#5 in the South East Essex: Interest Trail
This is part of a circular 16 cache series set across approximately 6 miles. This is a challenging series and you should allow around 5 hours to complete the whole loop.
Please see SEE:IT#1 for full details.
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Beginning life as Scopilan, and first referenced in 946AD, the hamlet went through a number of name variations (including Scopelanda in the Domesday Book) before the familiar name Shopland was reached. However the etymology of the place name remains consistent: 'Island with a shed', although apparently shed in this sense is more akin to 'treasury'.
Records for the Hall date back to 1146 and at its height in the 1881 census, the hamlet consisted of 14 dwellings spread over two farms, with 86 people registered. The Southend on Sea Extension Order came into effect on the 1st October 1933 which extended the boundary of the County Borough to now include the urban areas of Shoeburyness as well as parts of the parishes of Eastwood, Great Wakering, North Shoebury and Shopland. The remainder of Shopland parish was therefore merged with neighbouring Sutton and the Shopland parish church was finally demolished in 1957.
Also nearby you will see a WWII 'pillbox' bunker, of Type 24 design, which originally formed part of the Essex Coast Defences under Eastern Command.
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You are looking for a micro container. Don't forget your pencil.
Please note that sometimes temporary electric fences are erected in this area. Such fences will always have safe passing gates clearly marked
After this cache head in a westerly direction along the field boundary towards the kissing gate in the corner of the field. Continue west along the footpath and then turn south (left) when you reach the road. Continue south towards the Equestrian Centre and #6.
*****Congratulations to gspleo for the FTF!*****
