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Hidden History - A Haul of Halls (Solihull) Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

geohatter: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

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Regards

Paul
Geohatter
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Hidden : 5/15/2005
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

A gentle walk of around 3km with only a few hundred metres being on (quiet) public roads, visiting some of Solihull's black-and-white, Tudor halls. By visiting the more distant Bogay Hall by car, the walk can be reduced to under 1km (and the terrain reduced to **).

The co-ordinates above are for a good place to park. There is space for a few of cars here at the end of Ravenshaw Lane, approached from Hampton Lane.

Regrettably, only glimpses of the buildings can be seen from almost all angles. Bogay Hall would be easily visible from Henwood Lane except for the thick hedges along most of its frontage. Berry Hall can best be seen across the field from under the large trees on Ravenshaw Lane, not far south of the junction with Berry Hall Lane. The only view I found of Ravenshaw Hall was by climbing the side of the bridge over the river Blythe and peering over the fence!

The halls are all occupied and in private ownership, so please try to be unobtrusive.

Bogay Hall (N52°24.997' W001°44.305') appears to have had a very quiet history, with the only notable fact being that it was sold in 1965 for £11,800.
How many downpipes are there on the side of the building by the road?
Answer A

Berry Hall (N52°24.835' W001°45.075') is a 15th century moated house and appears to have been built for the de Buri family. It was the seat of the Waring family from 1505 to 1671. New Berry Hall, about 200m further west along the footpath, was built around 1870-1880 for Joseph Gillott, a Birmingham pen-maker, and was last occupied in 1957. Nothing now remains of it except the delapidated and overgrown ruins of its walled garden.
How many arched windows are visible on the hall from the footpath?
Answer B

Ravenshaw Hall (N52°24.672' W001°44.809') was built in the 15th or 16th century and was also part of the Gillott estate until auctioned off in 1904. Around 120m south of Ravenshaw Hall is a secluded (but private) nature reserve, carpeted with bluebells during spring.
How many crosses are on the main gate to the hall?
Answer C

The final cache is at N52° 24.(A+B+1)(C)2' W001°44.(A+B+C)(A+B+3)5'

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre gur fbhgurea raq bs gur oevqtr.

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)