St. Nicholas
Another contribution to this series, started by sadexploration, is St. Nicholas, Compton.
It is thought that the site of St Nicholas Church pre- dates Saxon times, has Saxon origins and is mentioned in the ' Doomesday Book'.
Compton was one of the villages that the pilgrims travelled through on their way to Canterbury. During this period ( 11th century) the roof would have been thatched, the floor probably earth and candle light would have been the only source of heat / light. This sounds rather daunting until we remember that the houses of the same period were wooden huts and were probably equally as cold and austere.
The square tower dates from Norman times and the clock from 1688. In 1929 a square cell was discovered in the North wall, which would have been home to an ' Anchorite or Hermit'. An Anchorite or Anchoress would have voluntarily lived within this confined space, from the date of their incarcaration to their death, being fed via a small gap and eventually being buried (often underneath the cell itself). The Anchorite spent most of their life in prayer and became a valuable source of spiritual guidance for villagers.
A short multi-cache. The co-ords given take you to the church. Once there look around for the following information:
How many old fashion lamps on lampposts are up the pathway beyond the churchgates - make sure you check this carefully = A
Find the gift by the Fern Street Settlement in the year BCDE
The cache can be located at: N51 12. C(D-E-B)(A+B+B) W000 38.(D-E)A(C-D)
You will probably want to cross a fairly busy road en route to the final location. Please take care especially if you have children with you.
The cache has a log book only but no pen so please bring one with you.
If anybody would like to expand this series please do, I would just ask that you could let sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication