This is an 6 stage multi geocache, taking in the historical sites of East Hoathly. The significant dates on plaques are to be used to determine the coordinates of the final cache.
For those that don’t possess a GPS, an app such as GC Tools is recommended to navigate to the subsequent 6 locations. The Geocache app will take you to the start of the trail only.
This consists of a short amount of walking through the village, following paths and pavements. Likely to take approx 40 minutes. Parking is available near the start of the trail. Refreshments are available to buy in the village once you have completed the trail.
You will need to take a pen or pencil and some paper to write down the answers, and to write in the log sheet in the nano-cache.
Permission has been obtained from those occupying the main sites.
Location 1 -
East Hoathly church is built in a perpendicular style which dates from 1350-1550. Of the original building, only the tower remains. This was donated by the Pelham family, and has the families emblem, the Pelham Buckle above the main doorway at the far end of the tower. The coat of arms of the Lunsford family can also be seen above the door, this being a a chevron between three boars heads. The main body of the church was rebuilt in 1855. During the rebuilding a Norman pillar piscina was found in the foundations, and can now be seen to the right of the altar.
Church Porch: In what year was the churchyard levelled? (The porch is opened during daylight hours the majority of the days of the year. In the unlikely event that it is locked, the relevant picture can be viewed in photos).
Assign the numbers of the year to the letters of the alphabet A, B, C, D respectively.
Location 2 - N 50o 55.529’ E 0o 9.901’
The home of the late, locally famous East Hoathly diarist.
Thomas Turner was the local school master, shop keeper, undertaker, surveyor, and overseer of the poor, and kept a dairy between 1754-1765. This served as a record of dealings, a means of describing his life, as well as the failure of his marriage to live up to expectations!
In what year did Thomas Turner die? (See a picture of the plaque in photos if you have difficulty reading it on the house - please respect the fact that the house is occupied).
Assign the numbers of the year to the letters of the alphabet E, F, G, H respectively.
Location 3 - N 50o 55.535’ E 0o 9.930’
‘The Sunday School’ as a part of the former chapel.
The chapel was commenced in 1874 with the opening of a meeting room. Congregation boomed and this was followed up in 1877 with another methodist chapel. The Ranger and Wheatley families being predominant families, and in 1900 the current building was built. It remained in use until the 1940’s when the congregation dwindled and the chapel is said to have got into financial difficulty. Unable to sell the building during WWII, it was used as a furniture store. It was finally sold in 1951 and became a factory making injection folded plastics, until the late 1980’s when it became a pottery. It has since changed hands again.
What was the date of the day and month that the stone was laid by Mr and Mrs Lucas?
Assign the numbers of the day and month to the letters of the alphabet I, J, K, L respectively.
Location 4 - N 50o 55.551’ E 0o 9.944’
Aberdeen house has traditionally been owned by the same owners as the Kings Head pub next door; usually farming families. Where Clara’s bookshop now occupies was in the 1970’s-80’s the local village butchers. ‘Muffins’ cafe to the right next door was the village store at this time.
Sign: ’Forecourt is Private’. What year was the Right of Way Act?
Assign the numbers of the year to the letters of the alphabet M, N, O, P respectively.
Location 5 - N 50o 55.563’ E 0o 9.960’
The now ‘Old Stables Brewery’ was built as the village slaughterhouse, on the far end of the Kings Head Pub; it was built to receive the livestock arriving from farms down Waldron Road.
The year on the Old Stables Brewery refers to the year that it is thought King Charles I was beheaded. (Hence the name of the Kings Head Pub).
Assign the numbers of the year to the letters of the alphabet Q, R, S, T respectively.
Location 6 - The final hiding place of the nano cache.
To determine to co-ordinates, substitute the original numbers for the letters, where;
N 50o (F-P) (R-Q) . (J) (C) (T-S) ‘
E (D)o (B) . (N) (I) (L) ‘