In planning Heritage Day it is good to try and find a couple of different properties each year so people who come every year have something new to look at. One such property this year was Helensbourne. And I am very grateful to them for so readily agreeing to open up and then going above and beyond on the day. Hester, who also helped much over the weekend, sent me these pictures. She says…

These views of the River Thames have not been seen by many of us before,

but the fortunate owners of the house can look out on them any day.

However this shows something of how precarious the supporting structures of these mediaeval houses can be.

… The huge Jenga Tower crashed all around poor James leaving the adults helpless with laughter – including the ‘suspicious-looking‘ man out of the Abingdon Operatic Society’s version of Sweeney Todd – next month.

The event is mostly oganised by Sandra from the Town Council.

Brian Moylan was there with some MG cars. Abingdon is the spiritual home of MG.

There was a chance for some to try out Ceroc with a taxi dancer.

The Mayor, Patricia Hobby was there, ably abetted by The Town Crier, Mr Tony Legge Esquire.

And the winners of Abingdon’s got talent got to perform again on the big stage.

I’ll start with the kiddies. I’ve got enough decent pictures to do two days on this event…

Scooter McKenzie – see local blogroll – was doing a Cartoon workshop for children.

The Carbon Cutters were pressing apple juice with the help of children from the audience.

At the Abingdon Town Twinning stall Stella had all the flags flying.

The Face Painting at the Vineyard Church stall was a bit too popular. Maybe they should start charging.

The army is starting them young at the fun day assault course.

And at the Abingdon Baptist Church Stall James pulls one brick too many from the giant jenga. We were all hoping it was going to be his opponent, and father, Richard Gibson – District Council Chair of Building Planning… So no big scoop this time. But in the next episode of this blog see what happened next to James…

The proceedings kicked off with dancing from the Abingdon Traditional Morris Men.

Carswell Old School was open along with 13 other buildings. At Carswell there was a mixture of new children’s artwork and historic school photographs, computers and writing slates.

Down in the museum basement the old town water pump was on display.

Most of the museum staff were in costume, and two young Tudor ladies can be seen escourting our local Member of Parliament, Dr Evan Harris.

In the Abbey Grounds the Lost Abbey of Abingdon Project were doing underground scanning to find out better where the old Abbey walls lay.

Next to Beth Flemming, deputy chairman of the Vale District, is a monk from the lost Abbey. That’s me by the way. I got lots of people saying things like ‘That’s a terrible habit you have got‘ or ‘You will have to control your habit‘ and much much more. I smiled meekly – as one does.