Another cache in what has the potential to become a National Numbered Series of Letterbox Hybrid caches, placed to mark one of a diminishing number of post boxes placed in Queen Victoria’s reign and still in use for regular collections by Royal Mail.
A few simple guidelines will apply to the series (subject to amendment):
- The post box must carry the Royal Cipher of Queen Victoria (in whatever format)
- The box must have regular collections by Royal Mail
- The box must be in the British Isles (so United Kingdom and adjoining Crown Dependencies).
- Any style or colour of box are valid as long as the above all apply
Now to this Cache
The cache is not at the published co-ords, where you will find a Victorian Post Box, set in a brick wall. Naturally, you will need to visit the Post Box to obtain values for the final coordinates
This is a fine example of a wall box manufactured by the Smith & Hawkes foundry in Birmingham.
Smith & Hawkes were one of the earliest contractors for manufacturing letter boxes – one of the earliest designs was the iconic free standing fluted boxes, which were cast at their Eagle Foundry on Broad St in Birmingham from 1856. They manufactured wall boxes like this one from 1857 – 1874. You will find their name cast onto the box below the door.
There is extremely limited parking near the Postbox so please be considerate to residents and other road users!
Please take extra care of children or geodogs as this postbox is sited right on a road with only a narrow grass verge.
From the Postbox you need to find the following numbers -.
The Postbox Number, which is HPa 1b3D
Very close by, there are two Manhole covers in the road. Whilst being very careful of any oncoming vehicles, find the one uphill of the postbox.
On the Manhole cover is the number M-WAY cde
On the opposite side of the road to the postbox is a telegraph pole with a single digit on a white disc.
The number on the Telegraph Pole is f
The cache can be found
(a+b+e) b . (e-f) feet away
on a bearing of (c-a) (d-b) . (c-f-a) degrees
The self-inking rubber stamp in the cache is NOT a trade item, and must remain in the cache!
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
There is a Bonus Cache (GC8P0F0) associated with this cache and the 4 caches listed below,
- Victoria's Post Box #64 - Bourne End - GC8NR7N
- Victoria's Post Box #65 - Felden - GC8NWAA
- Victoria's Post Box #66 - Water End - GC8NX9N
- Victoria's Post Box #67 – Gaddesden Row - GC8NYZW
Please click on GC8P0F0 to go to the Bonus Cache page for more information.
If you know of an eligible post box and would like to add to this series, please apply to Team Hippo for a series number, giving the following:
- Location as in place name (and street if applicable)
- Location in Lat Long format (DD MM.MMM)
- Postbox number