Taking the waters Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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The cache is located close to Smedley Hydro in Birkdale. It is not within the buildings grounds and can be accessed 24/7. The area can be busy because of staff / visitors coming in and out of the building. . Cache is magnetic & not in the ivy !
Located close to the Smedley Hydro building. Smedley Hydro is home to the General Register Office (England & Wales),part of the Identity and Passport Service. It is a fascinating building dating back to 1860 with many original features including stained glass windows, a panelled billiard room and a ballroom with stained glass roof. Smedley Hydro started life in the mid-19th century as Birkdale College for young gentlemen. The 47-roomed building was then purchased by John Smedley of Matlock for £7,500 after he formed a £25,000 company at £5 a share on August 1876. It was called Smedley Hydropathic Company Ltd and they opened the hotel on the five acre site on May 1877, this being the first and only Hydropathic Hotel in Birkdale and the fourth out of six in Southport. Within five years two wings were added, first the west wing holding the dining room and then the east wing holding the drawing room leading to the ballroom. Guests could choose which hydro treatment they had which was very popular in Victorian times. Then in 1932 it became known as the Smedley Hydro Hotel. In 1939 is was requisitioned by His Majesty' Government for the purpose of National Registration. This lovely building is usually open to the public as part of the annual Heritage Day events and is well worth a look. The cache is across the road from the building but well within sight of the place . The area can be very busy during working hours as a lot of people work in the building and parking can be quite difficult at this time. Evenings and weekends are much quieter.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp , gnxr n frng & frr jung lbh pna svaq