This afternoon, David Busby of Busby Bees entertained the Evergreen Club at Trinity Church, Abingdon, with an informative talk about bees. He showed a picture of a bee in amber that dates from the time of the dinosaurs. Bees were pollinating flowers both then and now.

Trinity Church will be celebrating a 150th anniversary on Sunday. The Sunday Morning service will include a look back over the last 150 years, and various archives items will be displayed. (The picture above shows the church during the removal of the pews in the early 1970s.)

On Wednesday last (November 26th 1873), the foundation stones for the new Wesleyan chapel were laid in Abingdon. The chapel is to be one of the largest in the town and will serve as a place of worship for the Wesleyan community. The stones were laid by Mrs. J. C. Clarke, her daughter Miss Elizabeth Clarke, Miss Edith Mewburn of Wycombe Park and Miss Sarah Vanner from Banbury. The Sunday School stone was laid by Mr. Harry Clarke. Behind one of the stones was placed a time capsule containing a copy of The Times, The Methodist Recorder, The Abingdon Herald, and a programme of the day’s services. The ceremony was attended by around 500 people, but the weather was not favourable and it rained heavily. This caused many of the company to leave early and the ceremony was adjourned to the Ock Street chapel after the last stone had been laid. The Rev. S. Atkinson, Abingdon’s Wesleyan Minister, led the singing of a new hymn he wrote for the occasion:

Thou who hast in Sion laid
The true foundation stone,
And with those a covenant made
Who build on that alone;
Hear us, Architect divine,
Great builder of Thy church below,
Now upon Thy servants shine
Who seek Thy praise to show.

(Taken from The Oxford Times of November 29th 1873 and D. B. Tranter’s ‘History of Trinity’)

Death of a Well-Known Abingdon Printer

James Burgess, a prominent member of the Abingdon community, passed away on Sunday morning at his residence in The Market Place. He had been the owner of Burgess and Son, a successful printing business in Stert Street, now owned and operated by his son. Burgess was a staunch churchman and a member of the North Berks Conservative Association. His funeral took place in Abingdon on Wednesday.

Mid-Weekly Services Concluded

The Abingdon Free Churches concluded their series of mid-weekly services on Wednesday evening at the Primitive Methodist Church. The preachers, organist (Miss Cox), soloists, and secretary (Mr. Busby) were all thanked for their contributions to the series. Several musical items were performed, and there was a large attendance.

Women’s Constitutional Association Meets

The Abingdon branch of the Women’s Constitutional Association met on Tuesday in the Roysse Room, Borough Buildings. Mrs. Welchman, an agent for the district comprising the home counties, was the chief speaker. There was a good attendance.

Choral Society Annual Meeting

The Abingdon Choral Society held its annual meeting on Saturday. The balance sheet showed a surplus of a little over £9. All of the officers were re-elected, and Messrs. J. Gilbert and W. James were added. The honorary conductor is Mr. H. Sheldon Peach, and the honorary secretary is Mr. A. A. Mills of Swinburne Road, Abingdon.

FA Amateur Cup Football Games

There were only two matches of special interest last Saturday. On the Abingdon ground, the town club faced a strong team from Cowley, Oxford. The visitors displayed good form and proved too strong for the home team, winning by five goals to one. This match was part of the FA Amateur Cup competition. In the same competition, Abingdon Pavlova journeyed to Banbury where they met the Harriers and emerged as winners after an excellent game, securing victory by four goals to one.

Pavlova Sports Club Holds First Whist Drive of the Season

The Pavlova Sports Club held their first series of whist drives for the winter season on Thursday evening at their canteen, lent by the Pavlova Leather Company, Ltd. There were over 100 present.

Trades and Labour Council to Run Candidate in November Town Council Elections

The Trades and Labour Council decided, at a meeting last week, to run a candidate in the next November elections for the Town Council.

Two Boys Charged with Stealing Brass Calendar

A special Children’s Court, at the Borough Police Court, was held on Friday, when two boys were charged with stealing a brass calendar from a shop of Charles William Moore, antique dealer, Bridge Street. The article was found at the house of the younger defendant, and he was bound over for six months. The older defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was dismissed.

