How do you define the centre of Bristol?
Is it the geographical centre, which current city boundaries place at around N51 27.779 W2 34.315, near Easton...?
Is it the castle, the cathedral, or the seat of local government in City Hall?
Is it "The Centre", the area between Cascade Steps and the Cenotaph, artificially created by covering over the River Frome?
Or, is it really here?
Many of you might recognise that as Stourhead Gardens in Wiltshire - so why am I giving it a claim as the centre of Bristol? Well - that big vertical structure is the Bristol High Cross, which once stood at the headline coordinates of this cache, where the four main streets of the city (Broad Street, Wine Street, Corn Street, High Street) converged. It was constructed in 1373 and stood there until 1733, when it was considered an obstruction to traffic and even a danger to life by one local silversmith, who complained and had it taken down. It was re-erected on College Green three years later, where it stood until 1762, when again it was considered an obstruction (this time to promenading on the Green), and it was disassembled and moved to Stourhead where it stands today.
The first stage of this cache will require you to visit the original site of this cross - at the headline coordinates - where you will find a plaque with some information on:
AB = number of words (including dates but NOT figures like “Queen numbers”) around the outside of the plaque.
1
CDE = year the plaque was erected
F = number of lines in the main text box
Next, you will need to go to
N51 27.[D-B+A][D/E][C-F] W002 36.[C-B-A][F-B][A*B]
Here, you will find the top of a replica of the cross, which was constructed in the 1850s by John Thomas, who also worked on Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster. It was erected on College Green again with several statues missing as funds ran out, however these were added again later. It then became a nuisance again when developments were carried out, and so it was moved again.
Look at the statues of the monarchs round the cross:
G = number of letters in the first name of the monarch facing North
H = number of monarchs that have a moustache
J = number of sides on the base plinth
By now you should have all the information you need to know that the final cache is a short distance away at:
N51 27.[J-E][H+A][D-H] W002 36.[J-H-A][F-G][C-H]
Sadly due to proximity issues this is slightly further to walk than I'd originally anticipated, but within about 0.3 miles