A new exhibition at Abingdon Museum called ‘Romans, Britons & Abingdon – After the Oppidum (AD 43 to AD 410)’ takes us back to Roman Britain. Following on from last year’s Iron Age display, this year’s focus is on how life changed when the Roman Empire arrived in our part of the world, but also includes some Iron Age displays. The exhibition runs until September 28th 2025.

The exhibition includes display boards exploring:
* Food and cookery,
* Religion,
* Roads and travel,
* Burial customs,
* Pottery, clothing, and jewellery
* What a typical Roman town looked like,
* Maps and place names in Roman Britain.

One board tells how places like Calleva (modern-day Silchester) began as an Iron Age settlements and were transformed into full Roman towns. Something similar might have happened in Abingdon. Plenty of Roman artefacts have been found here — but no sign (yet) of large buildings in the current town centre. However, there were Roman villas at Barton Court and villas and a temple near Marcham.

Abingdon was well-placed in Roman times. It stood near key Roman roads linking Dorchester-on-Thames, Alchester, and Silchester — all important Roman towns. The River Thames could also have played an important role.

There’s also a short film about an Iron Age to Roman excavation at Little Wittenham in 2025, where a large barn has been found.

The exhibition includes a few objects, but Abingdon Museum already has a permanent Roman display which offers more objects, including:
* a wooden plough,
* two hobnail leather shoes, including one from a child,
* many pots and a large bowl for grinding cooking ingredients,
* a flask for perfume
* broaches and tools
* bits of mosaic flooring (tesserae) and tiles from Barton Court.

These small objects help us imagine the everyday lives of people who lived here nearly two millennia ago. For a closer look, the museum’s own blog has a piece called A Day in the Life of a Roman in Abingdon.

Admission is free, and the museum is run by Abingdon Town Council.

The wooden monk that once stood on the Marcham Road roundabout has fallen again. Carved from a single tree trunk, he was a reminder of Abingdon’s Abbey, greeting drivers as they arrived from the A34.

But time and weather have taken their toll. The base has rotted from within, splitting apart and throwing the monk to the ground. Another crack runs through his head – as if suffering double vision.

Over the years, the monk had become a local character. Occasionally dressed up in costumes, he brought smiles and scandal to this prominent Marcham Road Roundabout.

Originally installed by Abingdon Town Council during a Britain in Bloom campaign and sponsored by Abbey Press, the figure was cared for — until Abbey Press closed and no new sponsor came forward. He first fell a couple of years ago and after a few months was propped back up. But now the rot has spread too far.

I was recently in Cirencester and saw their own monk and abbot, standing in their Abbey Grounds. Unlike our monk, they stand on a stone base, protected from the soil. They were created by an artist as part of the Abbey 900 Legacy Project and dedicated in September 2021.

Our Marcham Road monk may have fallen, but the idea behind him still stands: a reminder of Abingdon’s heritage. Perhaps it’s time to ask — what should decorate the roundabout now? It’s the first roundabout many visitors see on the way into town. Although many visitors don’t get further than that roundabout – with its out-of-town hotels, trading estate, business park, petrol stations and supermarkets.

Crowds on the River
The town was full of visitors on June 1st, the fine weather aiding in the success of the Bank Holiday. Steamers arrived full of visitors, and by mid-afternoon not a punt or skiff could be hired. Tea gardens were full, with a charabanc party from Birmingham taking tea upon Mrs. Stevens’ lawn.

Chelsea Flower Show Success
Mr. H. O. Longford, of Withington House, Bath Street, has been awarded the Silver Gilt Floral Medal for his exhibition of tulips at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Show at Chelsea. Mr. Longford took up a collection of about a thousand blooms from his garden and arranged them in a circular bed 10 feet in diameter, around a figure of Mercury.

A Lively Paper Chase
The Junior Imperials held a spirited paper chase. The ‘hares’ were S. Green and L. Harvey. Starting from the Market Place, they laid a false trail at Winsmore Lane and then proceeded to Drayton Road via the Sewage Farm, on to Milton, Steventon, Hinton, Garford, etc., and back to the Abingdon Market Place, covering a distance of about 15 miles. They arrived home without being caught. F. Green, who arrived three minutes after them, was the nearest pursuer.

