GC1W1KJ Big Yellow Sun (Traditional Cache) in Eastern England, United Kingdom created by _TeamFitz

This cache has been archived.

CanUK_TeamFitz: Decided to replace this cache with a new challenge, as the point was always to bring cachers to see the tower. It's served it's purpose, but now as the sun goes down on our time in Watford, so too does it on this cache.

GC1W1KJ ▼

A cache by _TeamFitz_ (maintained by The Bongtwashes) Message this owner

Hidden : 7/17/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

You are looking for something slightly larger than a nano sited near to the Sun Printers Clock Tower (currently being renovated). Parking is available in the Premier Inn car park, or in Printers Avenue round the other side (free for 1 hour).

You will need to bring a pencil and tweasers.
We know that cachers are usually in a rush to get the log signed and move on but please take time to put the log back carefully, thus making it easier for the next cachers, thanks!

The clock tower was built in 1934 off Ascot Road and is almost all that is left of the former Sun Printing works that existed from 1906 to 2003 when most of the buildings were razed to develop what is now the Premier Inn Hotel, a nursing home, a nursery, a few shops and residential buildings.

100 Years of History

In 1906 Geo W. Jones Ltd, a printing company, constructed a new printing factory in Watford on Whippendell Road which was taken over in 1908 by Menpes Printing and Engraving Co.

In 1919 Menpes Printing and Engraving Co. was acquired by Sun Engraving Co. Ltd, and began printing The Draper’s Organizer, a letterpress weekly with four-colour illustrations. From 1929 to 1939 the Sun Engraving Co. printed - amongst others - pages for The Times Weekly Overseas Edition, Vogue, Woman’s Own, Good Gardening, Weekly Illustrated, Farmer’s Weekly, Mickey Mouse, Country Life, Mirror, Today and inserts and covers for Radio Times.

From 1939 th Sun Engraving Co. was then extensively involved in the war effort and printing propaganda materials. This included a daily German language newspaper and works by Polish Jew and anti-Nazi propagandist Arthur Szyk.

In 1949, the newly named Sun Printers Ltd obtained the contract to print Woman's Own, which was to become it's greatest revenue earner. By 1963 Sun Printers produced the first-ever colour weekend magazine supplement for a newspaper, The Sunday Times Colour Section.

Sun Printers suffered throughout the 1970's with trade union disputes and losing business to the competition, they took further hits during the 1980's losing Woman's Own and The Sunday Times suppliment. By 1988 they were left with a small workforce of 200 and were eventually bought out by Maxwell Holdings Group which renamed the company to BPCC Sun Ltd.

After the death of Robert Maxwell and the pensions scandal that ensued, by 1994 there was barely anything left of the former operations. Most of the buildings lay derelict. In 1999 BPC merged with another company to become Polstar Group who in 2003 closed down remaining operations and moved to Leeds, leaving the old site to be redeveloped into what you now see today.

The Sun Clock Tower remains as a monument and link to the past, standing opposite the buildings of the present, and in the middle of future redevelopment plans.