Pen-Y-Fal Hospital Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A very short multi around what used to be the site of Pen-Y-Fal Hospital in Abergavenny. My intention is to show you this magnificent building and grounds which has now been converted into private flats.
This cache should be done in the daytime as you will need to see the dates on the shields in waypoints 2 and 4 in the daylight - you will not be close enough to see them at night and torchlight could be intrusive.
This stunning Tudor Gothic style building is simply huge for the size of Abergavenny yet nowadays is rarely even seen unless you live there or are visiting someone who lives there. The gardens are splendid still however with many magnificent (and large) trees surviving including Monkey Puzzle, Yew, Pine and more.
Sitting in about 24 acres of grounds Pen-Y-Fal hospital has had a number of names in the past but started life as The Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum in 1851, just 6 years after the Lunacy Act of 1845 which stated that accomodation should be provided for all mentally ill people (patients!) and between then and it's closure it was called Monmouthshire Lunatic asylum, Monmouthshire Mental Hospital, Pen-Y-Val Hospital and finally Pen-Y-Fal hospital. In the beginning it had twelve wards and was only intended to house around 200 people but underwent several extentions through the years to create the building we see today, and at it's peak it housed over 1100 people. At this time it also had it's own farm to provide food and the asylum chapel was built in the 1880's.
In the century roughly from 1850 to 1950 around 3000 people died at the hospital and there is a memorial stone placed at the cemetery site to recognise this. This is also you're starting point for your short walk to find the answers to solve the co-ord below.
The parking waypoint is on-the-street parking assuming there is space (there normally is), so cross the small road and go over the pretty wooden bridge to reach the start point. So here goes:
I mentioned above that over 3000 people died here in an approximate century from 1850 to 1950 but according to the stone what were the exact dates from and to? December 18AB to December CDEF
Proceed to waypoint two at N51° 49.454 W003° 00.604
Here you will be stood beside some rather nice seaside-style green and white shelters. Take a look at the main building directly in front of you (splendid isn't it!) and below the large chimney there is a shield above four windows with a date on. The date is 18GH.
Now go to waypoint three at N51° 49.437 W003° 00.579
Here you will see a roadsign for Sarno Square (Sgwar Sarno) No's Rhifau 1-JK
Now go to waypoint four at N51°49.419 W003°00.564
Again you will be beside one of the green and white shelters. Take a look at the main building again and you will see a shield above four windows and below the large chimney, similar to waypoint two, but with a different date. The date is 19LM
If you look behind you you will also see the chapel in a sorry state of repair unfortunately (strictly you can't go too close as the chapel is on private land).
Put the letters in to the appropriate places in the co-ords below and off you go
Cache is at N AL° ED.(G-H)F(L+C) W 00B° (K-D)M.JK(A+B)
The cache is a small/micro specimen type pot with a log only. You need to keep a look out for dog-walking muggles from all angles. The clue describes it's position if you want a quick find.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gbc bs gur qvc ba gur evtug (vs lbh nccebnpu sebz gur fbhgu) haqre gur ebbgf bs gur fznyy gerr. Ybbx bhg sbe qbt-jnyxvat zhttyrf ba obgu fvqrf bs gur fgernz.
Treasures
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