This cache was originally placed by Cache U Nutter
A simple cache to find ,my first and therefore of historic interest.
For safety reasons you do not need to look on the road side.
Parking (for a few minutes only) in Church hall car park, or on the nearby road. Watch for parking charges
Most notable aspect of the imposing church oposite is the fact that fellow cachers Sue and Paul (Calligmathy) were married here over 26 years ago! thanks for bringing this to my attention!!!
Around 1150, the de Warrennes ordered that a new town be constructed below the castle. The new town, now Reigate replaced a settlement known as Churchfelle (cherchefelle) sited adjacent to the cache. Churchfelle is now a town house but was once a watering hole known as the retreat. The adjacent school is a feeder for the Grammar school which my son attended. He would be horified if he knew I had placed a nearby cache ! The large house was also formerly a police station in the inter war years and closed only in the 1960's (my thanks to Laurie Hockley who contacted me having remembered it back then).
St Marys church is a worthwhile visit if you wish to see the final resting place of Lord Howard of Effingham a friend of Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, an immortal group of men that gave England the 'Sceptre of the sea' The church contains Britains oldest lending library which contains in excess of 2000 books and manuscripts.
The Cranston library was named after the vicar at the time and is open to the public only once a year. Also contained in the library are the old locks of the door, old fragments of glass and a 15 inch stone coffin made for a child.
The real gem however is the prayer book of Lord Howard of Effingham thought to date back to 1566 which was before the Spanish Armarda. The grave yard opposite contains the remains of [amongst 20,000 others] some famous Surrey artists Samuel Palmer - a landscape painter George Hooper - a landscape painter John Linnel - a landscape painter and portraitist.