting.
Should you have a problem solving the clues, please feel free to drop me an email and I will provide the solutions. All coordinates were determined using a Garmin 76C, with each waypoint averaged for a minimum of 100 readings.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf va gur urqtr ng gur onfr bs n fznyy bnx gerr.