Category Archives: weather

Snow and Ice and a little creative thinking

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Snow and Ice
I wondered whether I would be able to get to work when the snow was falling. The on line forecast predicted snow before midnight on Thursday, lessening overnight, then getting very cold by Friday night… So far the forecast has been spot on.
Snow and Ice
By Friday morning the snow had stopped and public transport seemed to be running to time – possibly not the wrong sort of snow, or possibly we are getting better at it.
Snow and Ice
Friday night did turn very cold and icicles had formed above the weir this morning (Saturday).
Snow and Ice
I’d love to see a few inches of water left in the outdoor pool for times like these so it could open as an ice rink. The idea is probably not feasible but it would be good to see the area being used out of the swimming season in other ways.
Snow and Ice
Another recent idea that somebody suggested for the Diamond Jubilee, which got into the Herald, was to move Queen Victoria back to the Market Place. A well placed piece of art there would be good. Maybe something called the Bun Throwers or Bun Catchers would do.
Snow and Ice
Work has now started in earnest on the land behind the Abbey Gardens to build the care home. A large drill has been operating there.

Another recent idea to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee, that made the Herald front page, was a bandstand. This has long been suggested by the leader of one of Abingdon’s two brass bands, and the people in the care home would get free entertainment.

Concerning our exaggerated gables

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Back Street
The History of Abingdon by James Townsend was published in 1910 and the final chapter STREETS AND HOUSES describes East and West St Helen’s Street.
Back Street
“ … East and West St. Helen’s Streets with their exaggerated gables retain something of their mediaeval aspect. ‘Westseynteleynstret’ appears in 1375, ‘Seynteeleynstret’ in 1404, and ‘Estseyntelynstrete’ in 1405 in the Account-rolls.
Back Street
Fore Street and Back Street are names still in use for East and West St. Helen’s respectively.”

A hundred years after Townsend’s book, the overnight snow might give the streets back a more mediaeval aspect if it were not for the cars, street lamps, and pavement barriers. The houses in both streets still retain their exaggerated gables – even some of the modern ones – like ours.

Overnight Snow melting fast

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Snow
The overnight snow was already turning to slush when we went out at 9 am Sunday morning. Work continues in St Helen’s Churchyard. They dug so deep putting in ducts and pipes last week (under the path) that Oxford Archaelogywere on hand to check for remnants of antiquity.
Snow
A dozen or more trees near the Ock Valley have been chopped over the last week or two, some near the end of Hermitage Road, and others down the town end.
Snow
Evidence of dog walkers was to be seen everywhere in the snow. These paw prints and footprints were seen at the end of Healey Close where the estate meets the open space beside the River Ock.
Snow
This may, or may not, be the only snowfall this winter so some children were out making the most of it. There was just about enough snow left on the Caldecott Recreation Ground to make a smallish snowman.

Other places round about like Lodge Hill, Oxford, and Cumnor seem to have lots more snow than us in Abingdon.

Town better prepared for snow with new salt bins and spreader

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prepared for the snow
I did hear tell that there are going to be lots of new salt bins around town. So far I have just noticed the one, but I am sure there are others scattered about on difficult slopes and corners.
prepared for the snow
The town council also now owns a salt spreader. It was out this morning sprinkling salt on the pavements of Margaret Brown Gardens. The device also doubles as a grass seeder and so will be very useful all year round.