In a previous report on Albert Park, I showed how scaffolding had been put around the Conduit House monument and suggested the roof needed repairing. Ben has sent in pictures showing some hoarding. The company are stone masons. This leads me to believe the stones are being repaired and restored.

They will use lime mortar rather than modern Portland cement mortar, as the stones can breathe and last longer with lime mortar.

1st July 1922

Interesting work has been undertaken by the Abingdon Branch of the Berks Archaeological Society—the excavation of the site of the old Abingdon Abbey Church, on the grounds of the Abingdon Abbey House, which was the residence of the late Bishop of Reading who, before his death, gave the great privilege to the archaeologists. The work is being carried out with the support of the London Society of Antiquaries, and under the direction of the Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments, in connection with the Government Board of Works.

The funeral took place at Abingdon Cemetery on Thursday afternoon in the last week of Mr A, H. Emmens, who died the previous Monday, at the age of 69 years. The first portion of the service was held in St. Nicolas Church. and was conducted by the Vicar and the Rev. R, C. MacKeown, Assistant Priest on the parochial staff. Many of the tradespeople and others, were present at the service. The deceased was well known in the town for his life-long services to the social element and was the principal figure in the old Abingdon Amateur Dramatic Society. He was also a keen supporter and treasurer of the Abingdon Angling Society. In his business capacity he was for many years, and up to the time of his death, a valued and trustworthy servant chief clerk in the wine and spirit firm of Messrs Belcher and Habgood.

8th July 1922

At the Free Church united service in Abingdon last week the address was given by Mr John Nash, of Mansfield College. Oxford, his subject being,” The Society of Friends and reunion of the Churches.”

The Church Army Evangelists, now on a pilgrimage from Leicester, visited Abingdon on Monday and stayed until Wednesday. Services were held on Monday in different parts of the town, and in the evening of both Monday and Tuesday rally meetings were held in the Market Place.

An interesting baptismal service was held at St. Helen’s Church on Monday when the infant son of Captain and Mrs Hugh Bailie was baptized. The infant was given the names of Douglas Michael Hugh, and the sponsors were Lady Miller, Major Ferrar, and Mr Sholto Bailie. The font was beautifully decorated. The infant is the grandson of the late Major-General Bailie, of Caldecott House, Abingdon.

ln the list of successful scholarship awards by the Berkshire County Council the following names appear: Seniors—Arthur F. James; Intermediates —Sydney Hunt and Norman Pearson, all of Roysse School, Abingdon. The Junior list included Kathleen Fairthorne, St. Helen’s High School for Girls; Ida Crook, Council School; and John G. Randall and H. Stone, Abingdon Church Boys’ School.

15th July 1922

On Saturday last Hospital Fair Day was held at Abingdon in the place of Alexandra Day when the proceeds went to the Abingdon Sanatorium and the North Berks Nursing Home and Oxford Eye Hospital. The various stalls, &c,. were well patronised, as were motor-boat joy rides from The Anchor.

The wholly unemployed register last week at the Abingdon Labour Exchange was practically the same as the previous week, viz 140, but the number registered as short-timers increased from 147 the week previous to 223, viz., 98 men, 112 women, 4 boys and 9 girls.

A runaway horse was pluckily stopped in Abingdon by the Abingdon Junior Sergeant at Mace, Mr George Ashdown, formerly of London. The horse attached to a van, bolted across the Market Place last week when Mr Ashdown ran and jumped up on the van and secured the reins. He was heartily congratulated by several spectators.

The Trinity Slate Club, Abingdon. had their annual outing on Thursday last week, when they went by motor bus to Henley. The weather was better than anticipated, and the party had an enjoyable time.

At the Abingdon Borough Police Court on Tuesday, Cyril Hodnett, of Marcham Mill, was fined 10s for riding a bicycle without a light, on Faringdon Road. Ernest Harrison, a commercial traveller, was fined £1 for being drunk and disorderly the previous day in High Street, Abingdon.

The Abingdon Baptists held a very successful sale of work in the Schoolroom on Thursday last week, being unable in consequence of the wet weather from holding it outdoor. The sale was opened by the Mayoress. Mrs C. Rippon, A concert was held in the Old British School in the evening. The proceeds of the day were in aid of clearing off debt on the Church expenses.

The funeral took place at Abingdon Cemetery, on Wednesday afternoon in the last week of Mrs Ward, wife of Mr Fred Ward, farrier, Bath Street. Abingdon, in the presence of a large number of friends and sympathisers. The deceased was a most devoted but unassuming church worker, and her husband is an old St Helen’s chorister. In the morning the funeral Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Helen’s Church, the Vicar being the celebrant. The funeral service was held in St. Michael’s Church at which the choir attended, and at which the congregation included the former Vicar of Abingdon, Rev. T. Maitland. The deceased’s favourite hymns were sung in the Church and at the graveside. The floral tributes were numerous.

