Sharpeville Hills Traditional Cache
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Andy
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You're invited to take a walk in Gloucester Park and up the 'Sharpeville Hills' to take in the views of Basildon.
Gloucester Park is named after the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who formally opened the parkland to the north of Basildon on June 26th 1957.
Laid out over 250 acres on former farm land the area bore virtually no resemblance to the park it is now with virtually all the "natural" features being man made. The original plan, conceived in 1951, was for a 355 acre park, and this included a Gloucester Park extension area on land between St. Nicholas Lane and Basildon Road. This area was never developed though parts are still left as natural woodland. In the early 1960s another area of the park was lost to the nearby Ghyllgrove housing estate development commenced.
Development began in 1963 with the inclusion of 10 football pitches, a cricket square, and the eventual pavilion changing facilities and live entertainment social club.
Artificial mud hills created out of soil excavated in building the new housing estates dominate the north eastern side. These hills were officially named "Sharpeville Hills" by Basildon Council in 1985 and there is an inscribed memorial commemorating the event at the summit.
Additional facilities were added with the town's main championship-size swimming pool which opened in 1968 and a 400 metre athletics track opened in 1973.
During the early 1970s a six acre fishing lake with an artificial island was constructed and at the same time, the eastern side of the lake was landscaped with more artificial hills. A boating lake with two artificial islands was also completed adjacent to the swimming pool.
Further development in the mid 1970s saw tennis and netball courts added, a bowls green, crazy golf course and the town's bandstand erected.
A whole range of sporting activities including football, tennis, bowls, fishing, cricket and athletics can now be enjoyed within the parks grounds as well as the casual amblers like myself going out for a walk at lunchtimes.
The park also plays host to many other activities including travelling fun fairs, circuses, firework displays and since 2001 the annual Basildon Festival, previously held at Wat Tyler Park, Pitsea.
The cache is a standard nano - please only use initials or write very small to save log space.
There are many routes up the hills varying from short & steep, to long & gradual, but in all cases the paths can get a little muddy underfoot during bad weather.
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Treasures
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