Michaelmas Fair Draws Crowds

The Michaelmas Fair took place on Monday and Tuesday, with the marketplace, High Street, and a section of Ock Street bustling with fair paraphernalia. The fair caravans were set up in the fairground on Sunday afternoon, drawing a large crowd. The weather was pleasant on Monday until the evening, with Tuesday remaining clear. However, the rain on Monday dampened the usual arrival of visitors from Oxford by bus and rail.

Farm Fire: Alleged Incendiarism, Man in Custody

A fire broke out at Mr. Woodin’s farm at Southmoor at about 9:30 am on Wednesday morning. The Abingdon Fire Brigade fought the fire until early Thursday afternoon, but damage to straw and hay is extensive. The fire is alleged to have been caused by incendiary acts, and a man has been arrested and will appear before the magistrates at Abingdon Petty Sessions on Monday.

Clergy Golf Match Proposed

The October issue of the Oxford Diocesan Magazine suggests the formation of a team representing the Oxford Diocese to compete against the London Diocese in a golf match, likely on a Friday in the upcoming month. The Bishop of Oxford is interested in leading this team.

Abingdon “Runaway” Fair

The Michaelmas “Runaway” Fair took place on Monday, with Wilson’s switchbacks setting up in the Market Place. Attendance was limited during the day, but a large crowd assembled for the evening entertainment.

Workhouse Inmate Absconds

Alice Woodward, a 40-year-old female inmate of the Abingdon Union, absconded from the Michaelmas Fair while under the charge of female officers. She was eventually found near Oxford and brought before the Borough Police Court magistrates on Thursday. After being cautioned, she was sent back to the Institution.

New Social Club for Young Men

Mr. F. C. Belcher of “The Chestnuts House,” Northcourt, has formed a young men’s social club in the village of Northcourt, which adjoins the Borough of Abingdon. The club opened last evening with a concert and dance. Mr. Belcher is the president, and the committee have elected Mr. J. Wheeler as honorary secretary, and Mr. A. V. Argyle as chairman.

Annual Freemasonry Installation Ceremony

The annual installation ceremony for Abbey Lodge Freemasons took place on Thursday evening in the council chamber, presided over by R W Langford. A dinner followed, with a good attendance.

Cyclist Fined for Obstruction

Leslie Leach, 18, from Little Clarendon Street, Oxford, was fined six shillings in the Borough court on Tuesday for causing an obstruction by leaving his bicycle on the pavement in Ock Street.

Evening Classes Begin

Evening classes in Abingdon, under the auspices of the Berks Education Committee, commence this week. Classes will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, with instruction in woodwork (both elementary and advanced), short-hand, typewriting, bookkeeping, and other subjects.

Theosophical Society Lectures

Mrs. Howell gave two lectures in Abingdon last week under the auspices of the Theosophical Society. The topics were “Is Democracy a Spiritual Power?” and “The Brotherhood of Races.”

Meteorite Falls in Abingdon Market Place

During a heavy thunderstorm on Monday afternoon, considerable consternation was caused by the fall of a meteorite in the Market Place close to the cattle market. The sky was extremely dark when suddenly a great noise startled persons in or near the market and several people saw a large oblong shaped red substance fall from the sky and explode on striking the east end of the Abingdon Corn Exchange. The statue that rises from the roof of the building as an ornamentation was damaged, but the glass roof of the building was not. The falling masonry from the statue fell on the pavement and several persons walking in the street at the time had narrow escapes. The statue was a figure of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture.

Abingdon ex officers bankruptcy

The first meetings of the creditors of Ivor Stanley Miles Avery, 100 Ock Street, Abingdon, Berks, now or late an officer in H.M. Army, will be held at the Official Receiver’s Offices, Oxford, tomorrow. The cause of failure alleged by the debtor is “living within my income when in the army.” Having resigned his temporary commission as a second-lieutenant some two months ago, he is now a temporary third-grade clerk in the employ of the Air Ministry. The indebtedness is mainly for loans, the balance being for clothing and hire of a car. It has been incurred probably to enable the debtor to keep up the position of an officer in a regiment for which his own means and pay were considered by him to be insufficient.

