This cache is part of a series of caches which are placed at or near village halls and community centres. For details and statistics visit the Village Hall Series website Click here
The story of Purley’s Barn almost certainly starts with the marriage, in 1514, of the son of the lord of the manor of Purley and the daughter of the lord of the manor of Mapledurham, just across the river. Nicholas St John was the groom to be and Elizabeth Blount his intended wife. Both were part of the court of the young Henry VIII. They set up home together in Purley at the ancient manor house which stood somewhere to the south of the church, almost opposite the ancient Mapledurham House.
In the 18th Century, the manor came into the possession of the Stonor family who had a new home built at Purley Magna (now Purley Park) and the barn was moved to the location of the new farm on the corner of Long Lane and the Turnpike Road (A329 Purley Rise now).
During the First World War the barn served as stables for a Remount Depot. The artist Cecil Aldin, then its master, collected horses from all over the country and brought them to Purley where they were retrained for the use of the military. A copy of Aldin’s evocative drawing of its time as a Remount Depot now hangs in the barn.
The barn remained there for 194 years until the new housing development was built. In 1995, the barn was dismantled frame by frame. The timbers were cleaned and treated and then it was re-erected on its new site at Goosecroft. There was a sod-cutting ceremony on 9 January 1995 attended by members of the Parish Council. Much more about the history of Purley on Thames can be found here.
Today the barn serves as a local amenity. It is in regular use by scouts, slimmers, local historians and more as well as being the location of the monthly farmers market.
Now for the cache.
Before you set off, you will need to solve this puzzle to find out what you must do with the numbers that you find at the Barn.
At the Barn
There are two car parks: the barn car park being to the right of the recreation ground car park.
A = the number of disabled spaces marked in the barn car park
On the fence by the car park, there is a notice about parking.
B = the number of words in the top line of this notice board
The cache is within walking distance.
FTF honours go to the our caching buddies wendykmj. Well done folks!