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A short virtual multi, taking in the sights of historic Nantwich, which may take around an hour to complete. You will need to visit all the points on the route to get the co-ordinates for the final cache.
The co-ordinates of the actual Cache will be revealed when all the parts of the tour have been completed, the questions answered, and when you’ve done just a little bit of maths!
It is recommended that you do the tour in the order it is set out. Pay particular attention to the letters representing the answers to the questions. They are not in alphabetical order.
The town dates back to Roman times when salt from Nantwich was used by the Roman garrisons at Chester and Stoke on Trent as both a preservative and a condiment, and of course later in the production of Cheshire Cheese.
In the Domesday Book, Nantwich is recorded as having eight salt houses. It had a castle and was the capital of a barony of the earls of Chester. The salt industry peaked in the late 16th century when there were 216 salt houses, but the industry ended in around 1856 when the last salt house closed.
Nantwich has suffered several disasters in its history. It was first recorded as an urban area at the time of the Norman conquest– the Normans burned the town to the ground, leaving only one building standing. Two hundred years later the town was attacked over a lengthy period by marauders from Wales, and in the 1500’s (I won’t tell you when yet because you’ll discover that a bit later), the Great Fire of Nantwich raged for 20 days destroying most of the town, which was rebuilt at a cost of £30,000. Queen Elizabeth I donated £2,000 towards the cost of rebuilding, together with timber from the royal forest. Beam Street, one of the main streets of Nantwich, was re-named to reflect the fact that the timber to rebuild the town was transported along it. Many plaques in Nantwich now commemorate this.
During the English Civil War Nantwich was the only town in Cheshire to declare for Parliament and consequently it was besieged several times by Royalist forces. The final, six-week long, siege was lifted following the victory of the Parliamentary forces in the Battle of Nantwich on 26 January 1644, which has been re-enacted as Holly Holy Day on its anniversary every year since 1973 by the Sealed Knot.
The co-ordinates of the actual cache will be revealed as you take our little tour of Nantwich.
We begin our tour on Historic Welsh row. Pay and Display parking is available on First Wood Street, the rest of the tour is within walking distance of this car park but you may prefer to park nearer the end point of the tour, in the Snow Hill car park, and walk back to Welsh Row to start.
Welsh Row features many historic buildings along its length. This part of the tour only takes in the part of it nearest the town centre, but if you feel like making it a longer walk, there is plenty to see, including the former Savings Bank with its unusual windows, inns, the almshouses, and, at the very end, Malbank School, on its present site since 1860, but whose history as a school dates back 450 years.
Cheshire Cat N53° 04.064 W002° 31.548
The Cheshire Cat, originally built early 17th century and converted into almshouses for six widows (by Sir Roger Wilbraham) is today a stunning hotel, restaurant and bar with many of its original features still intact.
Find the year that Sir Roger Wilbraham converted the building into almshouses for six widows. Add the digits together of that year, and divide the answer by 10, this is A.
You’re going to need to cross over the River Weaver and cross over Water Lode (the main road) now, and head into the town.
Millennium Clock N53° 03.955 W002° 31.250
Situated in the Cocoa House Yard is the Nantwich Millennium Clock commissioned by Nantwich Town's Council, as part of the town's Millennium celebrations in 2000. The clock was designed and built by Welsh clock maker and artist Paul Beckett.
At one end of Cocoa Yard is the Nantwich Museum , which has free entry, and is worth a quick visit if you’ve never been before.
How many farm animals are depicted on the Millennium Clock? Add two to that number – this is B
Hospital Street N53° 03.967 W002° 31.118
Sweet Briar Hall in Hospital Street marks the spread of the great fire of Nantwich, as it reached as far as the neighbouring house but spared the hall. Also along Hospital Street is the Vine Inn dating from c1641, and further up, the Methodist Chapel.
When was Sweet Briar Hall first occupied by Joseph Priestly? The third digit of that year is C.
Town Square N53° 04.031 W002° 31.313
The benches here in the town square surround the war memorial. Each bench has a plaque on it telling you a little bit of Nantwich’s history. Well worth having a read of them all (and taking a rest). The bench you are looking for is the one about the Great Fire of Nantwich.
What year was The Great Fire of Nantwich? Subtract the last digit of that year from the third digit. This is D
St Mary’s Church N53° 04.013 W002° 31.228
The church is a Grade I listed building. It has been called the "Cathedral of South Cheshire" and it is considered by some to be one of the finest medieval churches, not only in Cheshire, but in the whole of England. The building dates from the 14th century, although a number of changes have since been made, particularly a substantial 19th-century restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The church and its octagonal tower are built in red sandstone. It contains some spectacular wood carving, especially above the choir stalls.
The church was briefly used as a prison for Royalists captured at the battle of Nantwich during the Civil War.
It is well worth having a look inside St Mary’s while you are here. The entrance is through the glass double doors.
The coordinates should take you to a path adjacent to a grave, please respect that this is consecrated ground, you will not need to leave the path.
Young George Smith died on what date in July? This is F (you’re not done here yet).
Now add together the digits in the year he died, this is X
Market Hall N53° 04.037 W002° 31.232
The Market Hall was built by the architect George Latham. It cost £2,000 and was built on land given by John Tollemache, MP. Above the door are the arms of three of the local landed gentry families, Cholmondeley, Tollemache and Malbedeng. The latter is the most ancient. William Malbedeng, in the early Norman period was granted about three quarters of the land in the Nantwich Hundred, including Nantwich and its salt-works, and the Hundred Court of Warmundestrou. His holding included among other places the villages of Acton, Wrenbury, Marbury and Barthomley. In the remaining part of the Hundred of Nantwich the land holders were Richard Vernon, who held Audlem and Crewe; Gilbert de Venables, who had Blakenhall, and the bishop of Lichfield, who had Wybunbury. In ancient documents, Nanwich is called Wich Malbank or Wicus Malbanus, taking this name from William Malbedeng, sometimes written as Malbanc.
What date was the Market Hall built? Add together the last three digits of the year. This is Y
Swimming Pool N53° 04.171 W002° 31.449
Nantwich has two swimming pools on this site. The indoor pool is open all year round, and in the warmer months there is also an outdoor brine pool. Nantwich Outdoor Brine Pool is the largest of the Boroughs Pools and probably the only inland Brine Pool left in the country! The outdoor pool first opened to the public on the 1st July 1935 and the pool water temperature is now maintained at 74°F and through solar gain is usually much warmer. Some of the older customers still reminisce about their school days at the pool, when they claim the water was only just above freezing point and they happily swam in it!
Find the plaque on the wall telling you the date the building housing the indoor pool was built. Add together the digits of that year, this is E
A=
B=
C=
D=
E=
F=
X=
Y=
N53° 04.AB(E-X) W002° 31.CD(F-Y)
Cache is a small lock and lock style box, in camo colours. Log book, pencil and some small swaps are enclosed.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Tebhaq yriry