For somebody visiting this blog in a few years time, here is what the Bridleway to Sunningwell looked like on this mild September day in 2017. This land has been designated for housing in the Vale of White Horse local plan up to 2031.

News for the day… 1. PM Theresa May has said there should be a transition period of “about” two years after Brexit, during which trade should continue on current terms. 2. US President Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un have both called each other mad in various ways: deranged and dotard and madman are some of the words used. 3. Uber will loose its license to operate taxis in London. 4. THE END OF THE WORLD as we know it could be VERY soon as conspiracy theorists claim a mysterious dark planet will collide with Earth on 23rd September 2017.

Looking to the right of the bridleway is a field stretching all the way to the Oxford Road. One or two houses are visible in Alexander Close, and cars speed at 40 MPH round the Abingdon outer road making it difficult to cross to the bridleway.

To the left is a field that stretches to Tilsley Park, across which are some transmission lines.

The A34 dual carriageway is on the far side of the field, divided off by a small fence and some bushes. It is all very open.

I don’t know the name of either field.

As part of Heritage Open Day it was good to see cars made in Abingdon – still going strong although the MG factory closed in 1980. They don’t make them like that anymore. Bob Frampton, in the picture, is writing a book on MGs called Made in Abingdon.

At 11 am the Town Crier, Tony Legge, announced the Mayor of Ock Street Mr Harry Knight who opened the day with a short speech.
Harry then led out the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers to perform some traditional Abingdon dances.

The main feature of the day was the fifteen open properties. Here at St Ethelwolds House is Richard who gave two talks about the history of the house.

Christ’s Hospital Hall was very busy with lots of visitors throughout the day. They had an exhibition about the wharf and St Helen’s Mill in times gone by.

The Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Jan Morter, also went round some of the open properties, and received a new picture ‘Made in Abingdon’ produced for this event – sponsored by West Waddy ADP.

The Mayor’s Civic Service is at St Helen’s Church this Sunday at 10:30. You are all invited.

Ride and Stride was also happening with over 500 churches and chapels open in Oxfordshire including St Helen’s Church. This annual event always coincides with Heritage Open day, during the 2nd weekend of September, and ensures the churches are open for two good reasons.

More pictures on the Abingdon Blog Facebook Album.

SIR, – Old watermills, though less “regionalised” as to distribution and much less publicised, might be classified with windmills as dead or dying relics of rural industry.

Earmarked for demolition in the very near future is the watermill at Abingdon which has soon to make room for the building of a block of flats. The adjoining white house in the photograph was formerly the miller’s but is now the Vicarage. Left, and behind, rises one of the most famous chimneys in England, the thirteenth-century stack from the Prior’s House of Abingdon Abbey, a feature much copied by Victorian revivalists of Gothic details.

Watermills are an older invention than windmills. All the “mills” in the Domesday survey are watermills: none was a windmill.

A.B. Grist
Berkshire

(Letter published in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 30 August 1961)

Find out more about Abingdon’s Heritage this coming Heritage Weekend.

Apologies that the talk on local brick making has been postponed due to the ill health of the speaker.

But on Friday, you can still come and hear  A History of Morland’s Brewery – A talk by W T Mellor Head Brewer 1982-1994 – at St Nicolas Church.

There are still places for the tour of the Guildhall – 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00 on Saturday 9th September. Book by e-mailing enquiries@abingdon.gov.uk .

If you go into the Community FreeSpace, as part of the Made in Abingdon exhibition, the newly commissioned map showing Abingdon Industry has arrived.

Abingdon then and now – a floral walk through Abingdon’s history at the Abbey Buildings between 8th and 10th September. Put on by the Abingdon Flower Club. etc…