The Steam Plough and steam ploughing


The pioneer of the steam plough was John Fowler of Leeds, according to wikipedia, who used steam engines and a winch from 1850 to mechanise agriculture. One steam engine pulled a plough across a field using a wound cable, and another steam engine pulled the plough back. In the early twentieth century, steam ploughs were superseded by tractors, powered by internal combustion engines. They are more like horses or oxen.

The Steam Plough pub in Abingdon was opened around 1873 and closed in the 1920s. The pub’s era fits within the age of steam ploughing.

The Steam Plough’s extrovert brickwork wants to be noticed. The Victorian-era brick patterning off Broad Street in Abingdon is called Victoria House and is at Number 10 Broad Street.

Summer Reading Challenge (and writing challenge)


Since 1999, Abingdon Library has encouraged children to participate in the summer reading challenge, keeping children reading during the summer holidays. In 2020 the theme was Silly Squad. In 2021 it was Wild World Challenge. This is the twentieth year, and the theme ‘Gadgeteers’ will spark children’s curiosity about the world around us. For more information visit https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/.

Could I also suggest a writing challenge?

It was so hot at the Monday Market yesterday that many stall holders left early. The meat man went before the meat mutated. The baker left before the bread got toasted. The egg stall left before all the eggs hatched.

The flower stall left before the plants wilted.

Even the card shop left before the cards went white.

If anybody is up for a summer writing challenge, send something interesting about Abingdon to backstreet60@gmail.com.

Flowers and art in St Ethelwolds garden


Visitors are usually welcome to look around the garden and relax. There is a blaze of firey colour along the wall at St Ethelwolds.

Looking back at the house, the flowers are a foaming sea of lilac and pink.

Last weekend three artists had a display of pictures in the outhouse. Dougie Simpson, Caroline Ritson and Marion Owen are regular art exhibitors in St Ethelwold’s garden.

Here are a few of Dougie’s pictures of Abingdon, Venice, and Florence.

Radley Lakes – July 2022


The Radley Lakes Trust organised a community event with cakes, nature activities, and music at Radley Lakes. I left my bike in good company and looked around.

The Abingdon Community Choir sang a song written specially by Helen Eccleston. It began:
Come and spend a while down by the Lake
with a view to make you smile down by the Lake


The choir were followed by Trev Williams by the Lake.

The Radley Lakes Trust carried out a survey at their information stall by the Lake.

The Thrupp Lake cake stall also sold ice lollies on this hot afternoon.

The sun was out, and the blue sky was reflected in Thrupp Lake.

Nature activities by the Lake included plant identification with David Guyoncourt

and bird watching through a telescope with Ian Elkins

and Graham Bateman on the lookout for mini beasts.