8th October
Two skeletons were found last week at Abingdon. Workmen, in digging a trench for the laying of drain at the new houses on the Boxhill site on the Oxford Road, found the skeletons about three feet below the surface, one of which was in a partly upright posture.

The Abingdon Magistrates have fixed the following hours for the opening of licensed premises under the new Licensing Act: Sundays, 12.30 to 2 30, and 7 to 10; Mondays (market days), 11 30 to 4.30 and 7 to 10; other days, 10.30 to 2.30, and 6 to 10. About 20 of the licensed holders had petitioned for an extra half-hour in the evenings to 10.30.

Contracts accepted by the Abingdon Board of Guardians (workhouse) for the ensuing three months include bread at 9d per 4 1b, loaf; flour 62s per sack; beef ls 2d and imported 9d per lb.; mutton is ls 2d, and imported 9d per 1b.,-and milk 3d per gallon.

At a meeting of the Abingdon Branch of the National Farmers’ Union held on Thursday in last week, a scale of wages was recommended for able-bodied agricultural workers, as follows 39s per week of 51 hours up to October 29th, and from that time until further notice 36s per week for the same number of hours. Overtime to be at the rate of 9d per hour.

The Abingdon v Banbury Harriers game was played at Abingdon before a large crowd, on Saturday. Unfortunately the Harriers had to start with only nine players, Russell and Viggars sending a wire to the ground stating that they had travelled in the wrong train, and instead of arriving at Abingdon they found themselves at Paddington. The result was Harriers 1 Abingdon 0 after two substitutes were found early in the game.
15th October
Abingdon Michaelmas Fair took place on Monday and Tuesday last in gloriously fine weather. The ground taken up by showmen, &c., filled the Market Place, High Street, and a portion of Ock Street, occupying considerably more space than last year. There were the usual crowds, especially after six o’clock, when buses & trains from Oxford and outlying villages brought many visitors.

There was only a short supply of stock penned for sale at the market on Monday last, it being Michaelmas Fair Day.

The Abingdon Girls’ Club commenced their winter session on Wednesday. Classes have been arranged for needlework, singing, drill and dancing.

The Abingdon Fire Brigade have received the consent of the Town Council to issue an appeal in the town and neighbourhood for the purchase of a motor fire pump.

The Abingdon Town Council are going to take a referendum of the ratepayers as to the continuance of the building of a certain number of houses under the Council’s scheme, the resolution to that effect having obtained an equal vote of the Council at their last meeting.
22nd October
The Abingdon Runaway Fair took place on Monday last when the Market Place was fully occupied by roundabouts, switchbacks. &c., By permission the fair was held again on Tuesday evening, the stalls, &c., being allowed to stay.

On Abingdon Fair Tuesday last week a horse belonging to Mr Wigley, farmer, of Appleford, when being led on the outskirts of the fair, shied the roundabouts, and bolted through the large plate-glass window of Messrs Vineys’ drapers shop, and was severely hurt about the head.

A mixed Hockey Club has been formed in Abingdon, of which Mr J. B. Gibbens is the hon. sec.

The Abbey Lodge of Master Freemasons held their installation ceremony on Thursday evening in last week in the Abingdon Council Chamber, and afterwards dined in the Roysse Room, the company numbering about 50. Bro, A. E Wood was installed Worshipful Master.

At the Abingdon County Bench on Monday. Christopher Lower, a farm labourer, of Kennington, Radley, an ex-Service man with a good record, was sent to prison with hard labour for one month for exposing himself on the highway on several occasions between September 25th and October 1st.
29th October
The Abingdon Wesleyan Guild commenced their winter season on Wednesday evening by a debate on ‘Should women enter parliament?’ There was a good attendance.

The Abingdon Branch of the British Legion (Comrades of the Great War) commenced a series of winter whist drives on Thursday in their club rooms in Ock Street. There was a good number present.

The annual sale of work in support of Church Home and Foreign Missions and the Abingdon Church Memorial Hall took Place in the Corn Exchange on Thursday. The proceeds are estimated at £200.

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

Patrick and the Town Crier led the Abingdon Boundary Walk this Sunday morning as part of Heritage Open Days.

The walk started round by St Helen’s Wharf.

There was also a morning walk about Victorian Abingdon around the Albert Park area, led by Jackie Smith – the town archivist.

In the afternoon, the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were dancing in the Market Place.

Two other guided walks set off at 2:30pm.

One was the Lost Abbey Walk,

who went in search of the Lost Abbey.

The other walk was around the Edible Abingdon plots.

There was an information stall, on the Market Place, where people could sign up for the walks or pick up self guided walk leaflets.

In the Abbey Buildings, Mr Busby of Busby Bees was telling people about the history of bee keeping.

The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers arrived soon after to do some more dancing.

Lastly, the Lost Abbey walkers arrived for cakes and coffee.

Heritage Open Day returned better than ever this year. The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames looked round the stalls on the Market Place. They included an information stall, food stalls similar to those seen at Local Excellence Markets, and a stall where the Abingdon Community Fridge made soup out of left over vegetables, aided by young families.

The Town Crier announced what was happening from the County Museum roof, and you can hear him still on the video above. There were also children’s activities in the museum.

There were not as many open properties because we are still in strange times. But those that were open had a lot happening. At St Ethelwold’s house the Abingdon Carbon Cutters were pressing and bottling apples. On the lawn people there enjoying the cakes and drinks in the sunshine. There were also 2 talks on the history of the house, rooms to look round, and an art exhibition.

Cakes were also available at the Abbey Buildings. The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were on in the afternoon.

A monastery garden had been created by Heather and Oliver in the grounds of the Abbey Buildings, and Mike, in the video above, explains how the herbs could treat common complaints agues, bad humors, and cold stomachs.

Christ’s Hospital Hall was open thanks to the charity’s governors.

At St Nicolas Church, Elizabeth Drury had made a food related exhibition from many pictures of old farms, old shops etc.

There was a blue plate scheme showing food outlets from the past. Fabulous Flowers once sold groceries and provisions and they had a hanging pheasant in their floral display. They will be displaying flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show next week. (Possibly a separate post on that).

There was a lot going on at the Guildhall with films on a loop in the Roysse Room. In the Old Magistrates Court at 4 pm, W T Mellor, former head brewer at Morlands, told the audience about the history of beer, and then a history of brewing in Abingdon. Earlier in that room the new WWI Abingdon website was launched. The other old rooms were also open to look round. The Bear Room had old menus from big meals that happened there.

Well done to Hester and the rest of the fantastic team for a great day. More tomorrow with walks, and some open properties.

The Abingdon Union Workhouse existed for almost 100 years, and was big enough to house 500 people. There is a trail you can follow during Heritage Open Days to see how they lived, what they ate and what they did, then you can see how the land became houses in the 1940s. There is also a quiz and a treat for children.

The trail guide is available from the information stall on the Market Place on Saturday 18th September 2021 or downloadable on a link from Abingdon Heritage self guided walks.