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'Spigot 'n Sluice - sleuth? Strewth!' Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

gst662: i am gutted to archive this cache as it an excellent cache, but the cache site is on private property and after speaking to the owner of the field i get the strong impression that she does not want people wandering in the field, i adopted this cache a few years ago and i think the previous owner did,nt seek permission to place the cache here, very sad

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Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The Millenium Dome it's not, but there's an interesting military relic to the north of Cambridge, on a site used by the Parliamentarians in 1643 to build a fort called 'The Bulwark' to defend this important road and river intersection and southern approach to Ely.


Not much to see on the ground from 1643 except some fairly extensive earthworks, but it's interesting the site still had strategic importance during the 2nd World War.

Google Earth gives a good view HERE (If you have Google Earth installed)

Close to the cache and visible from the road is a concrete anti-tank gun mounting from 1940 - (for a 'Blacker Bombard' or 'Spigot Mortar - not uncommon in the Cambridge area). What I find more interesting is the revolving armour-plated turret which I've discovered is an 'Allan-Williams Turret' - a one-man machine-gun or anti-aircraft gun position from circa 1942.

Parking is easy at the entrance to the Bridalway at TL 38907 74851 but farm vehicles sometimes use the entrance gate, so park well over to one side (or park across the road, next to the Sluice). The road itself is a very narrow and busy one - so do take care.

To the right of the entranceway you'll see a memorial to the crews of two aircraft that crashed in 1942. You'll need the aircraft number of the bomber (W ????) in order to decode the coords of the Turret.

a/c number =  "W  ? ? ? ?"
                  A B C D

N52 (A*3).(B/2)(D+2)C
E0 02.C29

( the cache itself is 15 or so metres south-south-west of here and it can't be seen - you'll have to feel for it! ).

Set off northish along the Bridalway which runs along the eastern side of the Old Bedford River - then you'll turn right at a broken wooden gate, which is, according to the OS map, also an oddly truncated bit of Bridal Way, just long enough to get you to where you need to go.

There was a little bit of mud, and a LOT of cow-splats on the day I went (watch out for bulls!).

Although a fairly easy walk of less than 0.2 mile its not one for baby-buggy pushers, especially when it's wet.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

fybcvat ubyybj gerr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)