The window at The Beaconsfield has been hidden behind scaffolding for almost a year. The Beaconsfield Working Mens Conservative Club once occupied part of this building.

The window has been transformed.

The Earl of Beaconsfield, the Marquess of Salisbury and Sir Stafford Northcote look much the same as before.

A year after the first residents moved into the new apartments next to the Old Gaol, work has begun on refurbishment of the buildings on Bridge Street …

including: the Old Police Station, the one time tourist office and music centre, and some cottages.

The Old Gaol itself will then be converted into 10 rented apartments, with groundfloor restaurants and riverside gardens for the public.

The Abingdon Bridge young people’s centre will move into part of the Old Police Station from one of the cottages.

Thanks to Steve for these pictures he took, of Stert Street, before new Abbey Court was built. A few days ago on this blog you may have seen developers want to demolish the new buildings.

Steve says “Originally it was the Cinema, fondly known as the Flea Pit. The two shops on the right are now Thomas Merrifield…

The old coach house building at the rear is still there, access via Abbey Close. Beyond, the small building was I believe the parcel office for the station?”

Steve adds “… shop to the right was Carter’s Toy Shop.”

Plans to demolish the New Abbey Court Offices in Stert Street, together with buildings behind, and replace them with new housing, was on the agenda for last week’s meeting of the Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) Planning Committee.

The original plans had drawn opposition from Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, The Friends of Abingdon, and neighbours.

Updated plans, which should have addressed some of those concerns, were issued, and recommended by VWHDC planning officers. The updated plans were not liked by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, or the Friends of Abingdon, and withdrawn from the VWHDC agenda at the last minute.