Hidden History #1 - Thornden Manor & The Radfall Multi-Cache

Hidden History #1

Thornden Manor & The Radfall

Thornden was first recorded as a manor in the 16th Century.  It was connected to the nearby Radfall by means of a drove.  The remains of this can still be seen in the form of an earth bank to the East of the footpath you will probably take from the site of micro to the main cache.  The parish boundary follows this earth work, indicating its antiquity.  The manor was still occupied in the 18th Century.  Note that a well is still marked on a modern OS map.

The Radfall was probably used for transporting goods (such as timber) by cart or for moving animals from around the 13th Century.  It is suggested that this particular track way went out of use after 1836 when Thornden Wood Road was made up.

(Source of background information : The North Wood by Flavia Taylor, 1995, ISBN 1 871716 05 5)

The main cache is not at the published coordinates.  At these you will find a micro (usual 35mm film container), next to the well of the former Thornden Manor, which contains the coordinates for the main cache.  The main cache is a 1L 'clip-lock' style container.  Please ensure both are hidden when replacing.

Suggested route from car park for this cache is as follows:

• Take the footpath in the North East corner of the car park and head for R2 (co-ordinates below).
• At R2 take the left hand path and follow to R3 (Beware of road at R3).
• Cross the road and follow the footpath through the woodland then across the field to the published cache coordinates.  The micro here is a usual 35mm film container.
• After noting the main cache coordinates, retrace your steps back to R3.
• From here use the many paths which criss-cross the woodland to make your way to the main cache.