Z to A - The Scarecrow Milestone Traditional Geocache
Z to A - The Scarecrow Milestone
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A small clipbox near a milestone that is looking somewhat unloved. Care is required as the cache is near a busy road with no pavement.
This cache has been placed to coincide with the Meet the Scarecrows Geo Event on 15 June 2013, in nearby Kington Langley. It is placed at the nearest remaining milestone to the village. From 1767, mileposts were compulsory on all turnpikes, not only to inform travellers of direction and distances, but to help coaches keep to schedule and for charging for changes of horses at the coaching inns.
Chippenham's history is closely linked to transport, and the town is full of old coaching inns (many now shops). The town was on the main road from Bristol and Bath to London (and remained so until the M4 opened in 1971).
From 1706, turnpike trusts were set up enabling road charges to be imposed. The Chippenham Roads Trust dates from 1726. Amongst other routes the Trust was responsible for the Swindon road as far as Draycot Cerne and hence the milestone would have been erected beside a Chippenham Trust maintained road. In 1792 the Trust constructed New Road avoiding the steep Monkton Hill and in 1822 a toll house was built near St Pauls Church where the Malmesbury and Langley (Swindon) roads meet (later demolished). The Trust was finally wound up in 1870.
This Grade II listed milestone dates from the lateC18 or early C19. It is triangular and has a cast-iron plate attached to the left side reading "Chippenham 2". It is standing approximately 4m back from its correct position.
Despite its listing the milestone is now covered with ivy, not unsuited to the scarecrow theme. It is almost impossible to spot now when travelling along the road, except for those who are looking for it.
There is lots of interesting and useful information about milestones to be found on the Milestone Society website.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng gur onfr bs gur zvyrcbfg