Historical Halifax - Freemason's Facade Multi-Cache
Historical Halifax - Freemason's Facade
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The cache is not at the above location, but is a (hopefully simple) single stage offset nearby.
All too often in our quest for "Modern" we trample upon our past which, once gone, can never be replaced. This cache requires a visit to one of Halifax's treasures which was saved from the bulldozer.
A little history
The Freemason's Hall, St John's place, Halifax, for which the foundation stone was laid with much pomp and ceremony, including the erection of a platform to hold over 200 ladies to witness the spectacle and singing by the choristers of the nearby Trinity Church in June of 1868. A plaque in the window gives a little more information.
In 1988 the town's major building society purchased the site to extend their head office (a modern building, which could look like something landed from outer space), and they were tasked with preserving the facade of the Freemason's Lodge, which they did, repairing where necessary and then building the new offices around it, preserving the facade behind a huge glass wall.
The cache
The above coordinates should take you to a public footpath which passes between the 2 buildings which make up the headquarters of a famous bank. No entry to the buildings themselves is required or allowed. Your starting point is in front of the façade which is behind glass - you’ll know when you are in the right place.
The cache is located at N53 43.ABC, W001 51.DEF
A - There are a few lampposts in a straight row in front of the facade, count them (ignore any which are at a different level or which are not in the straight line). Subtract 3 from the total.
B - Facing the lodge frontage, look up. The number of large steel vent pipes, adding those on both the right and left of the building gives you B
C – Look at the lodge itself. This was the Lodge of Probity xx. Add these two numbers together.
Checksum – when added together A, B & C should add up to 14.
D - Opposite the lodge facade, there is a sloping wall with a sign on it, what is the number of letters in the 1st word?
E – Beyond the sloping wall are a number of sections of astroturf - how many sections are there? (you may need to go up the steps which are to the right of the sloping wall). Multiply your answer by 2
F - Looking above the astroturf, there are a number of big brown vents on the underneath of the building, resembling spaceship thrusters. There are three groups of vents. How many vents are there in total between all 3 groups?
Checksum – when added together D, E &F should add up to 22
The cache itself is in an urban environment, feel free to read the hint for a quick and discrete find.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp.
Heona raivebazrag - fb fcbvyre.
Fvg qbja naq ernpu lbhe yrsg nez nebhaq, fubhyq or noyr gb teno vg.