MG Cars in Abingdon

MG Cars was built on land belonging to Pavlova Leather. Pavlova were famous for their leather gloves which were worn by Royalty.
Both have now gone. Before them there was a Parchment Factory.

This is just out the former factory gates, but I believe was owned by the Pavlova Leather Company.

KIMBER HOUSE Abingdon is the office of the MG Car Club and is right next to the gate to the former MG Car Company factory. There is an exhibition of various MG and MGCC memorabilia, a library of MG and BMC Comps Dept books, an archive of more than 15,000 photos plus production records for most MGs produced up to 1950. There is a range of items including club badges, clothing, books, dvds and more available for sale in our shop area. Browse before you visit by clicking here.

They are open from 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 16:00 Friday and at weekends and evenings by appointment. There may be some days where we are all involved in events out of the office - in particular, the week before our MGLive! event is very busy! So, please do phone ahead if you are planning a visit.

Cecil Kimber was general manager of MG in Abingdon in the early years, eventually fell out with William Morris, left the company and then died in 1945 in a freak railway accident.

Kimber had negotiated contract work on aircraft but this was done without first obtaining approval and he was asked to resign and left in 1941. He had also had separated from his wife in 1931 who died shortly afterwards, he married his girlfriend 2 months after this and this was disapproved by the religious William Morris (later Lord Nuffield). Cecil Kimber quickly found other work but his heart was broken by this; but this is how we British treat people who get too successful.

(Google for the article by The Independent)

He is remembered today by a rather modest industrial estate road.

You can just make out the round plaque

This is the pub associated with MG as it is on the estate where many of the former MG workers lived it opened in 1974 a few years after the closing of MG. There are many MG Plaques and Display cases on the walls: A Must Visit for MG Fans coming to Abingdon.

Midget Close, Preston Road, Abingdon, Berkshire OX14 5NR, tel 01235 535593. The pub is not easy to find so look it up on Google Maps beforehand.

In 2010 the Midget won 'Pub Of The Year' for Greene King

Nuffield is a small village about 10 mile from Abingdon on the road to Henley. The small church there is just off the Ridgeway there is a fresh water tap much appreciated by hikers. Lord Nuffield's delightful former house Nuffield Place is not far way and has been left untouched. In the summer there are occasional Open days with cream teas and tours of the house available (I don't know the prices). Recently I heard there was some threat that the house would have to be sold.

Morris Oxford Press was established in 1925 in Cowley to print literature for the Morris Motors. In 1942 renamed the Nuffield Press.