Unit 24 – The Community Space (Bury Street) is now showing vehicles made and painted by Abingdon Artists  placed in front of the Abingdon buildings they made last year for Heritage Open Days. This year’s heritage theme, Routes – Networks – Connections, has inspired the new creations.

To mark its 180th anniversary the Old Ticket Office at Culham will be opening to the public over Heritage Weekend (Saturday 14 September and Sunday 15 September) between 09:00 and 17:00. This will provide an opportunity to see inside an original Brunel designed station building.

The railway line to Culham passes relatively close to Abingdon. Trains pass over the River Thames near the Thames Path and beside the footpath leading via Swift Ditch to Clifton Hampden. Network Rail completed repairs to the Nuneham Viaduct around a year ago after it was closed in April 2023 due to structural issues. You can see the repaired south bank in this picture.

Foot and Mouth Disease Spreads

Further outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease have occurred at Sunningwell and Dunmore, Wootton. Twelve cattle were destroyed at Mr. Greening’s farm in Sunningwell, and eight at Mr. John Benson’s farm in Dunmore last Monday.

Hospital Board Approves Increased Charges for Isolation Hospital

At a meeting of the Abingdon Joint Hospital Board last Thursday, a new scale of charges was approved. The new charges are: £3 per week per patient for up to three patients, £2 15s per week for six patients, and £2 10s per week for over six patients. Ambulance use will be an additional charge.

Abingdon Groups Enjoy Day Out at Wembley

A group of about 300 people from Abingdon, including members of the Abingdon Constitution Association, the Junior Imperial League, the Abingdon Glove Factory, and Messrs. Coxeters, visited the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley on Saturday. They departed from Abingdon Station at 8:30 AM and returned around midnight. Major Glyn accompanied the Junior Imperial League for part of the day.

Firefighters Prevent Major Damage at Culham Farm

Abingdon Fire Brigade was called to a fire involving two ricks of straw at Mr. P. E. Saunders’ farm in Culham on Saturday. A plentiful supply of water from the river prevented the complete destruction of the ricks.

North Oxford Croquet Club Defeats Abingdon

The North Oxford Croquet Club defeated the Abingdon team by 64 to 58 in a match with a 2.5 hour time limit on Thursday afternoon.

Boy Sent to Reformatory for Arson

A 14-year-old boy from Radley was sentenced to three years in a reformatory on Monday for setting fire to two cottages. He was detained at the Union Workhouse until a place was found and then sent to the Northampton Training School near Towcester.

Grammar School Celebrates Founder’s Day

The Grammar School (Roysse’s) held its Founder’s Day on Friday. The day included a church service, prize-giving, an “At Home” with the HeadMaster and Mrs. Grundy and the traditional Old Boys’ cricket match, which the school won. The school regatta took place on Thursday.

Bible Students Predict End Times

The International Bible Students Association announced a free lecture on “All Nations Marching to Armageddon” in the Roysse room. “But millions are now living will never die.” This meeting is one of an extensive campaign throughout the locality. The Bible students, hold and maintain that great and wonderful changes are taking place in the Earth and that the Kingdom of Christ is at hand. It will be introduced and established on the ruins of the present order.

General Fined for Car Without Lights

General Sir Percy Radcliffe was fined 10 shillings for leaving his car without lights in Bath Street on July 1st.

Maintenance Case Dismissed Due to Wife’s Conduct

A case against Henry Charles Paish for failing to maintain his wife at the Abingdon Union Workhouse was dismissed after the court heard allegations of her immoral conduct. She had been admitted into the Union for confinement. Defendant stated that he lived with his wife for about three weeks after their marriage while on leave after which his wife went back to domestic service, and he went to India with the forces. They had not lived together since that time. The magistrates Clerk submitted that in accordance with a case cited in the law books the Guardians were not entitled to an order in such a case. The summons was dismissed.

Abbey Grounds Open to Public

The Abbey grounds, formerly the residence of the Bishop of Reading, were opened to the public for the first time on Monday and Thursday afternoons and evenings. Admission is free.

Abingdon Skiff Regatta

The annual Abingdon Skiff Regatta was a success on Saturday. The event included races, dancing, and a procession of illuminated boats.

Sources were the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive, The North Berks Herald from the Abingdon Library microfilm. Thanks to Wikipedia for the poster for the British Empire Exhibition and the advert for a lecture about the world ending in 1925.

Abingdon Police Court
On Tuesday, Stanley Ironmonger, 32, of Bath Street, Abingdon, was summoned for riding a motorcycle without a light on Bridge Street, Abingdon, on May 23. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed, with the court giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Stratford-on-Avon Charges
At the Stratford-on-Avon Petty Sessions on Friday, Percival John Farmer, a coal merchant formerly of West St. Helen Street and now of Boxhill, Oxford Road, Abingdon, was committed to the Warwick Assizes on a charge of manslaughter. This followed the death of Thomas Holton, a foreman maltster at Flower and Sons’ Brewery, Stratford-on-Avon, resulting from a motor accident on Easter Sunday on the Shipton-on-Stour road. After a lengthy hearing, the Bench determined that a prima facie case had been made out. Bail was allowed.

