Outside the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon miniature snowmen have been left to their fate. The first one to melt appears to have been dosed with red food dye.
By the next day the three in the centre had got frizzled by the sun.
There was a message near the snowmen which read ’20-23 June @ Unicorn Theatre’ .
As Agatha Christie said in one of her books, ‘And then there were none .’
Thanks to Captain Chaos for these Abingdon Ghost Signs, and background information.
The first sign is the old Hygienic Laundry on the corner of Wilsham Road.
Second is on the side of the house to the right of the entrance of Sydenham’s (ex Fred Knights), on Ock Street, and says ‘H Giles the builder’. At one time this house was a small shop run by Dick and Dolly, relatives of the Fitchetts who operated a Rag & Bone yard just across the road. The yard has gone, replaced by houses aptly named Fitchett yard.
The third is Brake Bros, seed and corn merchants. They operated in the yard at the back of the chip shop (once Dick Reeves) in an old garage that was once a coach company.
The fourth is clear to see. Edward street was famous as the only street in the world where there was day and night at the same time. Day’s the Baker at one end and Knights D.I.Y at the other.
Finally, the wording is badly faded but from memory it depicted the businesses of: P.L Barrett the undertaker, Pollards the plumbers, and E H Enoch’s coal merchants? It’s on the corner of Conduit road and Ock St.
“The Nags Head” is written in the roof tiles above the pub – after the recent roof job.
Next time Tim Peake peers down on Abingdon, from the International Space Station, I wonder if he will be able to make out the pub’s name.
There was a time, not so long ago (probably about 5-6 years), when the Vale of White Horse District Council had a strict policy towards roadside advertising, and local organisations did not feel they could promote their events effectively to passing traffic.
Now the policy seems far more lenient.
The road barrier, left in place because of troubles with the River Stert Culvert underneath, has become the temporary town noticeboard.
You cannot have missed there and elsewhere that Sweet Charity by Abingdon Operatic Society is on this week. The musical at the Amey Theatre follows a dancer through the night clubs of New York in search of love, and includes well known songs such as: ‘Big Spender’, ‘The Rhythm Of Life’ and ‘If My Friends Could See Me Now’.
The system works well enough so long as events are local and are removed soon afterwards – not always the case: Mad Up Reunion in Reading back in May is still up at the end of October on Stratton Way.