The 1st cache latitude co-ordinates
are: N51.38.014
(These were originally hidden in Merrymeade House
but this is now being renovated)
To get the longitude coordinates for the
1st cache you need to visit St Mary’s
Churchyard, in Shenfield.
The visitors' car park is at: N 51 37.890 E 000
19.077
This church dates back 750 years and is so old it’s first
major restoration was in the 15th century, when the porch was added
and the tower and spire were built. If it is open it’s worth
a look inside. The font dates back to 1390, and one of the carvings
on it is of a Green Man, with leaves instead of hair, which
possibly shows how the Church adopted and incorporated pagan
imagery many years ago. The porch dates from around 1500.
At one time all the weddings in the parish were held in the porch
(at that time only the bride, groom, priest and a witness were
present so there was plenty of room in the porch! Later, a law was
passed insisting weddings take place inside the church), and it is
believed that St Mary’s School also started life here. There
is a Tudor doorway in the church dating from 1531 and giving a
private entrance to the Lord of the Manor who lived in the Hall
just north of the church. The timber arcade inside the church dates
mostly from the 15th century, with 5 columns each hewn from a whole
tree trunk, which is a feature almost unique in this country. The
only tomb memorial in the church is for Elizabeth Robinson, the
daughter of a staunch Puritan and the wife of a keen Royalist, who
died in childbirth in 1652, aged just 16. One of the church bells
(not normally accessible by members of the public) was cast by
Thomas Bartlet in 1626; another by Thomas Grey in 1637.
The coordinates you need are in the graveyard in front
of the church.
We give you the zeros – you just need to find the other
numbers.
So: E 000 AB.C0D
BD = the age of John Isaac Cardazo
CA = the age of Marjorie Kathleen Love
This is obviously a sacred space; the church authorities
don’t mind people looking around (and to the rear of the
church is an interesting older area being intentionally left as a
conservation area – perhaps as a sort of homage to the Green
Man carved on the font over 600 years ago) but of course please be
respectful.
The actual cache is on the edge of Hall Wood, an area of ancient
woodland, full of bluebells, birds, squirrels and foxes. You are
looking for a small Tupperware box, about 4" x 5". This cache
originally contained: a Groundspeak compass zipper pull, playing
cards, some hairclips, a sewing kit & other stuff.
The 1st cache contains the reference for the 2nd and final cache.
This is a large box sited on a poorly marked Public Footpath
between Shenfield and Doddinghurst. It originally contained a
StarTrek Voyager CD game, a whistle/torch/compass, a lightstick, a
dragons egg, a wooden game, some green tea, and other goodies. It
also contained a Travel Bug: one of the three magical "Bu Shi Ying
Bi" divination coins! If you currently have one of these coins in
your possession, think carefully, beware the power of the coins -
they are already calling you.
Remember: no need to be either Quick or Dead!