First the picture quiz. Put the correct names under the correct pub signs.

Second. Which Abingdon pub has a pub quiz on Thursday and has Morlands engraved in the stonework.

I saw the Old Anchor Inn filling up before 9 PM this evening for their quiz. The new landlord, Jamie, took over the pub a few weeks ago, and was setting the questions on his laptop.

Lastly, which pub has a Morland & Co Limited edition window?

Blackboards say “Beer Garden Open” but it is not open, except when there is Salter Steamer passing by to pick up passengers, or deposit them. Their first impression may not be so wonderful.

The garden is on an island with the River Thames flowing either side.

The gardens are growing weeds, and the furniture is looking sad, after the pub closed at the start of the year.

The Ox pub sign has gone from its traditional place on the Oxford Road. There were once 60 pubs in Abingdon for a population of 5,000. There are now 17 for a population of 33,000.

Black Swan
Blue Boar
Boundary House
Brewery Tap
Broad Face
College Oak
Cross Keys
Grapes
Kings Head & Bell
Midget
Old Anchor Inn
Plough
Punchbowl
Saxton Arms
Spread Eagle
Stocks Bar
White Horse

The times they are a changing.

The Ox Inn on the Oxford Road closed about a week ago.

A couple of years ago the two bars were knocked into one and bigger entertainment added. About the same time a hand car wash business started operating from the pub car park – the bright car wash signs became quite a feature on the Oxford Road.

The popular Landlord and Landlady from The Ox have now moved to the Black Swan in the town centre. It was refitted before they took over and boards outside now advertise ‘Our New Menus’. So there is more mixing of cultures in the Abingdon pubs (as first the Fitz, then the Nags Head, and now the Ox have closed). Some regulars from the Fitz have probably moved to the Boundary House, and some from the Nags Head to the Stocks.

Stephen Green sent me this caption from today’s News of The World. A picture of The Nags Head is used with the story ‘Pubs fall victim to recession.’