Church Micro 11059...Whippingham Multi-cache

The cache is not hidden at the posted coordinates, it is a short walk away
You are looking for a small clip lock box with room for a few small swappables and TBs

The church is open for visitors from Monday to Thursday between 10:00 and 16:00 April until the end of October. You do not need to enter the church to find this cache, but it is certainly worth visiting for a look around.

St. Mildred was an Anglo Saxon princess who became an abbess and died in ~AD700. St. Mildred's church in Whippingham is one of eight English churches dedicated to her.

The original church dates back to Saxon times, but all that remains of this early place of worship is a stone carving built into the west wall of the porch. The current building was rebuilt between 1804 and 1811. The church's most famous parishioner is Queen Victoria who purchased the nearby Osborne House in 1845 and who, along the rest of the royal family was known to walk to St. Mildred's for Sunday worship (weather permitting).

There are lots of interesting stories relating to the church but my favourite is of the son of the rector who apparently took a pot-shot with his catapult at two builders who were involved in further renovation of the church back in 1860; one of the builders received the shot to his back and when he turned around the boy was shocked to see it was Prince Albert! History does not record if Queen Victoria was amused or otherwise.

To find this cache, make your way to the published coordinates where you will find the war memorial.

Make your way to the second stage (Louis and Victoria) where you will find the grave of Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria, Queen Victoria's grandaughter.

Now make your way to the last stage (Uffa Fox) where you will find the grave of the famous yachtsman and boat designer, note the image of the airborne lifeboat designed by Uffa Fox.