Samples have been taken from the timbers of the Long Gallery and the Lower Hall of the remaining domestic buildings of Abingdon Abbey. Following permission from English Heritage the work was carried out by Dr Martin Bridge and Dr Dan Miles of the Oxford Dendrochronology Lab.

Thanks to Michael Harrison for this picture of one of a number of pencil like cores taken from the timbers. Together the samples will be analysed for tree rings which can represent a unique climatic pattern before the timbers were felled.

(Thanks to Elizabeth for the information. She says there may well be a competition to guess the age of the buildings.)

In addition to opening on Saturday September 14th 2013 for Heritage Open Day

the Oxford Preservation Trust opened up the oldest house in East St Helen Street and one of the oldest in Abingdon, yesterday. The earliest owner of the house traced back so far is Sir James Braybrook, who died in 1509.

It was a chance to see the remarkable wall paintings, fire places, and ceilings. The current tenant is a  history teacher who likes to try immerse herself in the past to see what the past might really have been like, so such a house is ideal.

From the top of the house the view to one side is much as it has been for a long time.

But the other side has changed a lot in the last two years as the Old Gaol development has progressed. The work on the new part looks complete now and new neighbours have moved in. Some of them even came round to look round the open house.

But there is still lots of work to be done converting the Old Gaol itself.

Yesterday in the basement of the County Hall, in Abingdon, Air Raid Wardens gave demonstrations throughout the day about what to do in case of a WWII air raid.

Given that Abingdon is close to an RAF base, and close to the MG tank factory, there is a serious risk that an attack by German bombers may hit the works or town.

Incendiary bombs like the one in this picture have caused a lot of damage in cities such as London, and Coventry, but they could be used against Abingdon.

We were told not to handle UXBs (unexploded bombs), but to scoop them up with the hoe and pan, and then put them into a bucket of sand.

We were also told about air raid shelters, and how to put on gas masks. Gas masks have special filters, and include a layer of asbestos, and should be carried at all times.

Finally we were taught some sounds to save our lives. They can be heard on this film recording of the event …

A is for Abingdon – on the other side of the River Thames from most of Abingdon.

B is for the 1870 Abingdon Parliamentary Boundary, a few feet from A.

C is for The Spring Road Cemetery.

Stone crosses lean together.

An angel looks down.