22nd July 1922

The late Mr Maurice John Dauglish, of Corhill House. Abingdon, Berkshire, left an estate value at £11,745.

The Garden Fete in connection with the Abingdon Branch of the Cirencester Conservative Benefit Society, which was announced to take place on the grounds kindly lent by the Mayor of Abingdon, on Thursday last week, had to be indefinitely postponed in consequence of the inclement weather.

The Abingdon Troup of Girl Guides held a garden fete on Thursday afternoon last week, on the grounds of Mr C. E. Belcher, the Chestnuts, Northcourt, Abingdon. Owing to the inclement weather a large barn was made use of for the stalls, competitions, etc.

At the Abingdon Borough Police Court on Tuesday the only case was that of William Lay, dealer, of Winterbourne Road, summoned for assaulting William Bond, labourer, Bury Street, in the Abingdon market, on the 6th inst. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £1.

At the Abingdon County Bench on Monday last, Arthur Windebank, farm labourer, of Hare Green, Upper Basildon, Berks, having an army pension, was summoned for maintenance of the male child of Elsie May Stimpson, of Sunningwell, born Nov. 22nd, 1919. The defendant had paid 7s 8d per week up to February last. An order was made for 10s a week and Court costs. —Herbert Farmer was summoned (on non-payment of a maintenance order made on behalf of the child of Edith Butcher, of Steventon. The child was born on 15th Feb. 1920, and the arrears amounted to £l5 I9s, and a warrant had been issued. The defendant was discharged having paid £7 since the warrant was issued and promising to pay £7 per quarter.

29th July 1922

At the County Bench Mrs Annie Alder, farmer of Sutton Courtenay applied for an ejectment order against James Mattingly from a cottage on the farm. The applicant stated she wanted the cottage for a man to take charge of the farm, her husband was in an institution, and the one she had engaged left because the cottage was not available. Order for possession in 21 days.

An extension license from 12 to 9.30 p.m.. on the occasion Milton Flower Show was granted to T. Summersby, of the Railway Inn,”

At the Abingdon Board Guardians meeting last week the Master reported that the inmates of the house for the past quarter was 101, as against 83 in last year’s corresponding period, and the total cost was £935 8s 11d, compared with £985 19s 4d. a decrease of £50 10s 5d. The number of children from the Union in Cowley Poor Law Schools, Oxford, was 18 as against 21.

The competitions for the Preston Challenge Cup, presented by Alderman A. E. Preston of ‘Whitefields’, Park Crescent, Abingdon came off on the Albert Park Greens, Thursday last, when 12 teams entered the competition. The cup was held last year by Palmer’s Park Club, Reading. The semi-final was between South Oxford and Oxford City, and East Oxford and Abingdon. In the final, East Oxford beat South Oxford 20 to 18. The trophy and medals were presented to the teams by Mr Preston.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

Adverts and bus happenings are brought to you with help from the Nork Berks Herald.

The pioneer of the steam plough was John Fowler of Leeds, according to wikipedia, who used steam engines and a winch from 1850 to mechanise agriculture. One steam engine pulled a plough across a field using a wound cable, and another steam engine pulled the plough back. In the early twentieth century, steam ploughs were superseded by tractors, powered by internal combustion engines. They are more like horses or oxen.

The Steam Plough pub in Abingdon was opened around 1873 and closed in the 1920s. The pub’s era fits within the age of steam ploughing.

The Steam Plough’s extrovert brickwork wants to be noticed. The Victorian-era brick patterning off Broad Street in Abingdon is called Victoria House and is at Number 10 Broad Street.

3rd June 1922

Last week, the local Saturday Cricket included an exciting and close match between Trinity College Triflers, Oxford, and Abingdon Town. Abingdon made 181, of which score Bradfield made 71 and Reade 66, and the College made 180, the last bat of the College team being bowled by the last ball of the match.

At the Abingdon Cattle Market on Monday, there was a short supply of beef, but there were 75 calves, the price for fat calves reaching £9 12s 6d. Fat lambs, of which a good number was penned, realised up to 12s, and sheep £6 10s. There was an adequate supply of fat and store pigs, and recent prices were maintained.

During the severe thunderstorm at Abingdon on Thursday last week, it was found that at Messrs Drew’s Saw Mills, the electric light switch plate had been fused, and the screw which fastened the plate to the switch was melted.

An interesting presentation took place at the Abingdon Police Station last week when Supt. W. Foster of Abingdon presented an easy chair and smoking requisites to two retiring members of the Force, viz. Inspector F. Webb of Wallingford and P.C. Goodman, the latter is retiring through ill health.

The Abingdon Town Council has reduced the general district rate by 8d in the £, viz., from 8s 6d to 7s 10d. The previous year the rate was reduced 6d in the £.

