Didcot, Oxfordshire, Dates Back to the Iron Age

Historically Didcot was situated in the County ofand this still exists and runs north through
Berkshire and although both Oxfordshire andLadygrove, a Didcot area close to Long
Berkshire are in the Thames Valley, Didcot hasWittenham.
now been relegated to the auspices and care ofThe first written historical records of this town
the County of Oxfordshire. The town isappear in the 13th century. At the time they
approximated 10 miles south of Oxford City, andcalled the town Dudcotte (so the name hasn't
is perhaps most infamous for the Didcot Powerchanged much). It only had a population of 100
Station.people and not much going for it, so it remained
In the 1960's the Didcot Power Station was builtthat way for hundreds of years. In the Lydalls
to supply electricity to the national grid, which wasroad area, you will still find parts of the original
powered by burning coal. Some people who live invillage, and the All Saints Church also still has parts
Didcot believe that the power station is anof it which date back to the 11th century.
eyesore, while others believe it is what gives theAlthough this village has grown into a town which
town its character. If you have ever watchednow dwarves surrounding towns that were once
Inspector Morse, then you may have seen themuch larger, it is still set in an inspiring countryside
power station being used as a backdrop in variousof valleys and hills. One of the major attractions
scenes as this television series was filmed into Didcot is the City of Oxford. Known
Oxfordshire.throughout the world as the "City of Dreaming
The town of Didcot, like many other towns in theSpires"! Some of the greatest minds in the world
UK, dates back to the Iron Age. The firstreceived their inspiration from Oxford and it is
settlement was on the ridge but the surroundingsquite unlike any other place in the UK. If you visit,
were mostly marshland. During Roman times theyit is a must to see Blenheim Palace, the home of
dug a ditch in an attempt to drain the marshesSir Winston Churchill.