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Crowning Glory? Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

Workyticket: As there's been no cache to find for a long time, we archiving it to keep it from showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements.

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Hidden : 10/19/2009
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

A multi cache set on Lodge Hill overlooking Castle Cary. The co-ordinates will take you to the Cary 2000 observation point which gives great views over the surrounding countryside and the answers to the questions below.

Castle Cary is mentioned in Domesday Book (1086) as Cari meaning 'The rocky hill' from the Celtic creag. It was first recorded as Castra Cari in 1328.

Castle Cary was the site of a 10th century Norman castle of importance which was built on Lodge Hill. The castle was besieged twice in Stephen's reign - in 1138 and 1148 - and was probably destroyed after about 1153 AD. The castle has now completely disappeared although nearby earthworks can still be seen on the side of Lodge Hill, no trace of the original castle remains.

During the Middle Ages, Castle Cary developed as a market town and a large number of rural industries were established. By the end of the 14th Century there was a flourishing wool industry, when a cheap, coarse and hard-wearing cloth was made for the poor.

The town obtained a Market Charter from Edward IV in 1468. The main industries were agriculture, thatching, rake-making, rope manufacturing and leather and parchment work also the wool trade was dominant.

As cloth has been produced commercially in Castle Cary horsehair weaving became big business in Cary in the 19th Century; John Boyd textiles at the Higher Flax Mills are still in production. It is the only remaining horse hair weaver in the whole of Britain and one of only two remaining in the world, the other factory is in France. Reps, damasks and sateen fabrics are still produced here and are much in demand. The King of Norway bought quantities of the damask for covering the chairs in the Royal Palace of Oslo.

The Victorian Market House dominates the centre of town, housing the Castle Cary Museum. It was the focus of market trade since its construction in 1855. The museum in the Market House has a display on diarist Parson Woodforde and downstairs is a restored cell and the Local Information Centre.

On Bailey Hill, in the heart of the town there is a "Round House" built in 1779 is one of only four left in the country and formerly used as a temporary 'pepper pot' lock-up for offenders, drunks, and even truants.

The largest church in the town is All Saints', most accounts date the present building to the "period of Henry VI" (1422 - 1471). Like most churches of the period All Saints' is an example of the late gothic perpendicular style with its soaring heights and broad windows. There is also a Methodist church and St Andrew's in the neighbouring town of Ansford.

Notable people from the town include the 18th century diarist Parson James Woodforde who was curate between 1765 and 1775 and Douglas Macmillan, founder of the Macmillan Cancer Relief charity. The Macmillan Way walking trail passes through the town.

Other historical buildings are the 13th Century George Hotel, an old coaching inn; the Priory of St. John, once the grand house of John Boyd and the 18th Century Post Office. The horse-pond, is unusual because of the War Memorial in its centre, is fed from the nearby Park pond which is the source of the River Cary.

Most, if not all, of these buildings can be seen from the observation point. You may just be able to make out the new Crown Pet Food factory. The way it blends in to the sky line of the town must be worthy of a planning award!!

Anyway, to find the cache, you need to first find the footpath to Lodge Hill. It starts from the Market Place at Paddock Drain, next to the George Hotel. You can normally park in North Street or the High Street, but if these are full, then try the main town car park at Millbrook Gardens (51° 05.257 W 002° 30.974).

The path follows part of the route of the Monarch's Way, a 615-mile long-distance footpath that approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester.

Once you have reached the observation point (and have got your breath back) note the distances in km from the observation point to the places below and substitute numbers for letters where appropriate.

The cache is at:

N 51 0 A. B C D

W 002 E F. G H I

Distance to Stonehenge = 5 F

Distance to Longleat = 2 A

Distance to Stourhead = 1 E

Distance to Burton Pynsent Monument = 1 B

Distance to Avebury Stone Circle = G 0

Distance to Hinkley Point Power Station = 4 C

Distance to Burnham on Sea = 3 D

Distance to Bath and West Showground = H

Which class of Castle Cary Primary School did the original drawing for the map? = I

You are looking for an ammo box hidden close to the path of the Monarch. No need to dismantle the hiding place. Just take the rocks off the top of the box and it will lift out.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

N glcr bs qbphzragnel jvgubhg gur syl!

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)