Their website says that “Leach’s the Printers was founded in 1901 by Thomas Leach, initially producing stationery, Christmas cards and Easter cards for the clergy. ” The still do a line of greetings and religious cards, books and stationary for schools, commercial brochures etc. etc.

And like the Abbey Press, blogged earlier today, they do their own line of local books including:
* The Story of Abingdon part one. 150,000,000 B.C. – 1186 A.D. by Mieneke Cox. (1986)
* Medieval Abingdon. The Story of Abingdon Part II by Mieneke Cox. (1989)
* Abingdon 1556-1702 Peace and War. The Story of Abingdon part three by Mieneke Cox. (1993)
* Abingdon. An 18th Century Country Town. The Story of Abingdon Part IV by Mieneke Cox. (1999)

Also like the Abbey Press, they are a traditional printers, in a location that has become residential. Leach’s are located in Ock Street and back on to the new brewery development. Printing presses can make a noise and the new neighbours don’t always understand that the printer was there first.

The current chairman is the grandson of Thomas Leach who founded the company. The building at 54 Ock Street would still be recognisable to Thomas Leach , although modern presses and computer technology have taken the place of traditional typesetting, and the premises have expanded at the back.

Abbey Press seems to be concentrating their efforts at the new Nuffield Centrum, but they still have their older printng works, situated like an island surrounded by the new housing of the Riverside Collection.

The Abbey Press is not to be confused with the Abingdon Press. The Abbey Press is Abingdon born and bred, and the Abingdon Press is in Nashville in the United States, and used to be The United Methodist Publishing House.

The Abbey Press Group have been printing in Abingdon since about 1839, making them one of Abingdon’s longest established companies. They are nearly as old as the Abingdon Press in Nashville which has been going since 1789.

The Abbey Press sponsor many events and publications round the town. They got the Abbott of Abingdon installed on the Tesco roundabout. They have also brought us books like:
* Abingdon in camera : portrait of a country town, 1850-1950. Thomas, M. J. (1979).
* Abingdon who’s who and directory. Abingdon Town Council . (1993)
* History of the Abingdon Fire Service. Hooke J. (1945).
* Historic streets of Abingdon. Baker, A. C. (1957)
* Cameos of Abingdon. Abingdon Town Council (2006)

It is difficult to tell where one Town Centre development ends and another begins. But at least one can tell that this first picture is of the Riverside Collection – as viewed from the other side of the Mill Stream.

This second picture shows that this large development is being undertaken by Barra t Homes ‘Britain’s premier house builder.’ Founded in 1958 in Newcastle, Barratt has built and sold around 300,000 homes. They are currently building and selling over 14,000 new homes a year all round the country.

Theire web site says
Abingdon “Now Launched!!!”

1 bedroom apartments from £201,950
2 bedroom apartments from £252,500
3 bedroom houses from £287,500

We will have to see if they go into orbit with these price tags.

These few houses have Plot numbers stuck in the window. And over the road is a notice to ask for consideration as the houses are occupied. Some roadways are still concrete with elevated drains waiting for a tarmac finish.

This large stretch of land with Waitrose in the distance has only just been begun. The former Burgess printworks, Bezier House, and 11 small business units were demolished to make way for houses.

The Town Council objected to the overdevelopment of the area and the increased traffic and the loss of town centre businesses. The district Council rejected the plans as being against the local plan. But on appeal a Planning Inspector overuled the council decision. It will be interesting to see what traffic mitigation measures were won out of the developers. The outside planning inspector said “I do not consider that the loss of a limited amount of industrial floorspace would necessarily increase private car use or affect the economic health of Abingdon.”

And here again is a view of the Riverside. This time we see the restored Victorian Pond in the Abbey Grounds with the builders flags reflected in the water.

The Riverside Barratts show on their website is the River Thames looking towards St Helens rather than this lazy backwater.

This cyclist has come to a halt. His attention has probably been taken by one of the banners or posters alongside the railings of the Market Place. Everything is competing for his attention. white banners, yellow posters, orange posters…
Sensory overload is when too much stimulation from too many sources result in overload and the inability to take in any more.