Scampton History Trail Multi-cache
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Size: 
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A multi around the village of Scampton. The final stage is a small sandwich box. Can also be done as an Ethercache and there may be some Munzees to be collected on the way round.
* * * U P D A T E D * * * This multicache will take you on a circular 3 mile walk around the village of Scampton and the countryside to the north, exploring some of the local history. It is mostly along easy footpaths, farm tracks and pavements, but some sections can be muddy in wet weather. Note that there are short sections of a busy main road so keep children under close supervision at all times. Also note that whilst doing this cache you should be able to take in Song for Guy (GC1BCD7) which will help fill in some more of our local history. Some stealth will be required because of small muggles at particular times of day, and the cache is placed on private land with permission, but within easy reach from the pavement. The above co-ordinates are not for the cache itself but for parking. To complete this cache as an Ethercache you will need the appropriate free App (iPhone/Android). Start at the parking co-ordinates. Some stages have poor signal strength in which case revert to conventional caching as the numbers to be collected are the same. The walk begins at the designated parking co-ordinates (please keep farm entrances clear). If unable to park here there is plenty of alternative parking nearby. Currently the parking area may be restricted due to the adjacent building site. Follow the direction to the first clue past the local award-winning Inn where excellent food and refreshments may be obtained later. They also brew an excellent ale. This establishment is also designated a museum to the Dambusters squadron and there is a small collection of memorabilia inside. Almost opposite there is now an excellent bakery in The Granary (Dave's Daily Bread). Details are on Facebook. At the first co-ordinates (N53.18.073 W000.34.253) note the number of vertical boards now boarding up the window of the Wayside Pottery (=A). Sadly neglected for a long time, the pottery no longer fulfils its original use and the original signage has now been removed. Continue on up the road past the Old Bakery towards the next waypoint (N53.18.055 W000.34.049). If you were to continue along the main road you would very shortly pass the site of Scampton Windmill which was at the top of the rise. A little further along this road is the site of an exceptional Roman villa. This was first discovered in 1795, subsequently excavated and now recovered for long-term protection. The location near to Ermine Street, and adjacent to the ‘Old Street’ or Tillbridge lane linking the main road to a Roman crossing of the river Trent was undoubtedly strategically important. Close to the villa is the site of St Pancras Well, also the former site of a chapel and a post-Roman burial site. At the waypoint Stanton Ductile will reveal a D-number (=B). Taking the cul-de-sac, which is the remnant of an older road, pass through a small wood to a field and keeping to the field boundary you will see the chain-link fence ahead marking the edge of Scampton Airbase, the original home to the Dambusters squadron and more recently the Red Arrows RAF aerobatic team. It may be worthwhile visiting their website http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/ to find out their current movements. Head towards the next waypoint (N53.18.202 W000.33.461) and you will join the old Middle Street, once the Anglo-Saxon main road running parallel to Ermine Street, now diverted through the villages to make way for the airbase when it was enlarged to provide facilities for the Vulcan Bomber fleet in the 1950’s and 60’s. From this road there are excellent views across the Trent Valley, and the two remaining of the many power stations scattered along the river can be clearly seen. Take note of the nearby prohibition sign. Count the number of letters in the first word (=C). (N.B. this clue has been changed from the original as the warning sign has gone. The co-ords might be a little out, but not by much. Thanks to Greglinz for letting us know) The next waypoint (N53.18.507 W000.33.775) marks one of the best vantage points for observing the Red Arrows when they are practising. An accidental portal equals D. From here you can also see the hangars of the Hawker Hunter Association who restore and operate a number of cold war jets. Several of their planes may be visible including a Phantom F-9, Blackburn Buccaneer and a Sukhoi Fitter alongside a few Hunters now only suitable for scrap. Hangar tours are available but only by prior invitation. In the hangars are a number of fully functional Hunters as well as some undergoing rebuild and if very lucky you could see one perform. The lane going down the hill towards the tiny village of Aisthorpe once also continued to the top of the rise to a fine house long since swallowed up by the merger of Brattleby and Scampton airfields. This lane will take you past Song for Guy (GC1BCD7). The next co-ordinates (N53.18.506 W000.34.627) should take you back to the main road. Speedily find a 4-digit number with no digits the same (=E). Now back on the main road return to Scampton village, but take the line of the original country lane, not the new faster road. The next waypoint (N53.18.308 W000.34.616) will reveal another 4-digit number (=F). Having passed a Parsonage and then a well hidden Rectory, cross the new road and make a short diversion to the churchyard, which features many war graves. Inside the church of St John the Baptist there is a shrine to the RAF heroes of the Second World War and the RAF Squadrons. At N53.18.215 W000.34.695 make note of a ‘Rosy’ Squadron (=G). Note: currently the relevant plaque has been removed so some Internet research will help. Failing that note the year of death of Flight Sargent John Hannah VC to whom the rose garden is dedicated and subtract the first digit from the second, and the third from the fourth to give the two digit number (G). The road continues past the now overgrown and disused old driveway to Scampton Hall. The present Scampton Hall was rebuilt on the ruins of a much older building, the seat of the Bolles family. In the grounds there may still remain an old gateway from the reign of James I, together with a few ruined walls, said to mark all that is left of a magnificent mansion and gardens which fell into ruins on the death of Sir John Bolles in 1714. Unfortunately this is now all in private ownership and there is no public access. Head to what must have been the centre of the old village, with the old Methodist chapel (now a private house) marking the extent of the village to the west. At N53.18.118 W000.34.702 H is under fourteen. Here you rejoin High Street and heading to N53.18.125 W000.34.517 pass beside a paddock that has remained undeveloped throughout known history. Subtle undulations visible when the grass is short may well mark the location of a much older habitation. At this waypoint the CPRE left a plaque in year ‘I’. On the village green there is a nearby bench to sit on to work out the final co-ordinates. If it is wet take shelter at the new bus-stop constructed to commemorate the millennium and have a look at the designer graffiti. It was built partly out of Millennium fund money and part funded by businesses. The cache can be found at N53.1S.TUV W000.3W.XYZ where: S=A T= the first digit of B divided by 4 U=half of C V=D+5 W=3rd digit of E divided by first digit of E X=2nd digit of F Y=First digit of G minus second digit of G Z=H plus the first and last digits of I N.B. 1. There is no need to leave the footpath to reach the cache. 2. EXTREME stealth is needed Good luck!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ernpu oruvaq naq lrj’yy svaq vg