As a 1970's 'new town' Redditch often gets a bit of a bad press. However, if you look carefully as you take a stroll around the town centre, you will see that there are some interesting things to admire; pleasing architecture, artwork, memorials and hints of bygone times. This virtual cache will take you on a short stroll through the town centre and aims to show you a few of these buildings, statues and artworks that may otherwise be overlooked.
The walk should take 20 minutes or so, unless you decide to stop for refreshments enroute. It can be done in any order, but is broadly linear, running from one end of the town centre, to the other. At each location, you will need to answer a question. At the published coordinates you will be very close to the first waypoint.
Waypoint 1: Smallwood Hospital was built thanks to a generous bequest from Edwin Smallwood and his brother, who were local needlemakers. The Hospital opened in 1895 with an 8 bed ward, a children's ward, an operating theatre, outpatients department and staff accommodation. It was Redditch's first hospital and to this day continues to provide NHS healthcare to local residents. The building boasts an impressive weathervane. As well as the expected N,S,E,W characters, in also has some numbers on it. Question 1: What is the number?
Waypoint 2: The Old Library. Now known as The Old Library, this Victorian Building was rather more grandly known as the Literary and Scientific Institute when first opened. A newspaper report from 1902 reported a disappointing turnout at the Annual Meeting, but commented that over 22,000 books had been loaned over the previous year. Question 2: At the stone which commemorates the opening, what three letter word is the abbreviated name of the well titled fellow who opened the institute.
Waypoint 3:This memorial was conceived by a young person while they were still at school in Redditch, and artist and sculptor, Andy DeComyn (who also designed, amongst other works, the Shot at Dawn memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum) was appointed to construct his vision. Unveiled in 2005, this memorial depicts a young child with the his liberator. This simple but effective memorial is called 'Never Again'. Question 3: An adjacent bench commemorates 3 market traders. For how many years did Roy, the fruit and veg man, work on the market?
Waypoint 4:This memorial to Led Zeppelin drummer, and local legend John Bonham, was erected in 2018 after a long campaign, led by Bonham's sister, Denise. Question 4: On the small engraving, near the floor, on the back of the the statue, what is the last word (not number) of the engraving?
Waypoint 5: Needles. Another work of art that commemorates Redditch's long history of needle making. Question 5: What word passes through the eye of the needle?
Waypoint 6: Springs Eternal. A sculpture outside the Town Hall which commemorates Redditch's history of spring making, an industry which continues to this day in the town. Question 6: From how many submissions was this piece chosen?
Waypoint 7: Tattoo Art. As well as needles supplying sewing and medical industries, Redditch's needles continue to be sold worldwide for the tattoo industry. This mural is painted in the style of popular tattoo art. Question: What number is stencilled in the concrete on either end of the underpass?
To log your find, please send your answers to the CO . Please go ahead and log your find, but logs will be deleted if answers are not received within 24 hours of logging or if they are wildly incorrect.
Although not a logging requirement, we would love to see any (non spoiler) photos of anything that takes your eye while walking around the town. Thank you and Happy Caching.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.