After months of construction, the hoardings have started to come down at Old Abbey House, revealing the renovated building. The historic property, sold to Abingdon Town Council in 1923, and used as council offices for almost a century, was sold to Builders Ede in 2021 and is being converted into a 27-bedroom hotel. The hotel is located in the centre of Abingdon
60-64 West St Helen Street was listed in 1971, meaning it was of interest architecturally or historically. See the entry https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1200046?section=official-list-entry.
It was demolished in 1979. Steve, who grew up there, gave me a photograph of the demolition. I live in a part of the new build.
I found a photograph of the building before demolition, taken from a larger photograph in Abingdon Past and Present by Elizabeth Drury and Judy Thomas (All Rights Reserved).
The listed building is described as: One building. Early C19. Rendered. Tile roof. Plinth. Three storeys. Three windows, moulded flush frames, double hung sashes with glazing bars, panel with tabs supports a cornice. The centre window on the first floor and ground floor has tabs missing and the window to the right on the ground floor is irregularly placed and has no panel. Two cellar openings, flat arches. Doorway to Nos 60 and 62 is one composition, with three carved pilasters and a flat hood on brackets. Doorway to No. 64 is similar, but set lower..
Bellway has started work on a new housing estate in North Abingdon to be called Radley Reach. The development, located north of Twelve Acre Drive and east of Oxford Road, will build 371 new homes, including a new sports pavilion and playing pitches.
The first phase of the development has already begun, with the earth moving and laying the first entrance from Twelve Acre Drive and some signs. The development will also include a central area of retained trees, which will be known as St. Helen’s Park.
The existing footpath to Radley College driveway has been protected with fences for the moment and a diversion is planned.
Daniel has been flying his drone over the fields near Sunningwell village, capturing stunning images of the tractor trails crossing and circling the land.
He has also captured images of the Abbey Fields development in Abingdon,
where new homes are being built with a variety of roof colors, some red and some grey.
From above, Hobby Green resembles a road roundabout.
Thank you to Daniel for the pictures and for sharing the video, “A Play with the Drone out by Sunningwell Village.”