League Football Matches

On Saturday, Abingdon Town played matches in the Reading and District League. They visited Caversham and suffered a defeat, scoring only one goal against their opponents’ three. In the same league, Abingdon Pavlova Club faced Henley Town Club on the Abingdon ground. Despite the visitors putting up a commendable game, Pavlova emerged victorious with a three to two scoreline.

Thank you for the news extracts and adverts from the North Wilts Herald and Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette in the British Newspaper Archive. The meteorite story also had national coverage. One advert came from the Banbury Guardian. The picture of James Burgess is from A Short History – Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd Copyright Lesley E Stopps (1980). The picture of Abingdon Pavlova is by Warland Andrew (date unknown). If anybody knows where Abingdon Pavlova Football pictures should be archived let me know.

Abingdon Town Band Wins Prize at Oxford Contest

The recently formed Abingdon Town Band won the third prize in one of the classes at the Oxford and District Brass Band Association’s first annual contest, held at the Worcester College sports field on Saturday. The contest was a great success, and the enthusiasm it generated is sure to stir the bandsmen to fresh achievements. The adjudicator’s criticisms of the various bands should prove very helpful to the members and enable them to remedy the defects in evidence on Saturday.

Boys Punished for Stealing Apples

At the county bench on Saturday, three boys were brought for stealing a quantity of growing apples from the vicarage garden. The parents’ plea was that “Boys will be boys”, but the magistrates treated this as theft and ordered them to receive five strokes each with the birch. This punishment is a reminder that theft is a serious crime, and it is hoped that it will act as a deterrent to others.

Vicar to Conduct Mission in Newcastle

The Vicar of Abingdon, the Rev. A.H. Kennedy, will be conducting a mission from September 28th to October 8th at Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Canon Cooper to Visit Abingdon

Canon Cooper, recorder of Prestwick, Manchester, will be visiting Abingdon on behalf of a “Teaching Mission” of the Church from November 3rd to 11th. Canon Cooper had to postpone his visit to Abingdon last year.

Clergy Staff Changes

The Parish Magazine for this month announces that the Rev. J.G. Denniston, who has been temporarily on the St. Helen’s Church staff of clergy, is leaving to take up the vicarate of Shabbington, near Thame, Oxfordshire. Dr. Phillips, who was unable to join the staff a year ago as intended, has recovered from his illness and hopes to take up Mr. Denniston’s work in October.

Angling Society Competition

The Abingdon Angling Society held its first roving competition for the “Daniel Gardner” Challenge Cup on Saturday. 79 members entered the competition, which was held from Nuneham railway bridge to Appleford Bridge. Mr. H. Fathers won the competition with a bag of eight roach weighing 5lbs. 1oz. Mr. Geo. Porter was second with nine roach weighing 3lbs. 3oz.

Death of Former Town Councillor

Mr. William Fletcher Gadd, aged 69, of East St. Helen Street, Abingdon, died on Saturday last. He had been ailing for some time, and the cause of death was pneumonia and heart failure. Deceased was by profession a pharmacist chemist and a member of the firm of Messrs. Evans, Gadd and Co., chemists’ manufacturers, Exeter, from which he had retired for some time. He had resided in Abingdon for a considerable number of years and was a native of Oxford. He was a member of the Abingdon Town Council for several years, from which he retired in 1919. He had been a Guardian for Abingdon Union for a number of years, and one of the Church School managers, and also an old Freemason, belonging to the Abbey Lodge. In politics he was an ardent Conservative and was amicable and painstaking in all his public and private duties. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon in the Abingdon Cemetery, the first portion of the service being held in St. Helen’s Church.

Boy Injured in Cycling Accident

Reginald Ingram, a boy from 48 East St. Helen Street, Abingdon, was injured in a cycling accident on Saturday morning. While riding his bicycle in Stert Street, he ran over a dog that ran by his side. Ingram was thrown over the handlebars and landed on his head, sustaining concussion of the brain. He was taken to Abingdon Cottage Hospital and detained for observation. He is now progressing very satisfactorily.

