CONGRATULATIONS to Pieslayer for the FTF :-)
This cache is placed outside the oldest operational police station in Lincolnshire. The station was originally built around 1835 and has been in service ever since. There have of course been many changes to the station over the years.
The original police station occupies the right hand side of the building (as you look at it) The old blue front door is no longer in use but many original features still exists such as the stone carved police sign above the entrance. If you look closely above the blue door, you will see the remains of the wiring for the blue lamp that was traditionally located above the entrance of police stations. It has since been moved to the new entrance to the left.
Those of you who are fans of Hornby's trains may recognise this part of the police station as their Skaledale 'Country Police Station'. Compare the detail in the attached photograph of the model to the actual building and you can see that the precise detail from the stonework around the door and windows to white window frames are identical. You can also see in the photograph where the original blue lamp was placed (as mentioned earlier). The creator of many of the Skaledale models came from this area and many of the models are based on local buildings!
The station was extended in the Victorian era and the rest of the building was added to the old police station. Looking closely, you can see the change in brick work. The archway (where the current entrance is) used to be the entrance for the police coach and horse to enter the rear yard of the station and the stable block that still stands today alas the horse and cart have long gone!
To the left of the archway is what was the old residential house for the local constable posted there. it still has the number '10' on the door as it had a different address to the actual police station. There is no longer a residential part of the station now and all rooms are in operational use.
Stealth is required here, never mind the muggles, this is an operational police station and 'acting suspiciously' outside may lead to some questioning!
As with all our caches, there is a green FTF stamp/sticker.
Placed with kind permission of the Town Enquiry Officer.