GC1TV20 Anyone for a Hand of Poker? (Traditional Cache) in North West England, United Kingdom created by PhilPamandRob

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GC1TV20 ▼

A cache by PhilPamandRob Message this owner

Hidden : 6/17/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

As you walk along Rodney Street in Liverpool you pass the disused churchyard of the Scottish Presbyterian Church of St Andrews. Prominent within the graveyard is an unusual pyramid with a green plaque above the entrance. This is the Pyramid Tomb of William McKenzie.

William MacKenzie (20 March 1794-29 October 1851) was a civil engineer who worked on both canal and railway projects. He had various profitable contracts including tunnels on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway between Edge Hill and Lime Street, and contracts for the Grand Union, North Union, Midland Counties and Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock railways.

The story goes that MacKenzie was a notorious compulsive gambler who never knew when he was beaten. After several years of heavy losses MacKenzie had lost it all and looked like he had no escape until a mysterious stranger turned up. This mysterious man offered MacKenzie a way out, but only if he played him at Poker, MacKenzie told the man he had nothing left to gamble with and the character said I'll play for your soul. MacKenzie being religious felt this was a step to far but with all hope lost and encouragement from this strange man he eventually agreed. The card game started and MacKenzie was eventually beaten by the mysterious man - MacKenzie looked in to the mans eyes and could see flames and quickly realised he'd made a deal with the devil. MacKenzie collapsed to his feet realising he was bound for an eternity of hell. The mysterious character said I'll collect your soul when you body rests in the ground and then the figure disappeared.

MacKenzie then decided to take action and spent the rest of his life making money to afford a crypt above ground, so his body never technically rested in the ground and thus never meeting the requirements of the devils request. In his pyramid above ground he is believed to be sitting upright at a card table with an unbeatable royal flush in his hand. MacKenzie may have got out of the deal with the devil but its thought his restless soul now haunts the graveyard and surrounding streets - countless people have seen a mysterious Victorian figure with red eyes and evil laugh in the Rodney Street vicinity, could it be MacKenzie or even more worrying is it the devil.

The cache is a magnetic Key-safe placed as close to the Pyramid Tomb as possible in Maryland Street, off Rodney Street, next to St Andrews Churchyard. It should be accessible from a wheelchair as its placed a couple of feet of the ground.There is roadside parking around here, but its pay and display 7 days a week between 8am and 6pm – so an early morning, or evening visit is advised. Please check carefully for muggles before retrieving the cache, and replace exactly as found, ensuring the log sheet is sealed in the small plastic bag.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)