History

A Brief History of Didcot

Old Didcot was probably one of the oldest settlements in this area, dating back to around 200-600BC. In Saxon times (7th Century) there was a fortified farm or village built called Wibaldeston, which is the name that appears in the doomsday book. Didcot in Saxon was derived from 'Dydda's or Dudda's cot' or cottage, The village, until recent times, up to the end of the 19th century, was known as Dudcot or Dudcote.

Believe it or not Didcot was once the smallest village in this area, much smaller than Harwell, Blewbury and even Upton. A census was carried out in 1841, just before the opening of Didcot railway. The local population was as follows; Harwell - 857, East and West Hagbourne - 841, Blewbury - 443, South Moreton - 417, North Moreton - 397, Upton - 284 and finally Didcot at only 203! The opening of the Didcot Railway station in 1844 changed all this, even if it wasn't until the next century. The railway meant more jobs, new people and greater demand for new housing. A new village was created, not in Didcot but to the South East, in the parish of of Hagbourne, This new town was called North Hagbourne or Didcot Newtown, this name was soon corrupted to Northbourne. Before 1915 the old villages stuck together and had a strong dislike of the people of the New town, Northbourne. This feeling was particularly strong in old Didcot, the railway men were not wanted and ignored if possible. This new town was regarded as an ugly intrusion of town into the countryside.

The next change was the arrival of the army in 1915 and the building of the Didcot Arsenal. Didcot with its railway links South, East and West was ideal for the army. This meant an even greater demand for labour in Didcot and lead to the rapid grown of Didcot in World War 1. This growth has never stopped. Didcot in 2005 is now the largest town in South Oxfordshire with a population of almost 25,000, and the town centre is currently being redevelopment. Before 1925, Didcot Broadway was a quiet residential road. Most shops were located in Northbourne, at the Station or in the old village The establishment of the Broadway as Didcot's shopping centre began in the mid-1920’s and gathered momentum during the early 30's.

The main building period was between 1933-37 when the Broadway Arcade, Jenkins, Currys, the Co-op, Smiths and Boots were built. The first cinema was erected in 1927.

Didcot Power Station was built during the 1960's. The 2000MW coal-fired station: its chimneys and cooling towers serves as a distant beacon for the weary homecoming traveller.

There had been a school at Didcot from 1847 in an old Cottages in Lydall's Road, which was replaced in 1896 by Manor School. Then came the St. Frideswide's (mixed) School in the late 1931 and St Birinus School in 1935. When St Birinus School opened, St. Frideswide's School split: boys to St Birinus and girls remained at St Frideswide's School. All the girls and boys who passed the 11+ examination went to Wallingford Grammar School. In September 1958, Didcot Girls' Grammar School was opened in newly built premises, now known as the Cockcroft Building. In 1973 Didcot Girls' Grammar School and St. Frideswide's Secondary Modern School were amalgamated to form the new Didcot Girls' School (Comprehensive).

Sources of Information

Around Didcot and the Hagbournes by Brian Lingham Published by Budding Books 1998

http://www.communigate.co.uk/oxford/ddhas/page3.phtml

http://www.didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk/school/history.htm

Know lets see what you've leant, Click here to test your knowledge of the history of Didcot.

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Updated by Alice April 2005