Pottering Around
version 1.1
The final cache has now been placed in a slightly different and more difficult position to access in an attempt to prevent retrashing. Long trousers are now advised for accessing the cache. All clues and their positions are the same but the calculations are slightly different.
N 53º 29.035’ W 1º 20.155’
The above co-ordinates are not the position of the final cache, they are for the starting point of the walk. The round trip is approximately 3 km or 2 miles. The walk is on reasonably flat if uneven ground. Some parts will be very muddy and slippery for some time after rainfall. No horses or bicycles allowed. Wheelchairs and pushchairs would be very difficult to impossible for large parts of the route. Please note that this walk involves crossing some very busy roads at one point.
Free parking is available for a few cars at the starting point above.
This is a cache walk through history that takes you around the area known as Pottery Pond and through Creighton Woods. It is also a tribute to my late Granddad who often used to take my brother and myself walking around this area when we were very young children. You will be pointed to features along the way and also pick up clues that will allow you to work out the co-ordinates for the cache. The cache contains a few old pictures of the area (please do not remove these from the cache) and you will be prompted to remember views of those scenes as they appear now for comparison. Perhaps a digital camera shot on your way round?
The Ponds were a part of the Rockingham Pottery made world famous by the Brameld family. You can learn more about the pottery on the walk.
Start
From the entrance to Pottery Pond at the starting co-ordinates, head towards the sign at N 53º 29.086’ W 1º 20.214’
Clue 1: How many workers were employed at the heights of the pottery?
The ponds for the pottery are just up the embankment behind the sign. Go and say hello to the ducks.
Go around to the kiln at N 53º 29.057’ W 1º 20.258’ This is the Waterloo kiln so named because it was built in the same year as the famous battle. Try to remember the look of it for later.
Clue 2: How many pieces were in the dessert service made for King William IV?
Clue 1 + Clue 2 + 158 = a three figure number which are A,B and C in that order
Go back to the starting co-ordinates and out onto the road. Look north towards the roundabout and try to remember the look of this area for later.
Head towards N 53º 29.083’ W 1º 19.996’ Look up the road to the left towards the Woodman pub and try to remember the look of this for later. On the middle of the roundabout is a sculpture which pays tribute to Swintons world famous Pottery past.
Cross the roads (please take care as they can be very busy at times and the traffic shows no mercy) and head to N 53º 29.041’ W 1º 19.834’ This area was once occupied by Swinton Common Colliery. The small obelisk marks the position of the mine shaft.
Clue 3: What is the number on the obelisk?
Head back towards the roundabout and go to the woods entrance at N 53º 29.033’ W 1º 19.984’ This is the Lych-Gates entrance into Creighton Woods. Try to remember the look of this for later.
Clue 4: What are the last two numbers of the year in which the Lych-Gates were presented? (19??)
Clue 3 + Clue 4 + 86 = a three figure number which are D,E and F in that order
You now have all the clues for the cache co-ordinates. Head through the gates, into the woods and follow the paths to the cache site.
Cache
The cache co-ordinates are worked out by substituting the numbers found and calculated on the walk as follows:
N 53º 28.ABC’ W 1º 19.DEF’
As you approach the cache you will see a ridge of high land running around this area. This is what is known as the Roman Ridge and Dyke that runs through large parts of Swinton and the surrounding area. Nobody seems to know who built it, when and for what purpose.
GPS reception in the woods and close to the cache may be poor, particularly during summertime, but the hint will get you there should you need it at all.
Long trousers are advised for accessing the cache to provide protection against the brambles in the area.
The cache is a camouflaged plastic clip lock box 21x15x10cm. Good luck!