St James, Riddlesdown
Please note that the number of this CM has been changed from 526 to 527 at the request of sadex.
St James Church was constructed in 1915 and is of the basilica style with a short tower in the southeast corner, but the aisles are not defined as was customary, with the nave roof enclosing the whole. The church is stone clad with slate roofs.
The name Riddlesdown was first recorded in 1331 as Ridelesdoune and is believed to be mediaeval English 'riddeleah' - cleared woodland. It is also believed that the Down was once capped with Beech trees which are common on chalk because of the good drainage provided. Riddlesdown has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest by the Nature Conservancy Council.
The co-ordinates don’t take you to the church but to a memorial dedicated to Mary Finch who died saving her friend. She died on August AB CDEF age GH. Then walk down the footpath opposite the memorial to the church and look for the monk guarding the top of the steps in memory of George Wyndham Bates who lived and worked there. He died on JK November LMNO. The cache is less than a 10 minute walk from here.
Cache can be found at N51 19.(A+N+J) (N-C) (K-F) W00 06.(N-G) (K+N+E) (C+L)
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If anybody would like to expand this series please do. We would just ask that you contact sadexploration first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names and to avoid duplication.
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