Unlock the mystery in free citywide quest and WIN up to £300

Unlock the mystery in free citywide quest and WIN up to £300

Inspired by real-life Chester city history, the Deva Codex: Boar Quest is the first of a trilogy of challenges, from 1st to 23rd August and everyone taking part has the chance to win up to £300 to spend in the city*.

The Deva Codex: Boar Quest takes around two hours to complete and people can take part any time between 9am and 5pm (Mondays to Saturdays) and 11am and 4pm (Sundays). By using a Deva Codex guide bag and the city’s streets, buildings and history, participants can uncover a series of clues. Only last week, two mystery sandstones were discovered in the grounds of Chester Cathedral and St John the Baptist’s Church in the city.

“Myth and mystery surrounds so much of Chester’s past and we’ve used that as our inspiration in creating something unique; a fun, free mystery quest that showcases the city, gets people active and encourages families and friends to share time together”, said Rita Waters, Chief Executive of the city’s Business Improvement District, CH1ChesterBID.

“Chester Unlocked offers so many people a great reason to come to Chester city centre time and again. Combine the Deva Codex challenge with our citywide museum trail Hoot’s Route and a wide range of events and activities and you have every reason to spend all day in the city this summer.”

Everything people need will be available in a free Deva Codex bag, available in outlets across the city, which provides visitors with the tools and clues needed to crack ten riddles and uncover the first mystery of the trilogy.

The bags will be available at ten locations, including Chester’s History and Heritage Centre (Bridge Street); Jigsaw (Bridge Street Row); Fat Face (Eastgate Street); Game (Foregate Street); Claire House (Frodsham Street); Grosvenor Museum (Grosvenor Street); Chester’s Visitor Information Centre (Northgate Street); Chester Cathedral (St Werburgh Street), St John The Baptist’s Church (Vicar’s Lane) and Corks Out (Watergate Street).

The inspiration behind Deva Codex is loosely based on renowned Chester-based archeologist, Professor Robert Newstead, and an unusual elliptical building discovered in the 1930’s during a slum clearance in the city centre.

“We’re so lucky to have a city that is steeped in history and that much of it remains here for all to see”, added Dean Paton, Managing Director of Big Heritage “Deva Codex will bring this history to life in an incredibly unique way for many thousands of city centre visitors this summer.”

“Deva Codex is like an on-street video game. It’s an adventure for people of any age and set out on the streets of Chester. We hope it encourages people to walk around the city centre and celebrate the culture and the history we see every day, but sometimes never notice…who knows, it may even inspire the next Indiana Jones or Lara Croft!”

Those taking the challenge can gather clues and submit them online at chester unlocked to find out if they have unlocked the mystery.

By registering their answers and email address online, participants will be in with a chance of winning £300, £100 or £50 in vouchers to spend in-store in city centre retailers or venues (winners will be notified by email after 23rd August)*. This also gives them an entry to a Grand Prize draw, details of which are set to be announced later this year.

Another two Deva Codex challenges are planned during the course of 2015 and early 2016.

Chester was once home to more than 5,000 Roman soldiers who, it is claimed, were here to keep the peace of the Roman Empire. Or was it? Solve the Deva Codex along with eminent archeologist Professor Halstead. Find out more about the Deva Codex: Boar Quest