After driving along the grand drive way down the hill and through the woods, you arrive at a bridge that crosses the edge of one of the ponds on the estate. You will see Ashburnham Place in front of you. It is not as grand as it used to be, but is still pretty impressive.
You turn left after crossing the bridge, and this will take you around to the church car park. Here you can leave your car while gathering the required information to locate the actual cache.
With the exception of the tower the entire church was rebuilt in 1665 in Gothic style. This is called 'Gothic Survival' as the main period of Gothic architecture in England had, by this time, been superseded by the use of Classical forms. A complete Gothic building of the mid seventeenth century is a rarity (although Staunton Harold Church in Leicestershire is another example).
On the south wall of the nave is an elaborate reredo depciting Moses and Aaron, and the Ten Commandments.
Over 20 years ago, this is where I married Mrs Stooby! The actual cache is hidden just around the corner from where I lived as a teenager in the village.
In order to locate the actual cache, you need to find the grave of a vicar of Ashburnham. The given co-ords will take you to this point. From this grave, you should note the following:
Rosalie was born on ABth April.
The last two digits of the year of her death are CD.
The year of John's birth is EFGH.
He was the vicar of Ashburnham for JK years.
The final location is: N 50° (F-J)(J+E).(G+J)(B-C)(B-D) E 000° (K-H)(A+E).(K*G)(D-H)(A+J)
The final location is within 2km of the church as the crow flies. There is space to park your car near GZ.
In the cache, you will also find the location of a bonus: GC4P042 Somewhere in Ashburnham.
If you have the time, take a stroll around the grounds, and pay a visit to The Orangery Tea Room. As per the various parish websites, visitors are welcome to do both.
Congratulations to SkyeCaching and Bellas Pack for being joint first to find.
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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