Thanks to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette for the following news from Abingdon 100 years ago in February 1919. ( © Successor rightsholder unknown. All Rights Reserved.)

1st Feb 1919
The Abingdon Prisoners’ of War Committee entertained the local returned prisoners of war and their friends at the Abingdon Corn Exchange, on Thursday evening last. The hall was gaily decorated with flags, and mottoes. The festivities included a substantial meat tea, followed by an excellent entertainment. The caterer was Mr Hathaway, who provided a large iced cake inscribed ‘Welcome to Home Sweet Home.’ The number of men entertained was nearly 50, and each was asked to bring a friend.

8th Feb 1919

The North Oxford concert party gave an entertainment in the Abingdon Corn Exchange, on Thursday last, in aid of St. Dunstan’s Hostel for the Blind. The programme was an excellent one, but there was a limited audience.

Abingdon Philanthropic Society has just issued the balance sheet for the past year, which shows that with £31 1s 2d. brought forward from last year, £7 8s 10d. from interest and investments, and £37 11s 6d. donations and subscriptions, the total receipts were £76 1s 6d. Grants to applicants were £l6. £20 was placed to deposit account, and the expenses were 8s 4d. This allowed the sum of £30 to be carried forward. The report of the past year stated in reference the grants applicants that it is obvious that the continued high rate of wages and army pay the Society’s mission of relieving cases of distress amongst the industrious and meritorious poor has been somewhat limited, but heavy claims on the Society’s funds are anticipated on the return of more normal times.

The Milton Red Cross Hospital is about to be closed for renovation but if military necessities prevail after the work is completed Mr and Mrs Mortimer Singer will again give up this beautiful residence in continuance of hospital work, but otherwise intend occupying themselves.

The Nag’s Head public house on the Abingdon Bridge, which has been closed for some considerable time, and belonging to the Governors of Christ Hospital, had its license opposed by the Captain of the Salvation Army at Abingdon, Mr Dowse. The Abingdon County Bench renewed the license.

15th Feb 2018

The annual meeting of the Abingdon Fire Brigade was held last week at the Fire Station, Mr W. M. Coxeter, Chief Officer, presiding. The balance sheet, produced and adopted, showed that with £73 5s 1d brought forward, the annual subscription of the Abingdon Corporation of ten guineas, and sums from insurance companies, etc. gave the total receipts of £103 0s 4d. The expenditure was £16 13s 3d, leaving a balance of £86 8s 1d. The report mentioned that the Brigade had four calls during the year, one of which was outside the town. The staff was three officers and ten firemen, with two others serving in the Army.

An inquest was held at the Abingdon Union on Monday, before Mr Coroner, on the death of John Lamer, an inmate. It appeared from the evidence that another inmate found the deceased on the lavatory floor on Sunday morning dead. Deceased, who walked with crutches, had slipped up and thereby hurt his head.

At the County Bench in Abingdon the following school attendance cases were heard :- Robert Lardner, Botley, was fined 5s in respect of his daughter. Charles Lewington, Hinksey, was summoned in respect of his three children. P.C. Martin said when he delivered the summons the defendant said’he kept the children at home because he had pawned their clothes to get food. The case was adjourned for a month.

Sgt. Harry Parker, son of Mrs Parker, West St. Helen Street, was named in Sir Douglas Haigs despatch of December 28th as worthy special mention during an engagement on that date. Pte. George Sparrow, son of Mrs Sparrow, 159, Ock Street, Abingdon, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery shown on August 24th in engagement near Boiselle. The medal of O.B.E. has been conferred on Mr Albert Trinder, a postmaster, son of Mr Alfred Trinder, 198, Ock Street, Abingdon, for courageous conduct during a fire which broke out in a military camp shed in which live bombs were stored.
22nd Feb 1919

Pte. Fred Buckle, Royal Berks, son of Mr and Mrs Benjamin Buckle, of West St. Helen’s Street, Abingdon, is reported to have died whilst a prisoner of war in Germany. The number of Abingdon men and lads who have lost their lives during the war is considerable, 23 whose homes were in one street alone – West St. Helens Street, and six of those from one small court.

The Abingdon Cottage Hospital report for the past year, just issued, states that the sum of £500 was received under the will of the late Miss Hyde, formerly of Abingdon, which has been invested in war loans. Alexandra Days, Abingdon in 1917-8 brought in £40 and £72 respectively. Another bequest falls to the hospital under the will of the late Miss Hutching, of Harwell. The in-patients during the year were 74, 18 of which were accidents. The total receipts from bequests, offertories, donations, etc., with £33 brought forward, amounted to £1,186 1s. 6d., and the expenditure £590 10s.

