This cache belongs to the Village Sign Series, a series of caches based on ornate signs that depict the heritage, history and culture of the villages that put them up (generally on the village green!).
The signs can be made of different materials from fibreglass to wood, from forged steel to stone. They can depict anything from local industry to historical events. The tradition probably started in Norfolk or Suffolk and has now spread across most of the country so we thought we would base a series on them!
Cardington is a pretty village to the south-east of Bedford with a population of around 300.
Though not in the village itself, Cardington's most famous features are the two large airship hangers at RAF Cardington which dominate the skyline. These hangars were built to house the R100 and R101 and if it was not for the loss of the R101 in France, there may have been a third hangar built. It was the crash of the R101 that ended major airship production at Cardington. The hangars have recently been renovated as part of an agreement with developers of New Cardington. At the time of writing this listing One Direction were using one of the hangars - but don't let that put you off finding the cache! To find the cache, some research and exploration will be required (as will an unnecessarily complicated calculation!) The churchyard is on the opposite side of the road to the church. Just inside the church yard entrance, N52 07.173 W000 24.980, is the memorial to those who lost their lives when the R101 airship crashed.
The village sign includes an airship, so...
Research time#1 At the time of its construction, the R101 was world's largest flying craft at ABC feet in length. There are some contradictory answers on the Web, so checksum for ABC = 11. It made its maiden flight on DE October 1929.
Exploring time #1 You will need to visit the churchyard (on the opposite side of the road to the church) to see the memorial to those who lost their lives on the R101; R101 Crashed:- 05/10/1FGH; JK Officers and men perished; L urns around the base of the memorial.
The village sign includes the church, so...
Research time#2 The church is a Grade 2 listed building. It was listed on MN July 19PQ and its English Heritage Building ID is 366RS
Exploring time #2 You will need to visit the Church of St Mary the Virgin. Around its western door are TU smaller arches and V larger ones.
The village sign includes a phone box, so...
Exploring time #3 Inside you will find a phone number (but no phone). The penultimate digit is W.
You can now find the final cache (a small tube) at:
North 52° 0(E+G).(L+U-P)(W+H-B-2)(A+T-Q-3) West 000° 2(V-C-D).(J-N+S)(F-K+3)(L-R-M+7)
Happy caching!
Special thaks to Smokeypugs for allowing me to have #101 for this cache to fit in with the theme
About Village Sign Caches
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This cache belongs to the Village Sign Series, a series of caches based on ornate signs that depict the heritage, history and culture of the villages that put them up (generally on the village green!).
The signs can be made of different materials from fibreglass to wood, from forged steel to stone. They can depict anything from local industry to historical events. The tradition probably started in Norfolk or Suffolk and has now spread across most of the country so we thought we would base a series on them!
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More information, bookmarks and statistics can be found at the Village Signs Website
If anybody would like to expand the Village Sign Series, please do.
I would ask that you request a number for your cache first at www.villagesignseries.co.uk
so we can keep track of the Village Sign numbers and names to avoid duplication.
Congratulations to gogadget on being First To Find.