Abingdon Walks & What to Do in Abingdon

Ordnance Survey Footpath Maps for West Oxfordshire

Abingdon Heritage Open Day Saturday 11th September 2010

(note there are a few events on Sunday the 12th)

For a town of its size, Abingdon has a large number
of historic buildings. Heritage Open Day is a unique
opportunity to visit some of the buildings free of
charge. In fact here is too much be be described here but note the 3 walks below

More info at abingdonheritage.co.uk

or Heritage Day Map

or Heritage Day Guide/Leaflet

Victorian Walk

Led by the Town Archivist Jackie Smith – leave
Market Place at 11:00. Duration: 60 minutes.
Easy walk. Book at Abingdon Information Centre
(01235 522711) to guarantee a place.

1556 Boundary Walk

Leaves from Market Place
Sunday 12th at 11:30am. Approx 90 minutes.

Canal Lecture and Walk

Free illustrated lecture ‘ The Wilts & Berks Canal,
Past, Present and Future’ at 10.30 in the Guildhall.
Free walk at 13.00 along the Thames from under
the Museum to the new Jubilee Junction (meets the
Salters Steamer that left at 14.00). 3 miles and 90
minutes. Book at Abingdon Information

St Mary’s Abbey Abingdon may have looked similar to Wells Cathedral (see below). Unfortunately no sketch or painting of St Mary’s survived. We do however know the shape of the Abbey as the foundations have survived and fortunately the area was never built over. If you visit Abbey Park in the centre of Abingdon it’s shape is traced by stones set into the grass. The alter of the preceding Saxon Church is also marked.
Some of the outbuildings still exist.

To quote the Friends of Abingdon friendsofabingdon.org.uk

At the time of its dissolution the Benedictine abbey of St Mary at Abingdon was the sixth wealthiest monastery in England. The Abbey was a vast complex of buildings, courtyards, gardens and orchards. The two groups of buildings which survive are only a small fragment of this once grand establishment. The Abbey Gateway faces the Market Place and is flanked by St Nicholas Church and the former St John’s Hospital. These are now under the care of The Vale of White Horse District Council. A second group, cared for by the Friends of Abingdon, and situated by the Millstream in Thames Street, consists of the Bakehouse, Checker Hall, Checker and Long Gallery.

A committee has been established to resurrect the Abbey as a model or virtually.

The Old Gaol development is the most important redevelopment of the centre of Abingdon since the infamous “Bury Precinct”. The Old Gaol Development offers the prospect of opening Abingdon more to the Thames by offering more river side leisure activities.

For a photo diary of the progress click PHOTO DIARY of OLD-GAOL REDEVELOPMENT.

This is the Post Box at St Aldates.

When we arrived Poppies Tearooms in Stert Street was the only waitressed traditional cafe in Abingdon, this closed some years ago. Since we have seen the welcome arrival of various Coffee Shops including Costa, Aroma and Coffee Republic. Now the Tea Room has returned to West St Helens Street when I visited on a weekday the place was full of the type of respectable person one expects to see in such a place. Rosie’s has taken over the premises of the much-missed Frugal Foods.

Here you can see the raised banks of the the now dried up up canal here seen behind Ladygrove Estate towards the New Cut Mill.

Join their friendly group on regular rides from Abingdon Market Place!

Thursday evenings
6.30pm at Abingdon Market Place, approximately 15 miles at a civilised pace. Everyone is welcome!

The first Sunday of the month
9.00am at Abingdon Market Place, approximately 30 miles.

learn more here abingdonfreewheeling.org.uk

Abingdon Canal New Cut Aerial Photo

Berks & Wilts Canal get much more information at http://abingdon.gentle-highway.info/