|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
::
[ SVVS TREASURE
HUNT - April 2023
] ::
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
The
SVVS Treasure Hunt combines the competitive SVVS Members of the Treasure
Hunt with the non-competitive SVVS Members out for a drink at the regular
April pub meet at the Black Horse in Hookwood. The SVVS Hunt is not really
a motoring competition. It is more of a case of a leisurely drive to a
specified location, parking, and walking around to find the answers to
clues defined on the questionnaire. The
story unfolds BELOW: |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW : Lowfield Heath is adjacent to the southern boundary of Gatwick Airport and is only metres from the main east-west runway. Not surprisingly it is referred to as one of the 'abandoned communities" of Britain. Formerly known as Lovel Heath it was a farming community until a toll road was built between Reigate and Crawley in 1770, which became the A 23 Brighton Road. This was widened and a community grew up on the crossroads servicing the passing Brighton Stagecoaches with the building of an inn and a blacksmith. The church, St Michael & All Angels, was built in 1868. Subsequently a railway was built to Brighton with a station at Gatwick Park to serve local horseracing track. This reduced the horse & coach traffic considerably but motor traffic began to build up. Local businesses proliferated, as did local schools, clubs and associations. However, the end of Lowfield Heath came as a result of the development of Gatwick airport in the 1920s. Initially the area housed a sporting aero club but in 1933 commercial flights commenced and in 1936 the renowned Beehive circular terminal was constructed. During the War it was known as RAF Gatwick. In 1950 Gatwick Racecourse and area was designated by the government as London's second airport which eventually much reduced the local populus due to the constant noise from the aircraft. | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW : The next set of questions was way down the Crawley bypass at the Horsham turnoff at the Squires Garden Centre. This is one of 14 centres in the south started in 1935 by a Head Groundsman of the Police Orphanage in Twickenham having been made redundant and starting up his own landscaping business. The Treasure Hunt questions for this venue, bearing in mind a megashop with innumerable thousands of items were, “how much is the big dog?” (turns out £660), “A family business since?” (two answers depending where found on the site) and “What animal licence rating?” (Eventually found on the window of the Aquarium saying a top, 5.) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW : Yet further down the Crawley Bypass in the middle of the Tilgate Roundabout is massive metal football announcing that this is the turnoff for the Crawley Football Club Stadium. The club was founded 1896, changed the name a couple of times, joined and left innumerable leagues before dispanding 1935. Reformed few years later and turned semi-professional 1962, turning fully professional 2005, resulting in administration a year later. Having survived, they prospered and rose in the leagues. The Broadfield Stadium where we were to look for clues, was built in 1997 and subsequently upgraded to meet the various league requirements, one such that it must have at least 5,000 seats. One of the questions was ”How many turnstiles” (seems 12), “When is club shop open on matchdays?” (10am to kickoff). | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW : Next stop on our map was Worth Church so we did the motorway skit round Crawley to find the old Worth Church hidden amongst a maze of roads in a modernish housing estate. St Nichols Church is one of the oldest churches in England and has been in use for over 1000 years, some bits constructed in 950 AD. Built in middle of a hunting forest and was probably used for prayer by the rich and noble hunters. Subsequently gifted by Willian the Conqueror to his son and has his coat of arms on one of the stained windows. Quiz questions here included “When was the Lych gate restored?” (17 century gate restored 1956) and “Who died on Valentines day 1878? (in a graveyard with thousands of graves??). | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW : Messers Chairman and President then found out that, with two venues yet to visit, we should already have been back at the Black Horse and be having lunch, half an hour away. Worth Park is nothing to do with the famous Worth Abbey which is a few miles away. This is part of the Forrest Of Worth purchased by Francis Montefiore in 1850, where a house and stables were subsequently built among five levels of gardens. The estate is now in need of substantial restoration. One of the Quiz Questions was “Artificial Rocks were made of? (Pulhamite; patented anthropic rock material invented by James Pulham). | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW : The last port of call which we were not able to make was the Beehive. As previously mentioned, Gatwick Airport grew on land of Lowfield Heath and Gatwick Racecourse where London’s second airport was designated. Initially the area housed a sporting aero club but in 1933 commercial flights commenced and in 1936 the renowned Beehive circular terminal was constructed. The Beehive is the original terminal building at Gatwick Airport, built to a patented circular design. It was connected by express train to London Victoria. It became obsolete in the 1950s as the airport expanded and the A23 was diverted by the new Gatwick bypass. The local railway station was closed and a brand new Gatwick terminal was built with an integral railway station. The Beehive was now cut off from the complex by the A23 bypass and remained a Helicopter Terminal for some years. It is now an office complex. | ||
 |
||
|
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Once Anne Tester had done all the calculations, and Chas Moody had thanked the Testers, - Matt Tester presented the SVVS Chairman's Cup |
|
 |
 |
|
The actual winners of the 2023
Treasure Hunt were non SVVS members |
The Clarkes graciously allowed the
Cup to go the winning SVVS Member |
|
|
