Hamstead Marshall Park was once the site of a manor house. There is a gruesome local legend concerning Queen Elizabeth I's presence at the manor in Tudor times. In 1620 the estate was bought by the Craven family, and the first Earl of Craven rebuilt the house in a grand style, complete with a formal garden. Sadly the house burnt to the ground in 1718. All that now remains are the garden's elaborate gate posts, and a large depression where the house once stood.
1709 engraving by Johannes Kyp
You will need to print out this map. The co-ordinates given above are for the gate posts marked A. Locate each set of gate posts marked A, B, C, D and E on the map, and match them to one of these pictures to get the cache co-ordinates:
N 051º 2B.AC4
W 001º 2C.0E1
Hamstead Park is private property, so please respect their rules - no cycling, dogs must be on a lead, and keep to the public footpaths. The cache, a 1 litre lock'n'lock box, is not hidden within the park - but it's not far. A number of cachers have noted that the footpath across the field is difficult to follow, especially when crops are growing. Bear in mind that the gravel driveway by gatepost E is also a public footpath. Happy hunting!
