What’s on over the weekend

Farmers Market on Friday, August 18th, from 9am to 1pm in the Market Square. Local farmers and producers will sell their fresh produce, meats, cheeses, breads, and other goods.


Big Summer Coffee Morning at Abingdon Baptist Church on Saturday, August 19th from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the church car park. Enjoy homemade cakes, teas and coffee, plus stalls selling cards, jewellery and crafts. Second-hand books are also on offer, and the JAM band will be playing throughout the morning. All proceeds go to the church’s development project.

MGs on the Market Place on Saturday, August 19th. The MGV8 will be celebrating their Golden Anniversary starting with a display from 9.30 – 12.00 before heading off to the Dog House for lunch.

Women’s World Cup Final between Spain and England at the Abbey Cinema on Sunday, August 20th at 11am. Tickets are £0 at the Abbey Cinema

Pick your own sunflowers at High Lodge Farm, on the road to Culham, until early September https://www.highlodgefarm.com/.

Abingdon County Hall Museum looks at options for New Lift as Old Lift is repaired


The Abingdon County Hall Museum has a small lift from street level that can take visitors to the cellar area. It first opened in July 2012, but has been out of order for all of 2023. Repairs are now underway.

In 2010, plans to install a lift to the main gallery were rejected by English Heritage, who argued that it would have caused harm to the Grade II listed building. However, Abingdon on Thames Town Council, who run the museum, have said in the past that they are committed to making the museum more accessible and are currently considering options for a larger lift. The museum manager was asked in the finance committee meeting of June 2023 to report back on options, and money has already spent on the project of a new lift.

In the meantime, visitors to the museum who need to access the upper floors can use the staircase. The staircase is located at the back of the building and has 120 steps.

Bellway starts moving earth for New Housing Estate in North Abingdon


Bellway has started work on a new housing estate in North Abingdon to be called Radley Reach. The development, located north of Twelve Acre Drive and east of Oxford Road, will build 371 new homes, including a new sports pavilion and playing pitches.

The first phase of the development has already begun, with the earth moving and laying the first entrance from Twelve Acre Drive and some signs. The development will also include a central area of retained trees, which will be known as St. Helen’s Park.

The existing footpath to Radley College driveway has been protected with fences for the moment and a diversion is planned.

Bath Street Gas Mains Replacement


SGN, the gas distribution company for Southern England, is replacing old metal gas pipes with new plastic pipes in Abingdon. The new pipes are yellow because that is the standard colour for gas.

The work in Bath Street is scheduled to be completed on 1st September 2023. This is part of a larger programme of gas main replacement that is being carried out in phases across Abingdon.