As Christmas approaches, Medlicott Drive is adorned with Christmas lights, and attracts many visitors. Half the houses in the road are transformed into a winter wonderland because of this annual tradition. Lights can also be seen in nearby Nash Drive. They are on the Tithe Farm & Ladygrove Estate in South Abingdon.

Thomas Medlicott was the Recorder of Abingdon from 1675 to 1686 and 1688 to 1689, a Governor of Christ’s Hospital, and the M.P in 1689. The surname used to be spelled Medleycott or Medlycott. There is a long entry about him in https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/abingdon_people/thomas-medlycott.

The Tithe Farm & Ladygrove Estate holds an annual advent window display, similar to the one held at the Workhouse Estate. This house on Bridges Close, adjacent to the community room used by the local community association, also features an impressive display. The room was full of people when I took this picture so they could have been meeting this evening.

The workhouse estate, built on the site of the Abingdon Union Workhouse, comprises Abbott Road, Theisiger Road and a section of Oxford Road. The day 1 window for the Workhouse Estate Community Advent Calendar is easy to see on Oxford Road in Abingdon.

More windows will appear as we get nearer to Christmas. Day 5 with Paddington Bear was a popular window.

The Advent Windows Campaign, as well as giving pleasure, supports Helen & Douglas House, the hospice. People who enjoy the windows can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/page/workhouse-est-abingdon-1699198961316.

The residents of the Workhouse Estate worked particularly closely together during the 2020 COVID pandemic when they came together to support each other.

Despite the lack of real snow, artificial snow added a touch of winter magic to the scene of the Christmas Extravaganza.

It was cold enough for snow. The cold made me feel sorry for the stallholders who stood out all day from 9 am to 4 pm. On Bath Street, there were a mix of festive stalls, stalls seen at the local excellence markets, community groups, and children’s fair rides.
There were also performers on Bath Street, and donkeys from the donkey sanctuary

At noon, there was a parade led by the Oxford Caledonian Pipe & Drum Band. The parade  featured a number of the youngsters, and performers from the day.

The Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council came near the end of the parade,

followed by Father Christmas and some of his elves.
There were some stalls on Bury Street. The community shop in Bury Street had Christmas craft activities for children.

A lorry provided the main box stage on the Market Place, near which sponsors had their gazebos, as well as food and drink stalls.

Town Council staff worked on the lights until the last minute, even stringing up lights on the real tree as the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers performed. The contractor who was due to set up the lights on the Christmas Tree was hit by a drunk driver, while on their previous job, and is now in hospital. The Town Council pulled out all the stops to get the lights up.
At 6 pm the lights were successfully turned on, and instead of the much complained about real fireworks of last year, Katy Ellis with her Katy Perry Tribute Show sang Firework and other songs.

The new tree in Roysse Court looks much better now that it’s lit. Abingdon Town Council organises the lights.

The Abingdon Events Partnership organised this and many other events in Abingdon.

The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames opened the Abingdon Baptist Church Christmas Fayre at 10 am. 

The Town Crier announced that purchasers could enjoy a ‘plethora of perusing pulpitude’, or something similar. He knows some long words and strings them together in an astonishing alliterative assemblage.

Inside there was a lot to buy.

On the way in, we were given a Christmas Card with the word ‘JOY’ and tokens to get free drinks from 35 Ock Street, the Church in Abingdon’s open cafe, on the premises. We got two coffees and bought a large piece of carrot cake for £1.60 that we shared. My wife said it was the best carrot cake she’d ever tasted.