This is a two-stage multi-cache, resulting in a nano container at a busy location, so stealth and your own writing implement will be required. The cache is accessible 24hrs a day, although be prepared to negotiate the revellers on a Friday or Saturday night!
This cache takes you to the exact location of a famous elopement. Once upon a time, a young Geordie lass called Bessy Surtees was betrothed by her father to marry a man of his choosing, a much older man who Bessy didn’t fancy much at all. She was in love with a poor local lad called John Scott, who her father deemed beneath her family’s social status, and he wouldn’t allow her to have anything to do with him. But, instead of succumbing to her fate, Bessy took matters into her own hands.
One night, the 18th of November 1772, she climbed out of her window, down a ladder, and into the arms of her beloved. The pair sped away into the night, travelling across the border into Scotland where they were married. This tale has a final twist though – not only did Bessy escape her father and her fate to marry the man of her dreams, but the lad she loved as a pauper ended up as none other than the first Lord Eldon and the Lord Chancellor of England. So not a bad choice after all then...
The building that Bessy climbed out of happens to be beautifully preserved, and is in fact home to the English Heritage North East headquarters. It’s a very fine example of Jacobean workmanship, complete with requisite black and white timbers. There’s a small museum inside the house which is free and worth a quick visit (open weekdays 10am-4pm).
The listed co-ordinates take you to the location of Bessy's daring jump. From the plaque at this location, take the number of angels to be X and the number of black crosses as Y. The cache can be found nearby at N 54° 58.1(X+4)4 W 001° 36.(Y-5)28.