Due to the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, some market stalls that typically operate on Mondays were on the Market Place today. They took advantage of the pleasant weather and also the number of people shopping.
The One Planet Abingdon stall offered a continuously changing selection of plants and seeds. They had a seed and plant swap day, allowing people to exchange spare seeds or plants. Visitors could still take a plant or seeds without bringing any of their own.
The Dog Stop celebrated their first birthday by rewarding visiting dogs with free dog treats.
Category Archives: Market Place
Christian Aid and Walking Festival
The Abingdon Christian Aid group had a colourful stall at the marketplace selling plants, preserves, books etc. They were also taking donations to fight global hunger.
The Vale of White Horse Ramblers group organised some walks as part of the walking festival.
Walks left the Market Place during Saturday morning and the early afternoon. The day was sunny and many of the walks were fully booked.
There were other themed stalls on the Market Place. They included the Oxford Fieldpaths Society who organise their own walks and have one starting in Abingdon on May 16th. They also try to keep footpaths open and provide improved access with better gates.
The Abingdon Eagles provide Adult walking basketball at the White Horse Leaisure and Tennis Centre.
The White Horse Leisure Tennis Centre has an extensive senior activities programme designed to enhance physical and mental wellbeing, with the chance to chat before and after.
Abingdon Craft Market and Abingdon Beer Festival
The Town Crier announced the Local Excellence Craft Market on the Market Place.
One local craft, beer brewing, has been happening in Abingdon for hundreds of years. The LoveBeer Brewery brew beer four miles from Abingdon in the village of Milton. They said they’d also be at the Beer Festival.
At the Abbey Buildings, the Town Crier called, ‘Welcome to Abingdon’s Traditional Beer Festival in the Abbey Buildings. Upon this hallowed ground the monks have brewed beer for a thousand years. Tonight, you will have ale, you will have food, you will have fun and you will have live music. Tonight at 7 pm you will be regaled with music by local legends, The Mercenaries …’
There were 32 beers and four ciders to choose from. For a £10 ticket people could choose 4 half pints or 2 pints.
They included eight beers from Abingdon’s own Loose Cannon brewery, and two beers from Lovebeer (Wookie 3.9 and Bonnie Hops 4.6 on the list above). A couple of beers had sold out on Friday night and were crossed out. Others sold out on Saturday. The festival continues on Sunday.
There was food from Fat Tabby and a cake stall. The cake stall does well as some people like to take cakes home to their loved ones after their night drinking beer.
The Mercenaries played their set. People were still entering in good numbers when I left to write this post.
The festival helps raise money for the Friends of the Abbey Buildings who maintain, and are looking to improve the Abbey Buildings with a lottery grant that will need matched funding.
A regular Monday Market
It was a regular Abingdon Monday Market. The Market Place cobbles were filled with stalls and vans and the crosspaths with people. There was a breeze but no storms or floods. It was cloudy but the fruit and veg stall knew rain wasn’t expected, as they hadn’t put up a cover!
Everyone’s first stop seemed to be fish van, judging by the queue waiting for their catch fresh from the quay. There was also the butcher’s van, but not the butcher who always keeps up a dialogue through a squeaky PA system. Isla Bakery had piles of loaves, buns, and a table of cakes. The stationary stall had greeting cards and a table of crossword and puzzle books. Over at the photography stall, Martin greeted every enquiry with his usual friendliness. He had a sale – as new stock arrives soon.
You could get a bunch of daffodils for £1, or 3 for £2.50. The pet food stall had bags of pet and wild bird food. You couldn’t miss the outdoor gear stall with its dazzling display of Hi-Viz jackets. Opposite that was the egg stall with the stacked trays of eggs.
Who have I forgotten?