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
Village Hall Series 1101 - West Ashling
About the hall
In 1920, the newly formed Women's Institute began fundraising to build their own hall. The first president, Mrs Padwick, lived in the Red House and gave part of her garden for building to begin early in 1923. At a cost of £900, the hall was opened in September of that same year and more money was raised to equip it.
In 1930 a cycle shed was built, and a path laid and then, in 1931, it was wired for electricity. The improvements continued the next year when a well was dug for piped water and a cesspit added. This latter addition meant that cloakrooms could be added. The plot abutting Heather Close was purchased at a later date.
During the war, the hall became HQ for the WI to issue ration books, billet evacuees and set up a canning and jam making centre. The hall caretaker and her husband were killed in a direct hit on their cottage in East Ashling. In 1947, with food rationing still on, money for repairs and new equipment was raised by selling Telfers meat pies (under government licence) at the rate of 600 a week for 5d each.
In 1964 a minor earthquake cracked the walls and damaged the roof so badly that the whole structure was declared unsafe. Unable to fund the huge sums to put the building back into a safe condition, the WI handed over the hall to the parish. With local government grants and more fundraising the hall opened again in 1967.
In recent years, plans were made for a new parish hall to be built in Funtington, however it was eventually decided that upgrading the existing hall was a more viable option. Currently, funds are being raised so that the upgrades can begin soon.
The cache
On the large east-facing wall, you will see two small grilles. Let ab be the number of holes in each.
On the same wall, let cd be the number of bricks immediately above the window.
The cache can then be found a short walk away at N50 51.((a+b)/2)c(b-c) W000 50.(b+(a/2))db.
Please note that tweezers may be needed to extract the log!