In June 2015 Abingdon Business Park was sold by Standard Life to Rockspring.

The site has now been re-branded, and Rockspring with their joint venture partner, XLB Property, are undertaking a major regeneration of the park, refurbishing empty properties to increase occupancy.

Before it became Abingdon Business Park in the 1980s, the MG Factory was on this site, and a few of the original factory buildings have been reclad to form the units along Colwell Drive – what was the MG mechanical repair shop in B-Block now houses UKMail, a major competitor to Royal Mail.

One Superdrug store in Bury Street has closed its doors today.

Another Superdrug shop will open its doors for the first time in Bury Street tomorrow.

Superdrug is Britain’s second largest beauty and health retailer behind Boots,and now they are moving in next door to Boots.

Smith’s Chemist are moving from the High Street.

Smith’s Chemist is probably Abingdon’s oldest town centre shop. There was a Mr William Smith who ran a Chemist in the High Street from at least 1830 (image from Pigot & Co National Directory). He died in 1891 at the age of 86.

In 1894 the shop moved to its current position at 21 High Street, and a A.W. Franklin took over.

There is a Francis Frith picture of the High Street in 1965 where W Smith & CO – Chemist – can be seen at 21-23 High Street. Since then number 21 has become P.B Conway Opticians, and Smiths, at 23, extended into the old Library Reading Room behind, after the library moved to Bury Street.

When the business moves to Stert Street, the name will change to Avicenna pharmacy – a group founded 20 years ago, and the UK’s largest independent pharmacy support group.

This is the first of a new feature. You have to guess the name of the business from the roof and a few other clues.

Towards the end of last year they had a collection for the Abingdon Food Bank.

They have a striking circular mirror that faces the street. Here are some of the staff with an award from Best of Abingdon.

The business has been going for over 40 years. Pete Deane has been the owner for over 10 years but was a partner before that. The business was refurbished and given a new look in 2011.

Some of their weekly clients get to know each other, and a Friday morning can be like a coffee morning with clients that have now got to know each other as friends!

They have a gents side that take walk-in appointments only and a ladies side where they take bookings and also accept walk-ins. In the ladies side they offer cuts, colours, treatments, styling and specialise in bridal hair.

A previous name of the business was Fashion Maker.

They have one of the most amusing A boards in Abingdon. Thanks to their facebook page for most of the pictures.