Gatcombe House Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Gatcombe Gardens are what remains of a larger estate that surrounded the 18th century Grade II listed Gatcombe House which was built around 1780. Around this time, the then owner, Admiral Sir Roger Curtis was obliged to sell it to the military although he continued to live there until his death in 1816. He became Commander-in Chief of the armed forces in Portsmouth. In 1849 the House, lately occupied by his son, Rear-Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis, was put up for rent. The grounds were described as lawns, of upward an acre (0.4 hectares), a tree lined drive approached from the turnpike (London Road) with a Porter’s Lodge. There was also an orchard and two kitchen gardens, the whole comprising about 12 acres 2 roods and 25 perches, i.e.5 hectares. The house later became the Officer’s Mess for the Royal Field Artillery stationed at Hilsea Barracks, which were built to the north-west of the house. They moved out in 1921. An Ordnance Survey map of 1949 shows a tennis court adjacent to the house. The barracks became the home of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps until 1962 when the Army moved out and the site fell into disrepair and was bought by Portsmouth City Council in 1970. The major part of the estate was developed to housing and became Gatcombe Housing Estate, leaving the 1.62 ha of gardens as a green oasis for public access. It was redesigned in 2002 by Portsmouth City Council. The house became derelict until taken over by a private company and restored to its former glory. You are looking for a small box. Please make sure you replace in the same place. Cache can only be accessed from Gatcombe Gardens, as Gatcombe House car park is private property.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qba'g trg sraprq va.