A Bishop Honoured

The Bishop of Oxford, who is expected to become a member of the House of Lords, was a visitor to the town on Wednesday. On the same day on which the announcement was made that the King had appointed him a Grand Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, he conducted the triennial Visitation at St. Helen’s Church, where he delivered his charge to the clergy of the Abingdon and Wallingford Deaneries. In the course of which he made some outspoken comments on modern marriage. Afterwards, a gathering took place in the Abbey House grounds, where tea was served. The Mayor and Mayoress and members of the Town Council were present.

P.S. The Bishop of Oxford Dr H M Burge has died at the Palace in Cuddesdon, Oxford. Dr Burge who was 63 contracted a chill towards the week-end after a visit to Abingdon. His condition was not regarded as serious. Last evening double pneumonia developed and the end came quickly.

Marriage at St. Helen’s
A pleasing wedding was solemnised at St. Helen’s Church between Miss Winifred Hawkins and Mr. William Froude, both of well-known local families. The bride was charmingly attired in a dress of white crepe-de-chine, with wreath and veil, and carried a bouquet of pink and white carnations. The two bridesmaids wore dresses of blue sateen beaver and carried sheaves of mauve iris. The couple departed for their honeymoon in Bournemouth.

A Storm Remembered
Twenty-five years ago to the day, in 1900, Abingdon was struck by a tremendous thunderstorm, followed by a fierce hail shower. Some stones were said to be “as large as eggs.” A photograph of them is on show in Mr. Warland Andrews’ window.

The Windows that Won
Abingdon’s shopkeepers entered into friendly competition, dressing their windows to great effect. Baylis & Co. triumphed in the food class, Chivers in clothing, and Bottrell & Co. in utility. The judges praised originality but noted some windows lacked a clear display of goods or ticketing, thus reducing their selling power.

Abingdon Girls win at Netball
The match between Sutton Courtney Girls and Abingdon Council Girls was played on the recreation ground on Friday. Sutton had two very strong players but the match resulted in a win for the visitors by 16 goals to 10. Refreshments were supplied by Miss Cross.

Boys National School Outing
On Thursday of last week 105 boys and 5 teachers from the Boys National School had an outing to Princes Risborough. Special railway carriages were chartered from Abingdon. The boys spent the afternoon climbing the Chiltern Hills and some boys visited Kop Hill to watch motorcycle races.

Lots of Sheep and Lambs
There were large supplies at Abingdon on Monday, especially sheep and lambs, which overflowed into the cattle and pig pens, the sheep market being insufficient to take the full supply. A good attendance of buyers created a strong trade, and almost an entire clearance was made.

A Brawl in the Vineyard
Raymond Hudson, of Thrupp, and Percival Clifton, of Didcot, were summoned for fighting in the Vineyard. Both pleaded not guilty.

P.C. Garratt said that at 10:15 p.m. on the evening in question he was on duty outside The Vine in the Vineyard, when he saw the defendants fighting with a crowd of people round them. He saw Clifton knocked down, and while on the ground, he was kicking out at Hudson, who was kicking at Clifton’s feet. With difficulty, the witness stopped them, and they accompanied him to the police station.

Percival Clifton said he and two friends came out of The Vine at 10 o’clock, and a friend named Drewitt was causing a row with Hudson. The witness went to part them, and while doing so, he was knocked down. All he could do was to kick, as he was unable to get up. While he was on the floor, the constable arrived. Drewitt backed out of it and went away — (laughter).

Raymond Hudson said that as he was coming out of The Vine, he accidentally knocked against Drewitt, who took offence and challenged him to a fight. Hudson said he would have nothing to do with it, but Clifton came up and said, “If you are going to fight Drewitt, I am going to fight you” — (laughter). Clifton knocked the witness down and fell with him. The witness got up first and defended himself.

The clerk asked, “Were you both drunk?”

Defendants (in unison): “No, sir!”

After a short discussion, the chairman decided the defendants would be fined 5s each, inclusive of costs.

For the news, thanks to the North Berks Herald microfilm in the library and the North Wilts Herald and Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette and LIverpool Daily Post from the British Newspaper Archive. Picture of the Bishop of Oxford By George Harcourt – Art UK: entry hubert-murray-burge-18681925-bishop-of-southwark-19111919-bishop-of-oxford-19191925-16122, Public Domain, Link. Picture of the Abingdon Beauty Spot tobacco card from Ebay. Advert of the Chivers shop from the book Around Abingdon by Pamela Horn.

