If you have been to Perth in Western Australia then you may well have seen this village. It was first opened on 1st March 2003 and since then is continually being added to.

The Abingdon miniature village web site says “Abingdon Miniature Village is named after the town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, 10 klms south of Oxford on the River Thames and is the oldest continually inhabited town in the UK. Buildings such as the Abingdon County Hall, Church of St Nics and Old Anchor Inn pub have been meticulously reproduced in miniature.”

All three are pictured here, but if you are down that way you will also discover many more buildings including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage – the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

It is rather like the miniature world created at Pendon museum six miles from the real Abingdon in the village of Long Wittenham. In the museum buildings from all over the 1930s Vale of White Horse have been built on one huge Railway layout. Opened in 1954, it is still growing.

This picture was taken a while back as you can tell from the St George Flags in the window of the Chinese Kitchen takeaway on the square.

The pagoda like design matches the current occupant below.

The Mayor of Abingdon is the one person who still has his or her own pew in St Helens Church. There was a time when many people had special pews.

The corporation pew was paid for by the Corporation when John Tomkins was mayor in the early 1700s. Recently the Town Council gave a grant to the church for its upkeep and reinstatement during the church refurbishment.

The mayor still uses it when there is a civic or important church event. And the freemen and town councillors and other dignatories sit behind the Mayor.

However it is now located at the side, and the people of Abingdon now get as good, if not a better, view than the local dignatories. This is in line with Jesus teaching “He who would be last shall be first, and he who would be first shall be last…”

The carved figures of the unicorn on one side, and the lion on the other have rings which serve to hold the Abingdon mace. The mace itself has been compared to the mace of the House of Commons. ( picture of mace will follow )

The Abingdon Road is the main road south out of Oxford.

At one time it would have formed part of an ancient saxon road connecting Northampton and Southampton and running through Winchester Abingdon and Oxford. This ancient milestone at 309 Abingdon Road shows “To Abingdon 5 Miles”.

This public house about halfway along the Abingdon Road is a reminder that at one time you entered Berkshire after crossing south of the Thames at Folly Bridge.

Not only the roadsign but also certain buildings are named after the town of Abingdon 5 miles south.

This Annex for Hertford College is called Abingdon House

The Abingdon Road has three-story houses, guest houses, shops, and college buildings, and a playground on one side.

And on the other side there are allotments, and acres of college sports fields, and a recently built Four Pillars hotel. The hotel replaced an unusual farm supermarket that was there until twenty years ago.

Anyway, here is one of the college cricket pitches with Abingdon Road behind. The batsman is just about to drag the ball to the nearby fielder.

And finally Folley bridge, where a red Salter notice on the wall announces boats leaving for Abingdon.

An X3 bus is also heading out to Abingdon.

So what you can do is get the boat one way and return on the bus.