The Abingdon Pavlova Football Club were entertained at an excellent dinner by the Pavlova firm to mark the close of the most successful season. Mr Edgington, the indefatigable secretary, was presented with a clock, as a mark of esteem for his services to the club.

10th June 1922

The annual report of the Abingdon Free Library Committee has been issued for the first time since the war, and states that several improvements in the provision of literature and facilities to the public have been made. The lending portion of the library has had a significant addition in the number of ticket holders.

Whitsuntide was observed in the Abingdon Churches by early celebrations of the Holy Communion and festal services. The edifices, especially the altars, were appropriately adorned with vases of flowers. etc. The parochial clergy conducted the services.

The Guardians and the Mayor received a delegation of the Abingdon unemployed last week. Work has been found for a few and there are prospects of more relief work being organised almost immediately. The Labour Exchange returns last week were 169 men registered unemployed and 60 on short time. Only three women reported being unemployed, but 120 were on short time.

The newly formed Abingdon Lawn Tennis Club met Wantage on Thursday last week when the visitors won by 113 games to 63.

The Girls Club May Fair held at Abingdon, on the grounds of Alderman J. T. Morland, resulted in £72 being taken for admission, and the sale articles, etc.

The Freedom of the Borough of Abingdon was conferred on Thursday evening last week in the Council Chamber on Alderman John Thornhill Morland, J P., the oldest member of the Town Council of Abingdon, in recognition of prominent civic work in the Borough. The ceremony was performed by the Mayor of Abingdon (Councillor C. Rippon), and there was a large gathering, both civic and lay people desirous of associating themselves with the historic event. Amongst those present was the Earl of Abingdon (who proposed the toast of the health of Alderman Morland). The bells of St. Nioolas Church were rung on the occasion.

17th June 1922

At Tuesday’s Borough Police Court, the magistrates were Messr J. G. T. West, and J. Ricketts. The only business was an application for an extended license for the “Nags Head” Inn, The Bridge, on the occasion of the Fire Brigade demonstration.

In the recent Trinity College of Music examination, held at Oxford, John D. Godfrey, son of Councillor Godfrey and a pupil of Dr Dodds of Oxford, passed in organ playing.

The preacher at the weekly united Free Church service last week, held at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, was the Rev. Evan Newell of Longworth.

The annual meeting of the Abingdon Hospital Aid Scheme organisation was held on Thursday evening last week in the Roysse Boom, Abingdon. Mr C, C. Johnson presiding. In the twelve months the scheme had been in operation in the town the amount collected was £1,020. The Rev. G. B.Cronshaw, the Radcliffe Infirmary Treasurer, gave an interesting address on what the Infirmary had been able to achieve through the help given by the scheme.

The Abingdon Provident Society’s 78th annual meeting was held in the Roysse Room, Abingdon, on Wednesday evening last, Mr J. B. Wake presiding. In his annual report, the secretary (Mr G. Staniland) stated that the sick pay for the past year was £90 less than the contributions. The receipts from all sources, including dividends on war loans, consols, etc., realised over £563. Only one death had been lodged during the year. The total membership was nearly 350, and invested funds amounted to over £9,090. The quinquennial valuation for distribution of the surplus was now being obtained.

The Abingdon Baptist Sunday School Anniversary was held last Sunday, and the services were well attended. The special preacher on the occasion was Lieut-CoL J. Walkey, O.B.E., M.C.

24th June 1922

By the kindness of the Mayoress of Abingdon (Mrs Rippon) over 60 mothers belonging to the Babies’ Welfare League were entertained to tea on Thursday in last week at ” Springfields,” Abingdon. The mothers brought their babies and young children and a pleasant time was spent.

A very successful fete was held on Thursday afternoon in last week in the grounds of Stratton House, Abingdon, the residence of Lady Norman, in aid of the building fund of the new Church Hall completion. There were numerous attractions, competitions, concerts, etc., the success of the undertaking being financial help to the fund of over £l00. The Mayoress of Abingdon opened the fete, which ceremony the Vicar presided.

At St Helen’s Church, Abingdon, on Thursday afternoon in last week, the marriage of Mr William Jamas Prior, son of and Mrs J. E, Prior, of Harwell, and Miss Elsie Theodora Hooke, third daughter of Mr and Mrs W. H. Hooke, Park Crescent and Market Place, Abingdon, took place. The Vicar officiated, and the service was choral. The honeymoon is being spent at Shanklin, Isle of Wight.

Mark Lambourne, retired farmer of Cumnor, was summoned by the R.S.P.C.A for cruelty to a dog by shooting at it on May 27th. It appears that the dog belonging to Percy James Frewin, of Cumnor, was continually at the defendant’s house and broke through the window one night. On the Saturday, after sending it away several times, he shot at it. The owner of the dog said it was injured by the shots. Defendant had complained to him about the dog being on his premises and had threatened to shoot it. The Bench dismissed the case.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

Adverts are brought to you with help from the Nork Berks Herald.