The cemetary
Maidstone Cemetery contains 176 burials of the Second World War, more than half of them in a war graves plot in Section CC. The plot also contains 17 German and 1 Dutch grave. Special memorials commemorate 7 men who were among 16 killed by a bomb at Detling aerodrome in August 1940. They are buried in adjacent graves but could not be individually identified.
There are also some 'local celebrities' buried in this cemetary, along with many others. It's well worth a visit as there are a lot of interesting graves located here.
Opening times
The cemetery is open every day of the year. The main gate opens from 10am and closes at:
8pm from April – September
5.30pm in October
4pm from November – January
5.30pm from February – March
Other information
The first set of co-ordinates takes you to the grave of a man who was many times the Mayor of Maidstone.
Hugh Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake
Zoologist, writer, artist, business man and also the High Sheriff of Kent. His zoo gave pleasure to hundreds and thousands of people during it's existence in Cobtree Park.
The second set of co-ordinates takes you to the grave of another local business man.
Edward Sharp
Sharp's business developed out of Week Street (in the centre of Maidstone)) grocery shop which he had started in 1876, and where sweets were first made by his wife.
The business grew and in 1911 a factory, of a sizeable half an acre, was opened in St Peter Street, the workforce numbering nearly 300.
The cache
Stage 1 - N51 15.315, E00 31.968
To the right of Hugh Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake's grave is another grave - what year was that person born?
Answer = 19AB
Stage 2 - N51 15.191, E00 31.976
Edward Sharp's wife, Clara died at what age?
Answer = CD
The Final cache is located at:
N51 15. (D-C)(D-A)(A)
E00 31. (D+1)(B+A)(C-A-A)