Pentney Priory Per-ambulation Multi-Cache
spindlewood: We went to check out this cache after some worrying information from the last DNF cacher 'ViHRoS'. Afraid that we must report that the cache is buried beneath a large pile of bulldozed trees and logs, impossible and dangerous to continue trying to find and retrieve. We have decided to archive the cache, but are prepared to allow a find for 'ViHRoS', who found the cache location but, of course under the circumstances, was unable to retrieve the cache to sign the log.
Pentney Priory Per-ambulation
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This is a walk, on public footpaths, through part of the Nar valley; a total distance of 2.5mls. Starting at Pentney Abbey the route takes you across the river Nar onto the Nar Valley Way, where a pleasant easy ramble will take you as far as Shouldham Warren. During your journey you will be able to find two sets of clues and a micro cache, which will lead you to a final location where an ammo box cache has been secreted.
The owner has generously given his permission for parking at N52 40.849 E000 30.899, this is in the grass field some 100m NE of the gatehouse. On the approach to the parking co-ords, you may see a painted oil drum which indicates ‘No Entry, Staff and Deliveries Only’ (see photo).
We have been told by the Abbey owners that Geocachers can ignore this and proceed to the indicated parking co-ord.
Please do not park on grass triangle in front of gatehouse or on the roadway either side, as this is private. From this location the remains of the abbey gate house will be obvious as it is the only part left standing.
The Austin priory of Pentney was founded in the twelfth century by Robert De Vaux, who was put in charge of the Manor of Pentney by the Bigod family, another family who had supported William the Conqueror in 1066. (See ‘Who Nicked the Nar?).
From a small beginning Pentney Priory flourished, eventually establishing new groups locally and even as far away as Cumbria.
During 1381 the Black Death halved the community; however Pentney Priory continued to flourish and in 1492 it was said to be the most efficient in Norfolk.
The Priory was finally closed and all the Canons dispersed during the reign of Henry the VIII, due to the kings ‘hissy fit’ when the Pope refused him a royal divorce. It was finally left to the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell to reduce the Priory to a ruin; when they came up the Nar in flat bottomed boats and used the buildings for target practice! The stone then became a source of building material for the locals and can be seen to this day in many Pentney houses.
Looking at the gate house remains, determine the following:
‘A’ = the total number of gargoyles.
‘B’ = ‘A’ – ‘A.’
‘C’ = ‘A’ – 1.
‘D’ = number of stone surround window & loophole apertures on the North face.
‘E’ = number of shields in the spandrels above the main entrance arch.
A micro is located at N52 40. ABC E000 29.DDE containing further co-ords.
Walking in a westerly direction, follow the footpath sign to a wooden bridge over the river Nar. What appears to be old brick work supporting the wooden bridge is in fact all that remains of Pentney watermill which originally belonged to the Priory you have just left behind. The mill was working up to 1797 after which it became an inn, taking advantage of the opening up of Nar navigation to provide sustenance to the men and horses that operated the barges and lighters. Pause to reflect that at this very spot in 1858 one Thomas Valentine was found drowned in suspicious circumstances after an autocation with the inn’s landlord William Ranns.Look 50m downstream and you will see the remains of a ‘Stanch Gate’,(a sort of lock) a number of these were positioned along the Nar to make it navigable.
Continue onto the Nar Valley Way, to the location of the micro. Having found the micro, proceed to the enclosed specified location to search a feature for numerical information necessary to complete the final cache co-ords.
N52 40.??? E000 30.???
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
1. Cevbel tngr ubhfr: Ybbx nebhaq.
2. Zvpeb: Ybt gur ebbg.
3. Ahzrevpny vasb: Unaqrq gb lbh ba n cyngr.
4. Svany pnpur: Nyy 4f.
Treasures
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