Public Tulip Viewing at Withington House
A public invitation by Mr. H. G. Longford, of Withington House, Bath-street to see nearly a million tulips has been accepted with alacrity. On Monday afternoon, some fifty availed themselves of the opportunity; this number being increased to over five hundred on Tuesday, and over a thousand on Wednesday, whilst on Thursday, the police had to be called in to control the constant stream of visitors. People should remember that to-morrow is the last opportunity to visit the blooms and is open until 7 pm.

Postman’s Thefts
George Laurence Smith, of Park Road, Abingdon, a postman, was charged with stealing £2 10s. in currency notes on April 24th, and a currency note for 10s. on April 25th, the property of His Majesty’s Postmaster General. The defendant was sentenced to three months’ hard labour on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently.

Charles Franklin’s Church Model
Mr. Charles Franklin, an old Abingdonian now residing in the Long Alley Almshouses, Abingdon,  built an exact model of the early Norman Church of St. Nicolas, which faces the Market-place in Abingdon. Mr Franklin, who is now over seventy years of age, was a bricklayer by trade, and built the model by hand between the years 1885-87. Mr. Franklin has had tempting offers of purchase from London architects and an American architect, but Mr. Franklin intends that it shall become the property of his native town after his death.

Skiff Regatta to continue
The Mayor of Abingdon (Councillor Godfrey) called a public meeting in the Roysse Room on Monday evening to decide whether there was sufficient interest to justify the continuance of the Abingdon Skiff Regatta . The balance sheet showed a balance in hand of £3 7s. 9d. and a loss on last year’s regatta of £8 6s. 6d. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to hold the regatta this year, and that a society be formed to be called the Abingdon Skiff Regatta Association, the members to pay an annual subscription of 1s.

Band Sunday Church Parade
The Town Band held a church parade on Sunday, marching from the band room to the War Memorial, where they played the hymn The Supreme Sacrifice. They then proceeded to St. Helen’s Church, where they played a voluntary before the service, and also accompanied the hymns. The Vicar said the instruments sound all the sweeter through being used in God’s name.

Window-Dressing Competition

The town has been vigorously canvassed and practically every tradesman has entered the forthcoming window-dressing competition. The windows will be judged by two gentlemen from the magazine ‘Display’, a magazine devoted entirely to window dressing. The window-dressing will be divided into three classes: Food, clothing and general utilities. Each has first and second place. Voting papers will be issued to the public, and handsome prizes will be given to those who pick the winners in the same order as the judges.

Excursions to Wembley & Portsmouth
The Great Western Railway Company announced attractive cheap trips from Abingdon and district for the Whitsun holidays. On Monday there will be a day trip to Portsmouth and Southsea, leaving Abingdon at 6.15 a.m., whilst there will be cheap bookings to the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley.

Lost Library Book Appeal

We are asked by the Borough Librarian to appeal to anyone who happens to have a volume called ‘The Wonderful Weald,’ which belongs to the Free Library, to return it immediately.

Girl Guides Empire Day Sermon
The Abingdon Girl Guides attended the morning service at St. Helen’s Church on Sunday, the preacher being the Vicar (Rev. C. S. Fleet), who took as his text St. Matthew, xxiv, 42. In the course of his sermon the Vicar said: Each year strikes me as more extraordinary than we do not make more of the observance of Empire Day. There is something essentially ‘great’ in the thought of Empire Day — and we in England need something great to lift us out of the rut we get into, possibly, due to our living on an island. The Lord Chancellor, speaking at the St. George’s Day dinner, said: ‘I thank God every day that I was born an Englishman,’ but to-day our thoughts go further afield, and those of us who have British blood singing through our veins can think of our brothers and sisters throughout the world and thank God we are members of the great British Empire. It was easy enough during the war years to be loyal and patriotic, but never was there greater need for loyalty, for there are forces at work against the British constitution and against the Christian religion, which can only be counteracted by loyalty to God and the King. We are all very glad to see so strong a contingent of Girl Guides here to-day, and I congratulate those in command. Girl Guides and all kindred organisations represent the true spirit of loyalty, which shows itself not in force of arms, but in service for others, and I would like to remind you girls of those things that really matter — righteousness and loyalty — for in those two words are summed up all you owe to God and to the Empire.

Thanks to the North Berks Herald microfilm in the library and the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette from the British Newspaper Archive. The adverts are also from those newspapers. The missing library book was from Ebay and the Abingdon Free Library stamp was made up.