The funeral of one of the victims of the sinking of H M.S Penarth, which hit a mine off the Yorkshire coast, took place at Abingdon Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon of last week. The deceased was Thomas George Taylor, officer’s servant, son of Mr and Mrs James Taylor, West St Helen Street, and had been in the Navy three years. There were several floral tributes and deceased was carried to the grave by sailor lads, the coffin being covered with the Union Jack. Several returned prisoners of war, and other sailors and soldiers on furlough attended the funeral service, and the Last Post was sounded by a bugler.

 At the Abingdon Borough Police Court on Tuesday, three Abingdon lads were summoned for letting off fireworks in the public streets, on Saturday evening last. Defendants pleaded guilty, and were dismissed with a caution.

The Abingdon Horticultural Society have decided to hold the Abingdon Flower Show this summer, which was discontinued during the war. It is however, this year to on a modified scale in comparison with pre-war shows, and August 21st is the suggested date.

Thanks to the British Newspaper Archive for the stories and the Dunstan’s Cigarette advert and Abingdon hat images. The Berkshire school attendance medal is being sold on Ebay. The gravestone is on Wikipedia.

Thankyou to Malcolm for this aerial picture which expands the maps I showed a couple of days ago – on Abbey Close. The top wing of the de Havilland Dragon Rapide from which the picture was taken can just be seen in the right hand corner.

The railway station can be seen bottom right, the rolling stock are flat bed trucks which were used to transport MG cars.

The pens of the cattle market can be seen in the area above that, together with St Nicolas Church hall.

Bob Frampton is planning a new local history book and would like to get stories from people who worked at, or knew about, the Morland’s Brewery. His details are on the poster above which he has also put round town.

Bill Mellor, the head brewer, gave us a very interesting talk about the operation of the brewery a couple of years ago – on Heritage Open Day. The only pictures I ever took were from outside the brewery, so I have attached both.

I remember the smell like soggy cornflakes on the days Morland brewed. Somebody has shared an interesting picture, inside the brewery, on the Spotted Abingdon and Surrounding Area Facebook page a day or so ago. In the comments somebody said it smelt like heated Weetabix and another person Ovaltine.

Thanks to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette for the following news from Abingdon 100 years ago in January 1919. ( © Successor rightsholder unknown. All Rights Reserved.)

4th January 2019

The death occurred at Stert Street, Abingdon, on the 21st December, of Alfred Chalker, a well known and respected local preacher of the Abingdon Wesleyan Circuit, age 77 years.

A Memorial Fund is to be inaugurated at Roysse School, Abingdon, to commemorate those former scholars of the School who have laid down their lives during the war. It is suggested to place a memorial tablet in the School Chapel, and to form a Scholarship Fund to enable boys on leaving the School to continue their studies at the University or other institution.

11th January

Two captured German guns are to be exhibited in the Abingdon Market Place on Monday next.

A Victory Peal was rung on St. Helen’s Church bells last week, consisting of 5,075 changes of Grandsire Caters, in three and a half hours.

A New Year’s Entertainment to the inmates of the Abingdon Union, to which subscribers and friends were invited, took place on Wednesday evening in last week, when gifts were distributed.

The funeral of Pte. Joseph Green, Royal Berks Regt., of Radley Road, Abingdon, who died from pneumonia at Bridbrook Hospital, Warwick, took place in Abingdon Cemetery, and was attended by several soldiers and Boy Scouts. The coffin was covered with the Union Jacks, and there were many beautiful floral tributes. He joined up when he was 16, and had been in France two years, being wounded about nine months ago, when he was sent to the Abingdon Red Cross Hospital. Previous to joining up he was clerk to the Master of the Abingdon Union (Workhouse).

18th January

The River Thames has overflowed its banks at Abingdon, and many acres of meadow land in the vicinity are flooded.

The recent Victory Dance held at Abingdon Corn Exchange in aid of the Local Red Cross Hospital realised £14 10s 6d.

At the Borough Court on Tuesday there were 15 cases for riding bicycles without lights, in Abingdon, between January 1st and 5th, the defendants being chiefly Abingdonians. Four of the defendants were fined 5s each and the remainder 4s each.

A very successful exhibition of rabbits, and poultry was held in the Abingdon Corn Exchange on Thursday evening in last week, when the total of exhibits were nearly 700. The show was arranged by local fanciers and breeders, co-opted with the Self-coloured Rabbit Club.

25th January

A dance was held in the Guildhall, Abingdon, on Wednesday evening in last week, in aid of the Comforts Fund for the Abingdon Sanatorium, when there were over 100 present.

lt is proposed by the Show Committee of the North Berks Agricultural Society to recommend at the Annual meeting next month, the holding of the Societys’ show at Abingdon this year.

The Military Cross for distinguished services during operations in Salonica, has been awarded to Temp. Capt, H. A. Donkin, 7th Batt. Royal Berks Regiment, and son of Mr H Donkin, of Spring Road, Abingdon.

Thanks to the British Newspaper Archive