Category Archives: county hall

Raising a glass to Abingdon’s best rooftop views

rooftop views
At Abingdon’s County Hall Museum there are a series of new banners to tell visitors about the attractions.
rooftop views
You can even arrange for afternoon tea on the rooftop terrace and raise a toast to Abingdon’s best rooftop views.
rooftop views
The view across the rooftops and the River Thames towards the farmlands of South Oxfordshire.
rooftop views
The view over St Nicolas Church and The Guildhall to the trees where Abingdon Abbey once stood.
rooftop views
The view over the Market Place, with its four quadrants and four trees.
rooftop views
The view down East St Helen Street to St Helen’s Church.

Taller Flag Pole Needed on County Hall Roof

Storm Doris
The flag pole has been taken down from the County Hall roof and will soon be replaced by a taller flag pole.
Storm Doris
Flags are flown every day of the year from that pole and some of them take a battering as they are blown against the stone finials that surround the tower. Mostly it is the Union Flag that is flown, but there are also the Abingdon Flag, St George’s Flag, Armed Forces Flag, and Commonwealth Flag. I remember the days when the EU Flag got flown on Europe Day once a year.

There is also a campaign to get a Rainbow Flag flown during Oxford Pride on Saturday 3rd June 2017.

Reflections – A quilting Exhibition in the Abingdon Museum

Quilts
Abingdon quilters return to the museum today for a second exhibition that runs until 26th March 2017. Thanks to Judy Harris for the information.
Quilts
The highlight of the show is a huge piece on the Abingdon Workhouse whose hexagonal plan in the museum sparked the first idea, hexagon templates being the first step into quilting for many people. We started with the actual workhouse building then paused. This was an organic project which slowly grew and developed with input from a very large team, and also literally grew in size when the museum suggested hanging it in the central window of the gallery!
Quilts
On the other side of the gallery are smaller pieces inspired by the ancient people, customs and buildings of Abingdon, as well as an MG piece, and a piece protesting the destruction of the Green Belt round Abingdon. The windows are adorned with textile buns made by children in a museum workshop and at OLA Junior School.

There are workshops on offer with examples on show and a free drop-in workshop for children during half-term. If you would like any further information please contact Judy Harris, 07932 718889

Museums at Night – Abingdon

Thanks to Malvin for sending this report… Abingdon County Hall Museum was open from 6pm to 9pm for Museums at Night on 14th May 2016. There were lots of exhibits to look round as well as musical performances.
Museums at Night
Ben Heaney owns a very rare Fender Violin. It is a model that never went into full production, and so is more rare than a Stradivarius. He started the proceedings by actually playing it for 30 minutes.
Museums at Night
The Oxford Horn Quartet followed his performance in the Gallery.
Museums at Night
First performer on the roof terrace was Sarah Fell with some folk songs.
Museums at Night
The Oxford Waits performed later as the sun began to go down.
Museums at Night
Also performing was a young lady, who the Oxford Waits persuaded to sing a song, and then improvised alongside. Malvin said it was ‘brilliant’.

Malvin also took some video clips which I uploaded to Youtube.