After finding the information on the church yard you will need to leave the yard and follow the footpath which goes round the back of the church.
St Matthew's Church, Morley is a Grade I listed building and features in Simon Jenkins' book 'England's Thousand Best Churches'. The oldest part of the church dates back to the 13th century and is noted for its ancient stained glass windows (removed from Dale Abbey at the Dissolution of the Monasteries – see my other local caching walk for Dale Abbey), memorial brasses and medieval tiles.
The church has a wealth of tombs and the Sacheverell Bateman Mausoleum is situated in the churchyard, as is the grave of eminent local botanist Joseph Whittaker, whom made a voyage to South Australia to describe many new species of plants including a carnivorous sundew species now bearing his name Whittaker’s Sundew.
Church Lane is on the ancient Portway from Mam Tor near Peveril in the Peak down to the Hemlock Stone in Bramcote Hill Park, and there is a Butter Cross at the entrance to the church grounds.
The Sacheverell Bateman mauseloum was built after the early death of the local lord in 1896 when he was killed in an accident on return from a hunting trip. There is a hint of the Horrible Histories “stupid deaths” if you read the story. Have a good look at the Sacheverell Bateman mauseloum and answer the following questions:
- how many words are written on a small sign on the car park side of the edifice = A
- how many cast iron black drain pipes are on the north west face = B
- how many vertical sections in the stained glass window depicting the crucifixion = C
- how many sides of the building have stained glass windows = D
- what’s the total of the number of hands, stars and moons on the crest on the outer wall = E
the final cache can be found at 52 57.[A*A][D-A][E-B] -1 24.[C][D*D][D-B]
CHECKSUM: A+B+C+D+E = 20.