1-3 Ock Street was recognised in the Building Conservation category at the 2014 Oxford Preservation Trust Awards. The awards panel commented on the “sensitive and sympathetic restoration … the marrying of the old and the new … the innovative use of glass, and … providing offices that cannot fail but to impress“.

The Oxford Preservation Trust Awards, now in their 37th year, recognise conservation and improvements in buildings in Oxford. That is often for Oxford University Buildings. But they do look further afield, and Abingdon Museum was also a beneficiary in 2012.

Thanks to Chris for letting me know, and for the pictures.

The Norman doorway fronting St Nicolas Church by Abingdon Market Place

has a new door. It will take some getting used to.

The front façade of the County Hall in Abingdon  is the view visitors remember. The classical design dates from the time of Christopher Wren and is a statement from the Abingdon citizens of that time of the growing importance of Abingdon as County Town of Berkshire.

The County Hall is as magnificent as ever but now houses the town museum. Abingdon is no longer the County Town and is no longer even in Berkshire, having been annexed into Oxfordshire.

But Abingdon is still great to those in the know.

My entry to the City Daily Photo Theme Day on Facades.

In 1975 when the telephone exchange was relocated from the top floor of the old post office (bottom left) to the new building (middle centre), automatic switching equipment took over from the ladies who used to put you through. Pictures from the last day at the manual exchange, the last to operate in England, can be viewed along with other memorabilia at the Strowger Appreciation Site.

The new building has changed with the times.  As circuitry got smaller so the space on the upper storeys became redundant and has been given over to flats. It could well be the ugliest building in Abingdon, unless you know better.