Author Archives: Backstreeter

Old Abbey House – lead removed

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Old Abbey House
The lead appears to have disappeared from the roof of Old Abbey House Porch, and an attempt has been made to remove the lead from the window. The building has not been used a great deal since Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council moved out in June 2014. The Vale of White Horse did make efforts to sell it at that time but withdrew it from sale after protests . There was the hope that a community minded group would be able to take it over for an arts centre of something similar.

There are also signs round the back that the flat part of the roof has been disturbed.

Hobbs and Kempster

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Hobbs and Kempster
This is Hobbs Close in Abingdon.
Hobbs and Kempster
And here is the view looking down Hobbs Close towards Audlett Drive with the trees that shield Abingdon Science Park behind.
Hobbs and Kempster
The adjoining road is called Kempster Close. What connects ‘Hobbs’ and ‘Kempster’ apart from the path between the two closes?

2p per button at Masons

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2p per button
At Masons, on Bath Street, there was an outside display of buttons going for 2p per button.
2p per button
The bargain box of buttons has a plastic tumbler so that customers can help themselves in a pick-a-mix way.

Masons, on Bath Street, is an old fashion haberdasher selling dress fabrics – piled high, craft fabric, paints, dyes, and buttons.

I am trying to imagine what people will do with a tumbler full of buttons.We are far more used to pushing buttons these days, rather than searching through Grandma’s button box, for a missing button to exactly match a dress, suit or pyjamas.

Abingdon Drama Club Walk – hit by summer holiday weather curse

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Abingdon Drama Club Walk
The Abingdon Drama Club annual Thames walk met at the Millenium Needle this morning – that is the pointy thing near the Abbey Gardens.

The walk was organised by Kevin – a stage manager from the club. He also organises tourist walks about Abingdon.
Abingdon Drama Club Walk
They set off at 11am. The route was Abingdon – Lower Radley – Sandford Lock – Oxford. Kevin asked for “Sensible shoes please. Bring plenty of water, sun screen and some waterproofs (you never know!!), oh and maybe a hat.“

He had also hoped for good weather but the rain started to fall before they reached Lower Radley, and continues all the way to Oxford.

The Daily Mail summed up the performance, “You can just tell the summer holidays have started.”

The Daily Mirror saw it as a “Summer holidays ‘weather curse'”.