A new exhibition has opened at the Freespace (opposite Samuel’s). It was open today and will run from Monday 5th to Saturday until 10th September, 10:00am-4:00pm. It has pictures of Abingdon in the 1950s, and memorabilia from the 1950s, and brings back memories of younger days to some …

For others it gives a chance to see an Abingdon long before they were born.

The exhibition has been put together by Elizabeth Drury, who also curated the Abingdon in Victorian times exhibition last year, and Abingdon in WWI the year before. The exhibition is part of Abingdon’s Heritage Open Days programme.

Somebody commented that the Old Gaol Gardens are now open, and so I went through the gate at the side and had a walk round.

The gardens will be used for the medieval foot tournament on Heritage Day. The battling knights will have a softer landing there than on the Market Place, and their squires will be able to pitch tents on the grass.

I sometimes look at images of Abingdon from Ebay where postcards and other collectibles are for sale. Very occasionally I will buy a vintage postcard.

Search for ‘Abingdon’ on Ebay and you will also find: MG memorabilia, Abingdon Town Football programmes and badges, Abingdon vases, and books produced by the Abingdon Press.

There are also a lot of King Dick Abingdon spanners and wrenches.

Somebody today is trying to sell a 1950s advert for King Dick tools. They were made at the Abingdon Works in Birmingham.

Going further back you find vintage motorcycles called Abingdon King Dick or AKD.

Does anybody know the missing link between Birmingham based King Dick Abingdon and Abingdon-on-Thames?

Abingdon County Hall Museum have their last Dinasaur Stomp this coming Wednesday, exploring the land that time forgot. This is part of the activities put on by the museum for the summer holidays.

Then a week after going back to school, Abingdon is turning Medieval on September 10th as part of Heritage Open Days. The 1st Stone of Abingdon Bridge was laid 600 years ago and the festival are celebrating the anniversary. There are leaflets in the museum to tell you all that is happening. There is also the Abingdon Heritage website and the national Heritage Day Site – where you can search Abingdon among other national treasures.

There is not just the medieval festival, but also lots more:

• Fifteen properties in Abingdon open for free
• An exhibition of Abingdon in the 1950s (the week before to remember the Queen’s visit)
• Tours of Culham Science Centre / JET (book in advance by 8th September)
• A talk by Jackie Smith about the history of Abingdon Bridge (on 8th September)
• Walks
• A bell ringing demonstration (part of over 500 bell ringing events during Heritage Open Days nationally).