51 - Virgin cache Traditional Cache

This is cache is part of a short series that have been placed on or close to National Cycle Route 51 between Milton Keynes and Oxford. The caches are of varying sizes and shapes. National Cycle Route 51 is an English long distance cycle route running broadly east-west connecting Colchester and the port of Harwich to Oxford via Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge. If the series is popular it may be extended.

This cache is in St Mary’s Field, Kidlington. St Mary’s Field is an open common named after the parish church. Kidlington's name is derived from the Old English Cudelinga tun: the tun (settlement) of the "Kidlings" (sons) of Cydel. The Domesday Book in 1086 mentions Chedelintone and by 1214 the spelling Kedelinton appears in a Calendar of Bodleian Charters. The settlement listed in Domesday grew from an ancient village adjacent to the church. Here there are as many 18th century Georgian buildings as modern houses. Until the Enclosure acts in 1818, a large section south of the village was unenclosed common land, and the village was widely known as Kidlington-on-the-Green. Just prior to World War II, this land was built up in an estate known as Garden City. In the 20th century Kidlington grew to be a contender for largest village in England (as well as Europe) with a population, including contiguous parts of Gosford and Water Eaton parish, of over 17,000 (compared to 1,300 in 1901). Kidlington residents have so far resisted proposals to become a town, though it clearly qualifies for such status against any criteria. Following a peremptory change by the Parish Council to Town status, the change was voted down in a ballot of the local electorate by 98%, and reversed.

This cache is a small traditional cache close to some large gates (I’m not going to say who lives on the other side of the gates but there is a clue in the cache name!). It contains a pencil, log, swappables and a FTF key ring. If there are any brain tumour advice cards in the cache, please take one, there is no need to swap anything for them.

St Mary’s Field is an area known to flood in winter and after very heavy rain. The water was about 30cm deep in the floods at the beginning of 2013 and the ground was still sodden at the end of April when this cache was placed. If you are attempting in winter you may have to wade to get to this cache. Any items left in this cache need to be put inside the plastic bag and please ensure it is fully sealed before replacing.