Abingdon an Historical Thames-Side Market Town
Abingdon claims to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town. Abingdon though just down river from Oxford was once Berkshire's County Town. Abingdon's refusal of Brunel's Great Western Railway sealed its fate as an important town. That means however that Abingdon remains a relatively unspoilt and delightful place to live.
A Short History of Abingdon
Abingdon's streets are still partly shaped by the ditches of the long disappeared Iron-age Oppidum. This apparently explains the shape of East & West Helens and why they don't make a junction with Bath St.To the north of the town is the site of a large complex of Iron-age barrows called Barrow Hills.
Abingdon Abbey was founded in Saxon Times and made the town an important place until Henry the Eighth had it demolished in 1556. The town subsequently fell into decay.
Abingdon was a much fought over Civil War frontier town causing great misery to the inhabitants. Abingdon became however the county town of Berkshire.
Abingdon was intended being halfway between London and Bristol to be site of Great Western Railway works a landowner refused passage and the works went instead to Swindon. Even so Abingdon latterly was the home of MG Cars, the Pavlova Leather Factory and Morlands Brewery all now gone.
But do come visit Abingdon and walk in the steps of Iron-Age Kings, Romans, Danes, William the Conqueror, King Charles, Cromwell, William of Orange, Samuel Pepys and so on.
Abingdon Links
- Abingdon-on-Thames - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Abingdon-on-Thames From Wikipedia
- Abingdon Walks
- Abingdon walks & things to do
- Abingdon Town Council
- Town Council Website
- Abingdon and Area Archaeological and Historical Society AAAHS
- Abingdon and Area Archaeological and Historical Society
- Abingdon's Branch Line
- GWR Abingdon Branch
- Abingdon Photo Blog
- Daily Abingdon Photo Blog
- Abingdon Herald Newspaper
- Abingdon Headlines
- Abingdon Artist
- Pastel Watercolours of Abingdon in the 1930s
- Abingdon Photo Gallery - Home
- Abingdon Walks Photo Gallery
- Didcot Railway Centre
- Didcot Railway Centre one of the most active Railway Preservation Societies
- Wittenham Clumps
- Local landmark viewable from miles away
1962 Routemaster Bus in Abingdon Market Place October 2008
NHS Organ Doner Bus RM1643 Number Plate 643 DYE
Learn More About Abingdon
The Seven Glories of Abingdon (First)
1 : View of Abingdon from Burford Bridge
The Seven Glories of Abingdon (Second)
The Seven Glories of Abingdon Third
Seven Glories of Abingdon Fourth
Seven Glories of Abingdon Fifth
Seven Glories of Abingdon Sixth
The Seven Glories of Abingdon (Seventh)
7 : View of St Helens Wharf from Wilsham Rd
Tourist and Historical Books on Abingdon
(Or Infamous for)
MG's Abingdon Factory (Those were the days...)
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 12/15/2009) 
Abingdon Past and Present (Past & present)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)
MG T-Series: The Complete Story
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/15/2009)
What Abingdon has Lost
And what made Abingdon Famous
- Iron Age Oppidum
Abingdon was an important Iron Age town and centre, today there is no visible remains of that time, most of the former sites have been built over - Abingdon Abbey
Dissolved by Henry the Eighth, the building was razed, only St Nicolas's Arch and Church remain. Attempts are being made to resurrect interest in the Abbey with virtual models. It was called St Mary's Abbey, and was said to resemble Well's Cathedral in Somerset unfortunately no sketch or painting has survived. - MG Cars
Alas Abingdon was until the early 1970s MG Car Town, employing large numbers of Abingdonians. It was needlessly closed down when the group owning it got into difficulties. - Berkshire
Abingdon was formerly County Town of Berkshire, though half its bridge was in Oxfordshire! - County Town Status
Abingdon was formerly County Town of Berkshire but lost it to Reading as that town grew to be an industrial centre - The Great Western Railway
Brunel had intended Abingdon to be the site of his Railway Town. Shortsighted opposition led to the railway passing through Steventon and the Railway town went to Swindon. Although Abingdon swiftly regretted it's opposition it was too late. This is probably the most significant event in the town's history in terms of effects including losing County Town Status
The School of St Helen & St Katharine
One of the best girl's private schools in the country
They rate very highly in the Daily Telegraph's School League Tables. Samantha Cameron was a former pupil. Abingdon School
Abingdon School is an independent day and boarding school for boys in Abingdon previously known as Roysse's School
The school recently celebrated it's 750th anniversary. Their most famous former boys are Radiohead who attended Abingdon in the 1980s. Their song 'Bishop's Robes' reputedly refers to a former headmaster of the school.The boys process through the town for services at St Helen's Church Abingdon at the start of term.
