Viroconium II Multi-Cache
gregory371: I understand that parts of the cache are now missing. I am regrettably unable to visit the site for now, so am closing the cache, in the hope that this gives someone the opportunity to start a new one here.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A short multi cache placed in memory of this now archived cache
Viroconium which has long
deserved replacing. Final cache is about 8 minutes walk from the
first location or a very short drive.
There is ample parking which you will pass on the way to stage
one.
Please note the car park shuts at 5pm.
There is no need to enter the Roman site, although it is well worth
spending the money for a full tour.
Stage one offers a great view of the main site and also a glimpse
at part of the site that is sometimes missed by the paying
customer.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Wroxeter Roman city originally covered an area of over 78 hectares
and was enclosed by an earthen bank, parts of which remain.
It was known to its inhabitants as Viroconium Cornoviorum, Wroxeter
being the name given to it in later times, and at its zenith it was
the fourth largest city in Roman Britain.
Only a small area is open to the public. The Romans moved into the
area in AD47, four years after the invasion.They subdued the local
tribe,the Cornovii, and established a legionary fortress in
AD58.
They were attracted to the site because a ford crossed the River
Severn at this point. On the other side of the river lay the major
routes into Central and North Wales,where there were valuable
mineral resources of silver, lead and iron. Tribes hostile to Rome
inhabited those regions, so Viroconium was important strategically
as a barrier to invasion from unconquered Wales. The land around
Viroconium was fertile and was extensively farmed by the
Cornovii.
They had numerous hillforts, which varied between multi-ditched
strongholds, like those at Old Oswestry and the Wrekin, to small
enclosures accommodating no more than a few families. The
stationing of around 6,000 men and several hundred horses, all
needing provisions, attracted both local population, with food and
services to sell, and also traders. A settlement grew up to which
some of the legionaries retired, creating a mix of native and Roman
civilians.
In AD86 the legionary force left for the new fort at Chester,
pulling down the walls of the fortress before they went. Despite
this, much of the fortress was reused to become the focus of the
civilian population. The street plan, and even some of the fortress
buildings remained in use, and new buildings of timber with clay
walls were erected. Many of the traders and retired soldiers
decided to stay on, and by the second century Viroconium was the
tribal capital of the area.
A civilian capital was a vital part of the Roman administration of
a province. With a huge area to control, the Romans had to devolve
much of the local government onto the tribes or cities
themselves.
Now the cache!
Go to the co ordinates given at the top of the screen
How many columns are there ? (include the half buried one) this
=
A____ B____
What is the number of Iron age Hill forts visible on a clear day ?
this =
C____ D____
Cache is located at N 52 40.D____(D+C+A____)(B+A+D____)
N 52 40.____ ____ ____
W 002 38. (C+D____)(B-C____)(B-D____)
W 002 38.____ ____ ____
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre fgbarf yvsg gur gbc barf abg gur barf ba gur fvqr naq eruvqr prershyyl naq pbzcyrgryl.