It is five years since Prices, the stationer and art materials supplier in Stert Street, announced on 25 October 2021 that it would be closing. The Prices sign is still in place above the shop, even though the business closed in December 2021.

A planning application is currently being considered for internal fire safety improvements and modifications to the stairs. Some building work also appears to have taken place inside the property.

The building is Grade II listed and is thought to date from the 17th century. It has a stucco and timber-framed front elevation with two gables.

The building’s listed status, along with its current condition and the work needed to bring it up to standard, may be complicating plans for its future. I cannot see any sign that the premises will reopen as a shop in 2026.

P.S. Like the old building, this creaky old blog is also due for some work. It will be migrated to a new host within the next 72 hours, which could mean Saturday, Monday or possibly later. The blog may be unavailable during the move. Hopefully, unlike some old buildings, it will emerge at the other end without the need for too much remedial work.

Work appears to be nearing completion at Clock House in Abingdon, with the painting of the railings and tidying up the steps.

More substantial renovation work, involving extensive scaffolding, took place earlier in the year.

Signs advertising apartments have now appeared outside, revealing a new name for the building: Westbrook House.

The Abingdon Buildings and People portal refers to the building, along with the neighbouring clock house, as Clock House. It says Clock House, at 22–28 Ock Street, was probably designed by local builder Samuel Westbrook for Benjamin Tomkins and his wife, Sarah.

Work appears to have started on the former ‘circus field’ next to Aldi in north Abingdon, with grass being cleared and roadways beginning to be marked out.

The site has planning permission (P23/V2861/O) from June 2025 for a mixed development including a care home and new homes. I believe, the care home has full planning permission and can be built once the necessary technical details have been approved, while the housing still needs further approval on exactly what will be built and what it will look like.

As the technical approvals for the care home have been approved with further planning applications over the last year, my guess is that this first phase of work will be for roads and the care home at the lower end of the site. The housing will follow once the remaining planning applications have been submitted and approved.

There was also talk of a nursery when the plans were first discussed but I believe that is no longer part of the plans. Let me know if I am wrong.

The Old Maltings, in the Vineyard in Abingdon, was used as a malthouse for more than 100 years before closing in the late 1980s. Until 2020, the building served as the main offices of Sovereign Housing Association, during which time it had a front canopy and lift.

Since then, the site has undergone redevelopment to convert the building into apartments. The open undercroft area, previously used for car parking, has been enclosed to create  apartments. Terraced houses have been added at the sides.
The former canopy and lift have been removed and the facade is being made to blend with the neighbouring property. A banner has appeared saying 1 and 2 bedroom apartments are available.

A video discussing how the development was planned over time, including commentary on the phased addition of further flats and the planning process, can be viewed here: :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exnUpWiy_Hw