GC15QBQ Cheshire View (Traditional Cache) in North Wales, United Kingdom created by pete1863 adopted by jody

This cache has been archived.

Deceangi: Rather than keep this cache temporarily disabled (which should only be used for shortish periods) I'm archiving it. If/when the cache is ever replaced I'll gladly unarchive it assuming it still meets the guidelines.

Please avoid geolitter by removing any remaining traces of your cache or contact a local cacher to do so for you. If you are having difficulty doing so then please contact me via my profile and I will try to get someone to assist. This is particularly important if your cache appears to contain Travelbugs or Geocoins.

Deceangi Volunteer UK Reviewer Geocaching.com

GC15QBQ ▼

A cache by pete1863 adopted by jody_woodentop Message this owner

Hidden : 9/6/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

In the village of Brymbo, at a site called the Rock. Fairly easy to get to by foot, with a bit of a scramble at the end. But a stiff walk may be required depending on which way you come.

Added by jody_woodentop:
Cache is a small camo lock 'n' lock box, with space for small trackables. There are also two pre-prepared film can micros(thanks to Table9Tom!) for finders to take away & hide. Please mention in your log if you took one, so we can replenish the stocks

We thought it would be nice if they could follow the lead of this hide, and be placed in one county with views of another one! So we can keep track of our babies, it would be good if you could start the name of your hides with 'This micro can see...'

Original text by pete1863:
This cache is situated in my home village of Brymbo, where I visit at least once a month to see my father, who has also agreed to upkeep the cache should it be required. my father lives roughly 20 yards from the cache, who normally sits near the location. Brymbo is situated in a semi-rural location about four miles to the north west of Wrexham- north Wales' largest town. The village can be said to be in three distinct sections, known as lower, middle and top Brymbo. There is a substantial hill between each level (especially if walking!). The lower section is also known as "The Green".

Lower Brymbo has an elevation of 180 metres. High St, located in the middle of the village, is at 218 metres. Top Brymbo lies at 260 metres. The distance between lower and top Brymbo is about one mile.

In the village there is one general store, a post office and a pharmacy, the latter two on High Street. Some local senior citizens can recall when there were as many as 32 shops of various descriptions in Brymbo, many of them operated from private residences. There is also an M.O.T testing station, four public houses (there used to be seven) and the Conservative Club.

Sadly there is now only one church and one chapel left in the village- originally the village boasted two churches and seven chapels.

The Brymbo area encompasses, amongst others, the neighbouring communities of Tan-y-Fron, Vron, Ffrith, Ffrwd, Moss, Southsea, Bwlchgwyn and Pentre Broughton. This whole area is steeped in industrial history, from the coal mines of four hundred years ago to John Wilkinson's ironworks which eventually developed into Brymbo Steelworks. In 1990 Brymbo Steelworks was closed after almost 200 years of iron and steel making. Apart from the devastating effect that this had on the local community, it also brought an end to heavy industry in the area.
The works was founded by John 'Iron Mad' Wilkinson who built a blast furnace in 1793, just after he bought Brymbo Hall. The reasons for his move from the nearby Bersham Ironworks are not clear, but it may be that there was no room for expansion, that he only rented Bersham, or due to difficulties with his brother William, who was claiming a share in his business.

A second furnace was built by 1805 and a third about 1869, but from 1892 no more than two wer used, and from 1912 only one.[1]

After Wilkinson's death, his estate was contested between his natural children and legitimate heirs.and the works passed through various hands. By 1841, it passed to the Brymbo Iron Co., which was managed from 1846 by William Edward Darby and Charles Edward Darby, grandsons of Abraham Darby III of Coalbrookdale. After their deaths in 1882 and 1884, the buinsess was incorporated as Brymbo Steel Co. Ltd.[2] The business changed company name in 1934 and 1948, on the latter occasion becoming Brymbo Steel Works Ltd in 1948, having become part of GKN, being a branch of GKN Steel Co. Ltd in the early 1960s. It was nationalised with the rest of the steel industry in 1967, becoming a division of British Steel Corporation.[3]

The works were served by the Wrexham and Minera Branch of the Great Western Railway, later of British Railways.

The steelworks lasted until 1990, when it was closed. 1,100 jobs were lost and Brymbo villae went into a depression and many residents into the negative equity trap.
The site now is being terraformed to support large amounts of housing. This, along with improved access to Brymbo, will hopefully revitalise the community. It is currently planned to keep the long standing Machine Shop and No 1 blast furnace, both original buildings. More of the still standing buildings may be kept standing as well.

During the war Brymbo was a strategic site, the site the cache is located in housed a very high powered torch to search the skies for german planes on route to liverpool. The village was hit several times by bombs possibly trying to take the light out. standing near the cache half right you will see the old steelworks site, in the distance you can see the Cheshire Planes. On a clear day you will be able to see Liverpool.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

yrsg yrsg yrsg!

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)