The Quintessential Valley of the Unknown Watermill Traditional Geocache

There are earthwork remains of a retaining dam and evidence of a buried water mill site.The dam was built across the valley and is visible as a slight earthwork less than 2ft high, 25ft wide and 130 ft long beside the stream running SW to NE down the valley to join the sea at Benfleet Creek.The flat area was the site of the catchment water of the mill pond and was also the site of related buildings.The castle mill site was mentioned in a document of 1270 and would of been used as crop irrigation and the processing of agricultural produce from the fertile well drained sun trapping valley with it's own micro climate.

Was the extra strong flour milled here used for Edward III for his large white sliced breakfast farmhouse loaf ? I have in the past found a Hovis wrapper in the vicinity so this is obviously true.

I played in this valley as a child and have fond memories of thousands of sweet apple trees all in straight lines like soldiers marching down the south facing slopes.This is still my free larder; those apple trees are now replaced by large field mushrooms and juicy sun kissed blackberry laden bushes abundant in this beautiful valley.

A WORD OF ADVICE
At certain times of the year cattle graze these pastures don't worry they are VERY friendly. If you need them to move either blow softly up their nose or whisper" Horse Radish in their ear". If this fails roll up your right sleeve and put a rubber glove on they will then disperse extremely fast in several directions. DONT TRY THIS CHILDREN you must be over eighteen with a sense of adventure.

Free parking at Salvation Army Tea Rooms
N51 32.893 E 000 36.404

Please find my other nine caches all within half a mile :
i also have within a mile Jack The Tramp Of Dawes-Heath Woods and Thundersley church.

I also have five in the Southwold area of Suffolk all in beautiful places.

This is my walking area so if you see a tall good looking gentleman with nice hair and perfect physique and looks to die for walking with a rather curvaceous blond Lady, say "Hi Scarecrow Rog and Polly Styrene. FTF happileigh well done."