Abingdon Town Band Elects Officers

The Abingdon Town Band held its annual general meeting last week and elected the following officers:

Bandmaster: Mr. F. Stoppe
Deputy bandmaster: Mr. R.G. Lee
Secretary: Mr. W. Brogden
Treasurer: Mr. G. Winterbourne
Committee members: Messrs. T. Enston, C. Cox, H. Higgs, F. Strange, and F. Lewis

Abingdon Football Teams Win Big

Abingdon Town Football Club’s first team lost 4-0 to Stokenchurch in the Reading and District League (senior division) last Saturday, having gone in with an under strength team. However, the town’s Pavlova team won their first match of the league, defeating Reading Biscuit Factory 5-0 at home.

On the Abingdon Town ground, the local ‘A’ team defeated the R.A.O.C. Reserves, Didcot, 4-0 in the 1st division of the North Berks League. The Abingdon Town Minors also won their match, defeating Culham Athletic F.C. 3-1 on the Town ground prior to the ‘A’ team’s match.

Pavlova Cricket Team Wins Cup!

The Pavlova cricket team has won the Oxford cricket cup in their second season of inclusion. The team has shown consistent form throughout the season and has made a name for themselves as genuine sportsmen.

Horse Bolts in High Street

An exciting incident occurred on Tuesday in the High Street when a horse-drawn cart bolted from the park. The cart was promptly and efficiently stopped by PS Painter, who is to be congratulated on his quick thinking and bravery.

Abingdon Cattle Market Fortunate in Location

The Abingdon cattle market is fortunate to be located a few miles outside the restricted area covered by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Buckinghamshire. This should bring an increase in demand, although it does restrict the area from which stock can be forwarded.

Oxford Shopping Carnival

The Oxford Shopping Carnival is expected to be a great success, judging by the enthusiasm displayed by local traders. The carnival will feature various competitions, window displays, a baby show, carnival processions, and a display of fireworks. The celebrated band of the 43rd Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry will also be performing.

Young Helpers League, Dr. Barnardo’s Homes

On Saturday 8th September, members of the Young Helpers League and their friends enjoyed a pleasant afternoon in the gardens of St. Helens Mill. The event was a great success, with the sunshine and shade helping to create a perfect atmosphere. There were prizes for the members with the largest box collections.

North Berks Agricultural Society Show

The North Berks Agricultural Society Show, which was held at the Abbey Ground on Saturday, can be classified as a success, despite the large decrease in the number of entries. The quality of the stock was exceptional in some instances, and the judges made favourable comments on the prize sheep. The president of the society, Mr. E.A. Strauss, MP, observed in his after-dinner speech that the decline in entries could be accounted for in many ways. He suggested that the geographical position of Abingdon in the county may have been a factor, as Faringdon, which is the centre of the hunting country, had a record number of entries for its show last year.

Thanks to Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. The picture of St Giles Fair and adverts mostly are from the Oxfordshire Weekly News. The Dr Casells advert is from the North Wilts Herald.

The Friends of the Abbey Buildings Trust have put the former curator’s house on the market. The house located at Checker Walk (incorporating 18 Thames Street) is grade II listed and is thought to be of 16th-century origins and much restored. The front downstairs room was also used as a changing room for the Unicorn Theatre and the office of the Friends of Abingdon but is not generally open to the public.

The sale of the house is an opportunity for someone to own an Abingdon landmark. For sale details see https://www.thomasmerrifield.co.uk/properties/12119143-checker-walk-incorporating-18-thames-street-abingdon-on-thames/.

This could be to release funds towards the enhancement project to make the next-door Grade I listed Abbey Buildings fully accessible, weather-tight and with adequate modern services to allow for all-year use.  The Abbey Buildings project was granted round one development funding of £256,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its enhancement plans towards National Lottery Heritage Fund second round funding, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £2,500,000.

The Abbey Buildings were acquired by the Friends of Abingdon in the 1940s.