GC136H4 Stagecoach Stash (Letterbox Hybrid) in West Midlands, United Kingdom created by Steve-e-b and Marina

This cache has been archived.

Steve-e-b: We've decided to archive this cache. We're not active geocachers anymore and only want to keep a handful of our caches going. Archiving this one was painful because it was the best cache we placed but the extra first stage was never part of our plan and detracted from the original idea. For that reason it's not one we want to keep.
Hopefully a new cache will emerge and take its place.

GC136H4 ▼

A cache by Steve-e-b and Marina Message this owner

Hidden : 5/27/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

A treasure hunt from the old coaching inn in the hamlet of Weatheroak.

The listed co-ordinates are not for the cache itself, but the nearby Coach and Horses Inn where parking for this cache has been arranged with the landlord.
To find the cache you will need to deduce the route to the treasure from the story below. Some ink on the parchment has been unfortunately (or deliberately?) smudged. But this important information can be found in a micro cache near the starting point:
N 52°21.863 W 001°54.993

Please note:

This cache is meant to be challenging. Anticipate following a false trail, use an OS map to help identify the correct route and allow at least an hour for your walk.
You do not need to trespass to complete this cache. The treasure can be reached following public roads and footpaths.
If caching with children, take care when walking along the narrow lanes.
If your GPSr does not handle yards you will need to convert yards to metres to get the correct distances.
The rubber stamp is for those taking part in letter boxing and is to stay with the cache.

The people & events described are fictitious, although the place names & distances are accurate.

The first stop for the Birmingham to London stagecoach was the Coach and Horses Inn at Weatheroak.
One spring evening in 1843 the stagecoach arriving at the inn was held-up by a local highwayman. The thief made off with money and precious items but was chased down by George Green, a local squire who happened to be passing.
The following passage is taken from the witness statement submitted by George Green to the police.
transcript

The highwayman was eventually caught and most of the items taken were recovered and returned to their rightful owners. However, one passenger, Lady Highbury, claimed her jewellery box was stolen that evening and never recovered.
Some say this item was never stolen and that Lady Highbury did not have the jewellery box in her possession when she travelled that evening. Others believe the highwayman stashed the box somewhere in the hills to be recovered at his own convenience.
Could the treasure still be hidden in the nearby hills?

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zvpeb: Fgbar gur pebjf! Oruvaq n gryrtencu cbyr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)