Please note this is not a new cache but a replacement for the previous multi-cache at this location which has been archived. Logbook is a continuation of the previous cache.
Hayes Gate is a very small group of farm buildings and cottages on the main Newport to Chepstow route. The junction (pre motorway construction!) was opposite the entrance to the St. Pierre park estate. The main road was then altered to accommodate a bridge over the motorway and the access to Hayes Gate moved.
It is believed that the local Farmer’s Club held their first ploughing match at Hayes Gate. An extract from the local newspaper in Oct 1871: “The annual gathering of this old-established Society was held on Tuesday last, when the ploughing matches took place on land in the occupation of Mr. C. T. Chandler, the Hayes-gate Farm, near Chepstow Upwards of fifty ploughs appeared in the field, to compete for the twenty prizes offered by the Society for the best ploughing in seven different classes“
Hayes Gate still starts as a turning off the A48 but runs parallel to it for a short distance before a 90o turn to pick up the original route.
Note: Beware of potential uneven ground and holes near the cache location
This is the final cache (excluding the bonus!) in the short series of caches around the wider parish of Mathern and takes in the walking route of my regular exercise during the Covid-19 lockdown so should take no longer than an hour on foot even with caches to find! The series is designed as a walking route (or on bike) in an anti-clockwise direction from the old coaching inn at Pwllmeyric [GC8RAK7] towards Willis Hill and back down via Hayes Gate (this cache!).
For the Mathern Parish Mystery Bonus then at the cache location divide the lower number by the top number and then subtract that from the top number = I