Category Archives: county hall

County Hall abseil


Abingdon County Hall was taped off this afternoon as a worker abseiled about the outside.

A van, parked nearby, was the property of  Chiltern Lifts Company. And so this could have been part of a survey to see about installing a lift, something the town council have started to investigate. Town council officers met recently with Historic England Planning and architects to consider three options for the lift. (But that is a complete guess. Somebody out there may know better. Perhaps it was the Mayor’s Charity Abseil.)

UPDATE: Actually, my guess was wrong. The lift engineers were looking at the current lift and will be back once they have consulted with the manufacturers. It could be out of action for a while. The abseil was English Heritage workers repairing the balustrade and cupola. They also cleaned the windows.

Like Stonehenge the County Hall in Abingdon has stood the test of time.

Arches
The County Hall in Abingdon looks magnificent from whatever angle you view it.

The hall was built between 1678 and 1683 and amazes people travelling through Abingdon.
Arches
Recent architecture looks insubstantial alongside.
Arches
The Abingdon Market Place viewed through its arches has seen many changes.
Arches
Like Stonehenge the County Hall has stood the test of time.

Myth, Mystery and Music – Art Exhibition

Myth Mystery Music
The 2018 Abingdon County Hall Musuem Guide is now available, and makes a very colourful and handy guide to the coming year.
Myth Mystery Music
The first new exhibition of 2018 opened yesterday, Saturday 13th January, and runs until 18th March, and is called Myth, Mystery and Music.
Myth Mystery Music
Local artist Caroline Ritson goes in search of sightings of the Green Man in hedges, flowers and foliage, and when she has found an eye or face, she paints it in great detail. It is fun to try to find the Green Man in her pictures. Caroline also has pictures of Morris Dancing and Music Festivals.
Myth Mystery Music
Alongside these are paintings by another local artist, Barbara Payne. Some of her paintings portray the mysteries to be seen near The Oldest Road (The Ridgeway), including the White Horse, Wayland Smithy, and Blowing Stone. She also has paintings of musicians, and produces ceramics, prints, and books of poetry.

The Magical MG, seen here, is always there in the museum gallery.

New flagpole on the County Hall roof

New Flag Pole
There was a road closure early this morning to allow Ecclesiastic Steeplejack Ltd to install the new flagpole on the County Hall in Abingdon
New Flag Pole
The old pole had been shortened – to cut out the rot, resulting in flags being buffeted against the guy wires. The new timber pole is back to the original length of 6.7 meters.
New Flag Pole
It is finished in white marine gloss paint which will last for many years to come.
New Flag Pole
In this picture the new pole can be seen balanced across the walls at the top of the staircase as the giant cherry-picker brings the steeplejacks safely back to earth.
New Flag Pole
The new flagpole is now held in position by four guy wires – all ready for whatever flags the Town Council’s policy allows to be flown, and whatever winds buffet the flags.