GCYF91 The Unfortunate Street Names Set: 1 (Pestilence) (Traditional Cache) in West Midlands, United Kingdom created by mumbo jumbo

This cache has been archived.

mumbo jumbo: Thanks to all who've visited over the ten years this series has been up and running. Perhaps someone else can replicate with something similar?

GCYF91 ▼

A cache by mumbo jumbo Message this owner

Hidden : 9/23/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This drive-by series celebrates the seemingly quirky names we Brits have given to some of our streets and roads. It involves six caches plus a bonus cache in which you will (among other things) find a book on British place names. Four of them are micros; the rest are Tupperware of varying sizes with the usual goodies.

This set is for the dedicated cacher as the caches are not particularly close together. It will involve a fair amount of driving (or cycling). That said, the whole set has been done in 3 hours (well done TreasureTrailers!!).

The bonus cache co-ordinates are N52 AB.C18 W001 DE.F81. The values of the letters A - F are found in the logbook or Geocaching notice of caches 1 - 6. I had planned to call the set “A Series of Unfortunate Street Names – Cache the First / Second / Third” etc but this style is too long. The only reason I mention this is that all of the logbooks / Geocaching notices show this style as the cache name. I’ll update them as the logbooks get filled up.

Where possible, I have included information about the reason why a road is named as it is.

The other caches in the series are:

2 Dogpool
3 Poverty
4 Coldbath
5 Grimpits
6 World's End
The Bonus

There are loads of books about place names and street names. There’s probably one for your area. In the meantime, and to whet your appetite, follow this link enter your postcode and enjoy the results.

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Pestilence Lane

The cache is a conventional lock ‘n lock box. Initial contents include a candle, a padlock, a pack of cards, a four colour biro and some colouring pencils as well as the logbook and pen. The logbook / Geocaching notice gives the value of A. Don’t forget to make a note of it! You can park a few metres from the cache.

A Google search brings up this:

“Half the population [of the mediaeval settlement now known as Alvechurch] died in the Black Death in the 14th century and local tradition has it that the bodies are buried on the outskirts of the village in Pestilence Lane. This may or may not be true but the story was taken very seriously when the M42 motorway was being planned. Test pits were dug in Pestilence Lane and the samples were checked for traces of contagious diseases. Nothing was found and the 'Hopwood Services' were built on the site in 1998.”

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp. Oynpx tngr. Uvatrq raq.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
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N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)