About Village Sign Caches
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!
More information and statistics can be found at the Village Signs Website
Cobham Village Sign
The Cobham village sign was unveiled on Friday 5th May 2017, sited next to the River Mole at the southern end of the village shopping centre. The sign was commisioned by the Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust and made by Black Forge Art of Wittersham, Kent. This village sign depicts the Cobham Mill which is within sight of the sign (at the published coordinates). The earliest known written reference to a mill on the present site is dated 1534, the current mill was completed in c.1822. Day to day care and maintenance of the mill is the responsibility of the Cobham Mill Preservation Trust. The mill is free to visit and is open on the second Sunday of the month between April and October.
To find this cache you'll need to solve a field puzzle.
Start at the posted coordinates.
There seems to be a battle waging near to the sign. Look closely and you'll find a damsel stuck between a dragon and her king.
Find the number of brave soldiers the king sent before him to rescue the damsel.
Call that number B.
The dragon, like all dragons, is very fond of treasure and covets one of the king's jewels, which is why he has kidnapped the damsel.
Find the jewel (the king left it lying around here somewhere). Near to the jewel a date is recorded.
Call that date D. Sum the digits of D and call the resulting number S.
The cache can be found at:
N51 19.XXX W000 24.YYY
where XXX=D/B + 10S +2B, and YYY=(2B-1)*(S*S)+B
You can check your final coordinates (and get a spoiler photo) here:
There are certificates for the first ten finders. Go get 'em!
The cache contains a specially commissioned stamp which is NOT a swap. By all means take an impression but please DO NOT REMOVE THE STAMP FROM THE CACHE.
If anybody would like to expand the Village Sign Series, please do. I would ask that you let Smokeypugs know first at www.villagesignseries.co.uk so they can keep track of the Village Sign numbers and names to avoid duplication.