J.D.Wetherspoon and The Narrows

6 Replies

The Narrows
National pub chain J.D.Wetherspoon has a history of exploring a building’s past when it comes up with a name for a new pub. They did not use the previous use ‘Old Post Office’ when naming their new Abingdon pub. Instead the pub chain looked further back into bygone times and called it ‘The Narrows’.
The Narrows
Work began on July 18th and should be ready for opening by October, providing about 40 jobs.

Lorries, delivering building material, are requested not to park outside and make Abingdon’s High Street a new bottleneck. Gaffer taped maps show drivers all the way round the one way system …
The Narrows
to the site entrance in the Market Place Car Park.

New Bakery coming soon

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New Bakery
After two weeks away on summer holidays, the first change I noticed on coming home was that the ex Abingdon News plus is getting ready to re-open as a shop selling ‘oven fresh savouries‘ and ‘cakes and treats‘. It has been furnished and painted and awaits a sign.
New Bakery
Good to see that work is also well underway at the Crown and Thistle, following my previous report which was seen as irresponsible in some quarters.

While on holiday I had a very select group of two people following my tweets from ‘Not Abingdon‘ . I have just got my suitcase back after bringing home a suitcase identical to mine. The other suitcase owner made the same mistake when we got back to Oxford in the dark. It was a case of mistaken suitcases.

Building Work

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Building Progress
For years there was just a pile of earth between the motorcycle centre and care home on Marcham Road, but very high flats have replaced the pile of earth.
Building Progress
New retirement flats next to John Mason school are also nearing completion.
Building Progress
At Abingdon College the new training workshop for motor mechanics should be ready for the new college term.
Building Progress
Very difficult to see what is happening behind the stone wall of Our Ladies Abingdon, but a new design and technology centre should also be ready for the new school term.

In Abingdon, “Schools out for summer!”

The Blog will have a short summer break. Back in two weeks.

Herald Revamp

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Herald Revamp
The Herald had quite a major revamp three weeks ago – probably the biggest since it went tabloid. The format has become more modern, more pages have been added, and new writers do features in the Herald Leisure section. The price has also jumped from 45p to 70p.

Personally, I read it much as before, skipping over most of the Wantage, Didcot, and Wallingford stories unless they strike me as particularly interesting, and concentrating on what is happening in Abingdon.
Herald Revamp
The title is now “The Herald – Abingdon” – rather than “The Abingdon Herald”.