Didcot GeoCache Series
After our recently placed GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11, 14, 17-19, 30-32, 35, 38), Didcot (cache #12-13, 15-16, 20-25, 29, 33-34, 41-42, 44-45), Harwell (cache #26, 36-37, 43, 46), Chilton (cache #27-28), Sutton Courtenay (cache #39) and Milton (cache #40), we decide to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot and surrounding villages, in order to honour local heros, and to reflect our rich local history, stories and heritage. We hope you will enjoy these new caches and may also learn something when you are caching, thank you!
DIdcot #47 - Towards Hadden Hill
Hadden Hill in Didcot is historically significant as the site of Haddon Wood, an ancient woodland part of the medieval manor, with evidence of Bronze Age field systems and potential Iron Age/Roman activity, later cleared for farming, and now known for the Hadden Hill Golf Club and surrounding development like the Ladygrove Estate. Its name comes from the old wood, and roads like Lydalls Road once led to it, connecting Didcot village to open fields.
Key Historical Aspects:
Ancient Origins: The area, known as Haddon Wood, was a significant woodland feature in the medieval period, with ancient pathways serving as access roads.
Prehistoric Activity: Archaeological digs show evidence of extensive field systems from the Middle Bronze Age, potentially with later Iron Age/Roman use, possibly linked to a nearby settlement.
Enclosure & Farming: The land was eventually cleared and enclosed, with furrows from 19th-century cultivation found, and became part of the broader agricultural landscape of Didcot.
Modern Development: The area is now home to the Hadden Hill Golf Club and part of the large Ladygrove housing estate, built on former farmland.
In essence, Hadden Hill transitioned from ancient woodland and farming fields to modern residential and recreational space, retaining its historical name from the original Haddon Wood.
About this GeoCache:
This cache is a bison tube and hanging on a tree, off a footpath located at the East Ladygrove Estate, which is adjacent to Abingdon Road and the historic Hadden Hill to its east. Please be safe and careful, especially when visiting with GeoKids and/or GeoPets. Please expect muggles at most times of the day.
Please also respect the local residents when searching for the cache. You do not need to cross any fence or enter any private land.
Please also note:
Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully so the cache and log book can survive longer. You might need a tweezer to help retrieve the log paper.
Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns, stinging nettles, and overhead tree branches! Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.
You do not need to cross any fence or enter any private land.
Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!
FTF: Congratulations to walk tall for their FTF on 23 December 2025!
