Seventeen Arches Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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SEVENTEEN ARCHES
The cache site can be approached from both Bexhill/St Leonards and Crowhurst. Care will need to be taken in the winter months if starting at Crowhurst as the marsh can flood in periods of heavy rain.
The cache is placed close to the southern end of the old Crowhurst Viaduct. It was built by the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway between 1897 - 1902, carrying the Crowhurst-Bexhill West line over Crowhurst Marsh consisting of 17 arches. It was left isolated when the line was closed in 1964, and the track removed. Eight of the seventeen arches were blown up on May 23rd 1969, the remaining structure being demolished on June 12th 1969.
The viaduct was a noteworthy structure of some interest, particularly on account of its massive foundations. Each 48ft pier was built on a concrete block 52 by 32 feet, sunk to an average depth of 30 feet. Three hundred navvies worked with spades and shovels to build the foundations and as many bricklayers and their labourers were employed on building. The Viaduct was 417 yards long and 9,000,000 bricks were used in its construction at a cost of £244,000, a significant amount of money at the turn of the century.
Rumour has it that Gold Sovereigns were place on each of the pier foundations before the brickwork commenced.
Well you might not strike gold but you should be able to find the cache. (Which is a small brown ammo box.)
The initial contents of the cache include:
Log book, pencil & pen, Miss Sunshine travel bug, batteries, glue stick, pens, flower seeds, golf sundries – golf ball. Marker & pitch repairer, calculator, mini beanie toys, children’s nail varnish, stencil, Hill walker’s survival guide.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur pnpur vf cynprq ba gur byq envyjnl phggvat (gbjneqf Orkuvyy/Fvqyrl) whfg bs gur 1066 Pbhagel Jnyx (30 – 35) cnprf va gur ebbgf bs n sna funcrq gerr jvgu svir gehaxf ba gur “qbjafvqr” bs gur genpxorq).