Bowling Club Match
On Thursday, Abingdon Bowling Club visited Wantage Bowling Club and played on four rinks. The Abingdon teams emerged victorious with a score of 95 to 71. Mr. F. Taylor, the Wantage captain, warmly welcomed the Abingdon team and expressed his pleasure in hosting them.

Housing Issue
At the Abingdon Rural District meeting last week, Chairman Mr. L. Stevens reported that the newly appointed Road Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector, Mr. Earwaker, could not start his duties because a house could not be found for him. Mr. Earwaker may have to relinquish his current position unless accommodation is secured.

Death of Mrs. Burgess
Mrs. Burgess, a well-known resident of Abingdon, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 75 after a long illness. She was the widow of Mr. Burgess, a printer and stationer who died last September. Mrs. Burgess was actively involved in the Conservative League societies for many years.

County Bench Proceedings
On Monday, Stanley Dunsden of Radley pleaded guilty to riding a motorcycle without a light and failing to produce his license to P.C. Goddard on May 11. He was fined. Frank Harper, a farm labourer from Chawley, Cumnor, was fined for shooting two owls in violation of the Wild Birds Protection Act.

Golden Wedding Anniversary
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. George Rickard of Deloraine, Manitoba, who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on May 26. They were married in Abingdon in 1874. Mr. Rickard moved to Winnipeg in 1883 and then to Deloraine the following year, where he homesteaded. Mrs. Rickard and their four children joined him later.

Girls Club Event
The Girls Club held a “market” on Wednesday afternoon, opened by the Mayor, Mr Rippon. The event included competitions, teas, and a musical performance in the evening, raising nearly £50.

Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak
An outbreak of foot and mouth disease was discovered on Sunday morning in a meadow on the Oxford Road among cattle belonging to Mr. A. Revell. Officials diagnosed the disease and ordered the immediate destruction of 19 cattle.

Bowling Club Match
The Abingdon Bowling Club hosted the South Oxford Club on Thursday, resulting in an exciting game that ended in a draw with both teams scoring 78 points each.

Vicar’s Resignation
At the Abingdon Church Council meeting on Monday evening, it was announced that the Vicar of Abingdon, the Rev. H. A. Kennedy, intends to resign in the autumn due to health reasons. Mr. Kennedy, who has been in Abingdon since 1914, will exchange livings with a younger priest in the diocese of Truro.

Church Fundraising Bazaar
Church members are raising money for the church hall building fund by organizing a scenic bazaar representing a Palestinian village. The event, held on the grounds of the Square House, will feature a replica of an Arab village using 9,000 feet of timber and 18,000 square feet of canvas. Highlights include a gateway resembling the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, costumed stall-holders, tea and refreshments, donkey rides, and a Bedouin encampment.

Baptist Church Activities
The Abingdon Baptists have been actively involved in foreign missions. Led by Miss Smallbone and Miss Argyle, a recent initiative to create items for hospital use and dolls for native children has been successful. These items were displayed in the Baptist Hall, Ock Street, and will be sent to the London Baptist Mission House for forwarding to San Salvador, Congo.

League of Nations Meeting
The Rev. H. A. Kennedy chaired a meeting in the Abingdon Congregational Schoolroom last Thursday evening, discussing the Draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance in connection with the League of Nations Union. Colonel Borden-Turner explained the treaty and answered questions from the audience. A vote of thanks was extended to the Colonel.

Rodeo Participation
Henry Ellison of Abingdon participated in the amateur bronc riding competition at the Wembley Rodeo on Saturday. Although he was thrown from his horse after ten seconds, his effort was witnessed by a crowd of 77,000 people.

After the same event the R.S.P.C.A. decided to prosecute the promoter of the Rodeo at Wembley for cruelty to animals owing to an accident which resulted in one of the steers in the roping contest breaking a leg.

Nonagenarian Celebration
Mr. T. Tripp, a furniture dealer from West St. Helen’s, Abingdon, celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday. Known as “Major” Tripp from his days with the Abingdon Volunteer Force, he has vivid memories of political and municipal events from the early 1880s and received many congratulations.

Bowling Club Match
The Abingdon Bowling Club hosted the Cowley St. John’s team of Oxford on Thursday. The final scores were Abingdon 63, Cowley 52.

Thames Conservancy Bill
At the Abingdon Borough Council meeting last week, Alderman Preston reported that the Thames Conservancy Bill had passed the House of Commons. A rate levy on riparian authorities was rejected, replaced by a halfpenny rate. This means Abingdon will pay about £60 annually, with proportional rates for other areas such as Marlow, Goring, Taplow, Reading, and Oxford. Wallingford escaped the levy due to its rateable value.

Sources were the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive, The North Berks Herald from the Abingdon Library microfilm. Thanks to the Daily Chronicle on the BNA for the first advert, the North Berks Herald for the Palestine advert, and for people selling things on Ebay for the other three.