Thomas Tesdale (1547-1610) was an English maltster, benefactor of the town of Abingdon was also a pupil of Roysse's school and later a benefactor.
The building of Roysses School still exists and is used for various events and meetings including the weekly country market
Morris Men with their Ock Street Horns Revive at the Morlands Punchbowl Pub
Morris Men, Morris Cars, and Morlands Pubs Symbols of Abingdon
Heritage Day 2009 and Morris Men drink at a Morlands Public House with Morris Cars across the road in the Market Place. Their Ock Street Horns always near by Abingdon Photo Gallery
Photos of Abingdon
Abingdon Monk at Fairacres Roundabout
Milton Park
Formerly a Military Base
Milton Park is a 250-acre mixed use business park on the site of a former Ministry of Defence depot between the A34 and Didcot Power Station. It is still possible to see some ex-army hangers, however most have been replaced by modern high tech buildings.
Dalton Barracks (Formerly RAF Abingdon)
Dalton Barracks is used by the Royal Logistic Corps. The barracks is named in honour of James Langley Dalton, a Victoria Cross winner at the Rorke's Drift Mission Station, Natal, South Africa, in January 1879. The Army took over the barracks in 1992. The airfield is still used as a diversion airfield by the RAF and also for helicopter training.The airfield is also used for the Abingdon Air and County Show
V.C. Citation
For his conspicuous gallantry during the attack on Rorke's Drift post by the Zulus on the night of the 22nd January 1879, when he actively superintended the work of the defence, and was amongst the foremost of those who received the first attack at the corner of the hospital, where the deadliness of his fire did great execution, and the mad rush of the Zulus met with its first check, and where, by his cool courage, he saved the life of a man of the Army Hospital Corps, by shooting the Zulu who having seized the muzzle of the man's rifle, was in the act of assuaging him. This officer, to whose energy much of the defence of the place was due, was severely wounded during the contest, but still continued to give the same example of cool courage.
Abingdon Market Place In the Snow Video
Virtual Abingdon
New YouTube vids
Abingdon Market Place Diorama
Early morning Abingdon Market Place February 2008, Standing in the very centre on the plaque, NatWest Bank,Bury Shopping Precinct, Costa Cafe,St Nicolas (sic) Church,County Hall,High St. Sun very bright from East.
Runtime: 139
623 views
1 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Know Abingdon?
There are many former Abingdonian's in far flung parts of the world
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- lollyj lollyj Dec 3, 2009 @ 6:56 am
- I'll never visit UK but do love to visit via wonderful lenses like this one.
Excellent lens. 5***** to you.
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- AppalachianCountry AppalachianCountry Nov 24, 2009 @ 7:00 am
- Fantastic lens. Thank-you for posting so many beautiful images of the town. Awesome lens, 5 stars*****
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- prosperity66 prosperity66 Nov 14, 2009 @ 6:31 am
- What a marvelous town! I love England and anything related to this wonderful country. I never went to Adingdon but would like to have a look next time I'll go to UK!
Dom.
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- Norma_Budden Norma_Budden Nov 8, 2009 @ 11:21 pm
- You have some beautiful photos here; a person would be blessed to even have the opportunity to visit such a place.
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- ElleDeeEsse ElleDeeEsse Oct 20, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
- Very nice reminder of my time living in England
- Load More
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