The Armillary Sphere by Justin Tunley was designed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Milton Keynes Housing Association & their rebirth as Midsummer Housing. Midsummer Housings' new logo was a sundial, so the fairly open brief was to come up with something related to this.
The Labyrinth (the wavy lines around your feet) had been constructed some years earlier and it was considered alongside several other locations in Campbell Park. The Labyrinth seemed to cry out for a focal point, and somehow the spherical form felt appropriate.
The unveiling took place on Midsummer’s' day, on 19AB- you can see the date subliminally cut in the big band around the sphere, in Roman & Arab numerals.
The 'Gnomon' (pole in the middle) casts a shadow on the inside of this ring, where more Roman numerals give the hours at GMT (upper edge) & British Summer Time (lower edge). This can be out by up to 10 minutes, as the Earth rotates the sun in a slightly elliptical pattern.
Clue 1: Find what A and B is from the above, you can either do this by looking on the Sphere itself (as long you know Roman numerals) or read the Site Information board opposite.
Next move onto Waymark 1 which is War Veteran by Ronald Rae.
This life-size sculpture of a land mine victim depicts the human cost of war based on Rae’s grandfather who fought in the Battle of the Somme. The sculpture featured in the Landmine Exhibition at Leeds Royal Armouries which was dedicated to the work of Princess Diana. It is now on loan to Milton Keynes.
Clue 2: The date on the plaque in front of the sculpture reads 19C7. What is C?
Next move to Waymark 2 which is Animals in War Memorial by Ronald Rae (199D).
This piece was unveiled by the Director of the Royal Academy on 30th July 2015 after being gifted by the sculptor to the people of Milton Keynes in memory of Edna Egochi Read (1929- 2E12), artist and pacifist and active promoter of public art in Milton Keynes. This poignant memorial is a requiem for all the animals that have died in wars, in particular horses that died in their millions in World War I. The soldier in the sculpture with half an arm missing and wearing a gas mask is also a reference to the horrors of chemical warfare.
Clue 3: The last two dates can be found on the plaque in front of the art piece, these give you D and E.
Clue 4: You need to find what F & G is by doing a little maths, F = D-B. G=D-2
The cache can be found at N52 02.ACE W000 44.FBG.
Please be CAREFUL as you retrieve it, this is a high muggle area.