What Abingdon has lost recently and over the centuries:-
Had Abingdon become as Isambard Kingdom Brunel intended his half-way to Bristol railway hub then Abingdon today would probably today be a city with Oxford as suburb. We most likely prefer our little town as it is, nevertheless our pride as Abingdonians is piqued; Reading and Swindon should tremble before us.
The more recent loss of MG Cars was dramatic and had dire economic and social consequences.
The loss of the Abbey deprives Abingdon even today of a touristic focal point (USP)
- County Town of Berkshire Status to Reading!
- Old Berkshire! In 1974 Abingdon was moved into Oxfordshire
- At the same time Abingdon lost Borough status
- County Prison
- The Magistrates Court
- MG Cars
- Hallmark Cards (Burgess Printers)
- Regal Cinema (in the 1980s)
- Stert St Cinema (before the war?)
- Pavlova Leather Factory
- Gomshall Leather factory
- St Mary’s Abbey
- Original Mainline Station London to Bristol (went to Swindon)
- Later Branch line to Radley
- Berks & Wilts Canal
- Morlands Brewery
- Tower Steam Brewery Ock Street in 1928
- Extensive Malt Industry
- Queens Hotel in the Market Place
- Abingdon Workhouse – Oxford Road
- Cattle Market
- Market Cross – Destroyed by the Roundheads
- Ock Street Horns Pub and many more
- Barrow Hills site of Neolithic and Bronze Age Monuments (Built Over)
- Caldecott House demolished 1970s
- Fitzharris / Fitzharry’s House demolished 1960s
- Clarkes Clothing Factory
- Inner Courts (Slum Clearance)
- Horse Racing Courses (Culham Heath)
- Sweet Factory
- St Edmunds Chapel
- Extensive Iron Age Ditches
- Leather Curing Factory
- Cottage Hospital
- The Warren Hospital
- Barton Court (in ruins)
- Barton Court Farm, Caldecott Farm, Oliver’s Farm
- Woolworths 2009 (Vital for a small town)
- Beadles Ironmongers
- RAF Abingdon (now Dalton Barracks – Army)
- Braggs Cycle Shop (this was in the guide books!)
- Abingdon Carpet Factory (previously Rope factory)
- Corn Exchange- Market Place
- Anchor Brewery off Winsmore Lane
- Countless Pubs including Ock Street Horns
- Saxby’s Brewery, Stert Street
- Abbey Brewery,Checkers Walk
There are a surprising number of memorabilia of many of the above (especially MG) on eBay click here to see
NB
Fitzharries should be either Fitharris or Fitzharry’s depending on taste.
Re: Lost Abingdon
When I lived in Abingdon (early 1960s)I witnessed the destruction of the Corn Exchange and half of the Queen’s(?) Hotel. I had a protest letter published in the North Berks Herald, AKA Abingdon Herald, at the time but “progress” in the shape of the mall and the inner relief road (not needed now, surely) was all the rage then, so the few of us who were against it were going against the tide.
“Progress” destroyed a fascinating warren of early architecture that people would travel a long way to see now. Every time I visit beautifully preserved mediaeval town centres in Europe, I feel sad about Abingdon’s, along with many another in England.
‘Twas lovely, then.
With reference to what has dissapeared in Abingdon i would like to add the Anchor Brewery which was situated just off Windsmoor Lane which is now converted into a house,this was first behind the old Queens Hotel, part of the old brewery was used as the Queens Hotel garage near bury street school all sadly gone.
A new brewery was built next to clock House and behind no.12 Ock street. Saxby’s Brewery, Stert Street,also brewery of Edwin James Trendell which is now the site of Abbey Court offices. The Abbey Brewery, which was situated down Checker Walk in the Long Gallery buildings.Henry Mulcock’s Brewery, which was sitauted in the Vineyard area. The old Air Balloon Brewery, in Ock Street which was sitauted somewhere opposite the Brewery Tap pub. Also on the corner of Victoria Road was another brewery owned by John Beesley which has sadly been demolished.The Original Eagle Brewery Ock street which was owned by William Belcher and taken over by Morlands in 1861.
You could add “Braggs Cycle Shop” to the list of sadly missed businesses.
BTW, I would respectfully query the need for a possessive apostrophe in “Fitzharrys”.
I don’t think it’s meant to be possessive, but an old, and alternative form of
“Fitzharris”, and indeed should be pronounced in the same way as the latter, i.e. with a slightly hard “s” sound, not the softer “z” sound usually accorded possessives.
Two missing pub signs: “The Broad Face” (with a face) and “The Beehive”.
Where was the Ock Street Horns pub please? And the Crown Mews site was a pub too, right? Was it the Crown? And do you know anything about the Happy Dick next to Dominos? I’m researching Ock St pubs. If you wouldn’t mind dropping me email that would be amazing. Thanks
The Horns was apparently opposite the junction with Victoria Rd, adjacent to or part of Pigs Row. There is a book by Jackie Smith on Abingdon pubs. Yes the Crown was a pub, The wonderfully named “Happy Dick” and Mr Warwick’s Arms both buildings still exist on Ock Street.