Erddig - The Cup & Saucer Traditional Cache
The_Westies: This location is proving the wrong one for a cache as it is repeatedly going missing. Therefore tool the decision to archive. Thanks to all who visited.
Erddig - The Cup & Saucer
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Welcome to our series of caches around the Erddig Estate, Wrexham. The property and gardens are owned and maintained by the National Trust.
Erddig house was originally completed in 1687. It was designed by Thomas Webb and built by Joshua Edisbury, High Sheriff of Denbighshire. In 1718 the house was sold to John Mellor, Master of the Chancery. The enlarged house was later passed on to Simon Yorke, his nephew, upon John’s death. The house stayed in the Yorke family for 240 years until the last Squire of Erddig, Phillip Yorke, gave it to the National Trust in 1973. The Yorke family held an unusually close relationship with their servants over the years. Today’s visitor can see many of the outbuildings, and family rooms with a huge array of equipment and items from the Yorke collection.
The Grade I listed walled gardens were landscaped by William Eames in the late 1700s and are renowned as one of the most important surviving 18th century gardens in the UK. Today it is home to the National Ivy Collection and boasts a yew walk and parterre. Near the entrance you can see some examples of the espaliered fruit trees. The property has many ancient and rare apples, pears, plums and apricots.
This group of caches will take you on some of the 13 miles of footpaths around the parkland areas. We frequently visited here during our years at Wrexham walking the dogs and enjoying some extremely pleasant days. Cycling is also welcome in the parkland however not all of the caches are accessible on this mode of transport.
Erdigg has also recently become the home to the 4 horses making up the North Wales Police mounted unit.
There are a few places to park around the area. The 2 spots we’ve used are located at N53.02.253 W003.00.443 and N53.01.590 W003.00.268. If using the later parking spot by the main hall please take note of the closing time. We reckon it’ll take 2 – 2.5 hours to locate the caches.
Much of the area can get muddy particularly after rain so wellies / boots recommended.
This cache is located close to the hydraulic ram and cylindrical cascade known as the “Cup and Saucer”. The ram, made by John Blake Ltd of Accrington, was installed in 1899 and used the power of the water, Black Brook, to work a pump to draw 10,000 gallons per day of pure spring water up 90 ft to storage cisterns in the roof of the house. Was made by John Blake Ltd of Accrington. The distinctive thud of the mechanism became known as the “heart of Erddig”. The water is still used today to power the fountains in the garden.
The Cup and Saucer cascade was designed by William Emes in 1775. The brook (named black brook due to its origins in the coal mines, gathers in the circular basin, falling over the central weir and exiting through a tunnel a few yards away. It was designed to help prevent erosion by lowering the brook quickly.
Eames designed the unusual 'Cup and Saucer Waterfall' (1774), which can be found in the grounds. The 'cup' being a hole in the middle of a large disc - the 'saucer' - into which a flowing stream disappears creating an internal cylindrical waterfall. The stream emerges a few yards away under a bridge-like arch.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU SIGN THE LOGBOOK WHEN YOU FIND THIS CACHE. WE WILL DELETE ANY LOGS WHERE THIS REQUIREMENT HAS NOT BEEN MET AS IT IS THE PROOF THAT YOU HAVE FOUND IT.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gnxr n frng naq ernpu haqre. Irel ebpxl pnpur.