This cache has been designed so that the geocachers will need to
undertake some detective work in a town/village before getting the
final cache co-ordinates. (based on the cache series by the
Hi-5ers. Playing Dectectives:Potton,
Southill and
Upper Caldicote) For geocachers with children, it also
incorporates a playground on the route and does not involve very
long treks or the need to get back in the car.
For "Playing Detectives: Great Paxton” the detective work
will yield figures that give the co-ordinates of the cache.
Church Lane
- Walk into the churchyard and take note of the number of
privates that have been acknowledged for their bravery in the great
war of 1914 - 1918 at N52°15.736 W000°13.734. (A)
- Count the number of large conical topiaries on the left hand
side of the path going towards the church. (B) Whilst you are in
the church yard, please do look around as there is plenty of
history associated with the
church and village.
Holy Trinity Church
- When did Nancy Howard pass away? (CD) April 1994, 72
years.
- Come out of the churchyard and walk in a southerly direction
along the Church Lane, then south along the High street. You will
pass a magnolia painted house called Harvest Cottage, what is its'
house number (EF)
High Street
- Continue along the High Street, there is a telephone box on the
west side of the road, what are the last three digits of its' phone
number? (G8H)
The cache can be located at
N52° 1(G-C-D).(G/B)B(E+1)
W 0° 1(F-C-D).[(G+B)/(C+D)]A(H-1)
It is a small 1 litre plastic container but will take travel bugs
and associated goodies.
Great Paxton History:
Great Paxton, never a large village, lies in a secluded valley on
the east bank of the river Ouse along an ancient road from
Godmanchester to St. Neots, about 4 miles from the latter town. It
was probably first settled by invaders of Saxton stock coming up
from the river from the Wash as were most of the other local
riverside villages. The site chosen is almost surrounded by low
hills once densely wooded which formed a natural protection.
The original settlemeant was nearer the river than now and stood a
short distance west of Manor Farm where a large number of Saxon
coins, skeletons and pottery were found when the railway was being
constructed.
At some later period the inhabitants moved to higher ground and
formed a Green at the north end of the present High Street around
which the houses were built. Later on, two outlying Hamlets came to
being, one Little Paxton across the river to the west (a ferry was
available to get over the Ouse) and the other Toseland , about
2miles to the east. (along a trackway now known as Adams
Lane)
Further expansion of Great Paxton was southwards down the hill,
first as far as London Lane (so named in the 16th century) and
later on to the bottom of the hill were the brook formed the
boundary. Both hamlets (Little Paxton and Toseland) became parishes
in their own right and obtained ecclesiastical independence.
After thr Conquest, Paxton and its hamlets (known as 'berewicks')
were manorialised and the complicated changes which took place
subsequently are set forth in the Victoria County History.
King Edward the Confessor held the major part of the estate in 1066
and this descended as a manor to the Earls of Huntingdon in the
12th century to be divided later when the male line became
extinct.