Near the Entrance Traditional Cache
magwai: Putting this one to bed today - thank you to all visitors
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Very near to this cache is one of the Lodgehouses to the Great Barr Hall Estate, built in the 1700's. It has only been in its present condition for about 20 years, prior to then, it was a very sorry sight, although as a school child passing that way back in the 1970's it was somewhere I dreamed of "doing up" and living in - Sadly, finances from a paper round meant my dream was never realised
Shustoke Lodge of Great Barr Hall is situated on the Birmingham Road by Merrions Wood. The road to Great Barr Hall led through the deer park to another lodge in Chapel Lane. It also appears as Walsall Lodge on some documents and is now known as Merrions Wood Lodge. The property is Grade II listed and was designed by George Gilbert Scott around 1854.
The Hall was originally known as the Netherhouse and was part of a mixed farm. In 1777, Joseph Scott had it rebuilt in a Gothic style. The work left him bankrupt and in 1786 the Hall was mortgaged to gunmaker and banker Samuel Galton Jnr. It was during this tenure that the lunar society met at the Hall. Its members included prominent industrialist and scientists of the time such as Josiah Wedgewood, James Watt and Matthew Bolton. In order to reduce the risk of attack from highway robbers, the society's meeting were held on moonlit nights, hence the name.
Following an inheritance Joseph Scott was able to regain possession of the Hall in 1791. He and his descendants continued renovation work, particularly ornamenting the grounds.
The Scott family ownership continued until the death of Lady Mildred Scott in 1909, after which the Hall and estate were sold off to a variety of buyers.
NOTE: Due to tree cover, GPS readings will vary (greatly)
The main entrances into Merrions Wood are off Chapel Lane, Great Barr, and also off Birmingham Road (A34), Walsall, where there is some parking space. By public transport : 51, from Walsall to Birmingham.
No FTF Prize other than your name to be added forever on the cache page and a drink at the next local Event if you can attend WHEN TNG gets his act together 
FTF g6lpb
STF one true buzzard
TTF al60uk
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gb trg gb gur obggbz bs guvf pnpur lbh jvyy arrq gb fcehpr hc lbhe npg
Treasures
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