Heritage Weekend Saturday: Anglo-Saxons, Morris Men and a well-baptised rat

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Abingdon Museum hosted Hwitmearum, a living-history group from the Oxfordshire branch of Regia Anglorum, dressed in Anglo-Saxon clothing and demonstrating some of the skills and activities of the early medieval period.

One member demonstrated traditional fire-making, striking flint against a steel striker and sending sparks onto amadou, the prepared tinder made from the spongy material of the hoof fungus. Once the amadou began to smoulder, he transferred the ember into a bundle of dry plant fibres and blew gently until the smoke turned to flame.

Another member demonstrated a lyre, reconstructed from the famous lyre found in the Sutton Hoo ship burial. Lyres were used in the early medieval period and are generally associated with music, poetry, storytelling and feasting. Unfortunately, no musical notation survives that allows us to know what Anglo-Saxon secular music actually sounded like, so modern performances are imaginative reconstructions.

From early medieval music we moved forward a few centuries to a tradition that has been continuously passed down. The Abingdon Traditional Morris Men performed in the Market Place. Their history in the town can be traced back at least to 1560, when the parish churchwardens’ accounts for St Helen’s record a payment of one shilling for 24 Morris bells. Their roots may well be older.

Also in the Market Place was the Heritage Weekend information stall, directing visitors to the various activities, together with a stall run by Abingdon Flower Club, where members were demonstrating flower arranging.

The club had also produced displays in exhibition spaces around the town to fit this year’s theme of Abingdon people at work. The Morland flower display had lots of old Abingdon pub emblems among the flowers. The Flower Club was founded in 1960, so it has now been going for more than 60 years. The art of arranging flowers has a much longer history. There is evidence of formal flower arrangements in ancient Egypt dating back to around 2500 BCE, with flowers being used in decoration, ceremonies and burials.

In the Roysse Room (more on that tomorrow) were displays about the workplaces of Abingdon. Outside the Roysse Room was an exhibit on a lesser-known enterprise: the Abingdon Golf Club Factory, which operated in Abingdon in the 1920s. The exhibition explained how the town aspired to become a centre for the production of golf clubs with Frilford Golf Club not far away. Manufacturing involved shaping and finishing wooden clubs, with metal parts brought in from elsewhere. Two golf enthusiasts posed with period clubs to illustrate the clubs.

There were also a number of historic properties open to visitors. St Helen’s Church had a lot of information boards and old record books on display, including records relating to the workhouse that operated in the parish before the later Union Workhouse on Oxford Road. People queued for their turn to go up into the bell tower, while others were shown how the organ works. Refreshments were available there, and at St Ethelwold’s House.

Another church open to visitors was Abingdon Baptist Church, where the baptismal pool was on view. I was told all about baptism and even given a practical demonstration using Roland Rat, who, after today, is probably the most well‑baptised rat in Abingdon.

More about Heritage Weekend tomorrow, when the exhibitions at the Guildhall and at 25 Bury Street will be open again, along with a programme of walks around the town. See https://www.abingdonheritage.org.uk/.

An evening celebrating Radley Large Wood at Abingdon Library

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There was a packed audience at Abingdon Library this evening for a presentation by contributors to Woodlands – An Anthology of Poetry and Prose. The evening brought together  history, natural history and poetry about Radley Large Wood.

Sylvia Vetta began by telling some of the history of the wood. From at least the mid-13th century, it formed part of a deer park belonging to Abingdon Abbey.

Paul Gamble then shared his enthusiasm for its natural history including birds such as the chiffchaff, plants including the rare Herb Paris, and butterflies such as the Silver Fritillary. He also read poems from the anthology, including a couple written by children from a local school in Kennington.  Other contributors followed with readings of poems, before the audience had an opportunity to ask questions.

Part of the evening’s discussion concerned the management of the wood since its acquisition by St Hilda’s College in 2022. The college’s management plans include dealing with ash dieback, and a clearing and planting programme which brings in grant funding.

However, the felling of a substantial area of woodland in 2024 caused concern among local residents. A packed meeting at Kennington village hall demonstrated how much the woodland means to local people. That led to the formation of the Friends of Radley Large Wood who  meet with the college to talk about the wood.

There are now many plastic tree guards around newly planted trees. One of the speakers said that, following two dry summers, the young trees are struggling to establish themselves.

On sale was the book, a well-produced anthology with colourful pictures in support of the Friends of Radley Large Wood.

Although known as Radley Large Wood, it is closer to Kennington, with access from Kennington Memorial Field and Sugworth Lane.  It also has a border with the larger Bagley Wood. For more information by the Friends of Radley Large Wood see radleylargewood.org.

Lodge Hill A34 Slipways Taking Shape

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Crossing the footbridge on the footpath from Abingdon towards Sunningwell and Bayworth, there is a view along the A34 towards the new south-facing slipways at Lodge Hill. The works continue to shape what were fields and woodland.

The new offslip has involves wide earthworks on the field.

From the bridge, the southbound onslip joining the A34 is visible but not much else.

A further view from the footpath towards Bayworth shows more of the work taking place.

Up on Lodge Hill, both northbound slipways are open again, but the route of the Oxford Road through the two new roundabouts continues to shift as parts are closed and opened.

Cricket bat willows harvested beside the cycle path

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Thanks to Tim for the photograph showing the recent harvesting of the cricket bat willows beside the Sustrans cycle path to Radley Lakes.

Andrew, who owns the land, planted the willows around 15 years ago and has now harvested the first crop. The trees had grown to more than 60 feet tall and are expected to produce around 40 cricket bats each once the timber has been seasoned. That is about 720 bats from the 18 trees.

It is a crop with a long-term plan. 24 more willows will be planted in December, already around 16 feet tall, and are expected to grow quickly with the water table close to the surface. They could add around three inches in girth each year and should be ready for harvesting around 2041.

Meanwhile, the other part of the field, planted at the same time with a variety of trees, continues to develop into woodland. The bendy branches from the willows will be used as a dead hedge along this woodland. Other branches, have been taken by the contractor for chipping.