GC412BZ Seven Arches Bridge (Traditional Cache) in South East England, United Kingdom created by jwparkin

This cache has been archived.

Long Man: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache, I'm archiving it.

Andy
Long Man
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GC412BZ ▼

A cache by jwparkin Message this owner

Hidden : 11/10/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Small magnetic container, close to footpath

This section of the railway opened on 21 May 1838. At the time the London terminus was at Nine Elms, close to the modern-day Clapham Junction, and the route went via Wandsworth (now Clapham Common), Wimbledon, Kingston (half a mile east of today's Surbiton station), Ditton Marsh (Esher), Walton (Walton-on-Thames), Weybridge and Woking Common (Woking). Five months later on 24th September, the next section opened to add Farnborough and Shapley Heath (today's Winchfield). The progress of the line reached its then destination at Southampton in mid 1840.

The Seven Arches Bridge from which this cache takes its name forms part of the line, spanning the River Wey. Originally two tracks wide and later widened to four, it takes trains between Waterloo and destinations including Exeter, Weymouth, Southampton and Portsmouth, as well as the very popular local stations from which many thousands of commuters make their way up to London every working day.

Just south of the Seven Arches Bridge you will find the world's first banked circuit of Brooklands, which opened in 1907. Racing continued until 1939 when there was a pause through the Second World War due to fuel rationing. Racing never resumed after the war, due to the Finishing Straight area having an aircraft factory built in it and the track owners deciding that cars were too fast for the circuit.

Although the flat parts of the circuit have been built on (including the cache owner's house!!), the banked parts of the circuit have survived much better, and the majority still exists to this day. Lots of it are visible around the southern parts near the retail stores and the locations of other geocaches managed by my son and myself - including our first one, Banking Cash. The Wey passes through Brooklands, coming in at the southern end of the Finishing Straight and out right by the Seven Arches Bridge. In those days, the banked track was still complete at this point, and early photos exist of people watching the cars racing here while spectators sit and stand in punts on the Wey watching progress.

Watching the cars raxing at Brooklands

In September 1968, much of Southern England suffered with significant amounts of rain and the local rivers Mole and Wey both broke their banks. The rain brought with it lots of stones and rocks, and the gap under the banked track (on the left in the picture) proved insufficient for all the water and the whole of Brooklands flooded (badly!) after the stones and the banking itself becoming a very effective dam. This led to approx 100m of track being demolished to let the water through, and one "end" of the banking can be seen right by the footpath just south of Seven Arches Bridge.

On the other side of Seven Arches Bridge is a smaller metal footbridge and the onward footpath to the north east reopened in 2006 after being left overgrown for many years. There is a T-junction of footpaths here, and suitable parking can be found in each direction these paths take you.

Congratulations to....

1TF - The 2 Woodstockers
2=TF - Waspbuster and Nomad&Ki
3TF - Woking Wonders

Update 15 May 2019 New container, and moved to an easier location and one which will survive extreme high tides better ;-) Coords updated and terrain reduced 3 to 2 accordingly

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp.

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)