Monthly Archives: March 2011

Work on old Post Office begins

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Old Post Office
Looks like work has started on the former Post Office. There were plans to turn part of it into flats, and presumably the bottom would be retail or catering.
Old Post Office
Not much to see behind the whited windows and the circus posters, that I can make out, apart from some roof supports. Somebody commented a couple of days back that it might be a Wetherspoon. The Herald are even running a poll asking “Would you plan to convert the former post office in High Street, Abingdon, into a branch of the JD Wetherspoon pub chain?”

Wetherspoons tried, and failed to acquire the building Ask are now in. That was some years ago. Back then the Wetherspoons planning application was turned down. Pubs – most owned by Greene King – did lobby against.

Keep Hadland Road Clear

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We are used to Keep Clear signs near schools and junctions but there are areas where they are more controversial. This is from a Hadland Road correspondent …
Hadland Road Keep Clear
“The first of these markings was put down in January, the second painted this week. At this rate we will not be able to use our own street by the summer or perhaps space is being reserved for a royal wedding street party….. It would be interesting to see if there are residential roads with more paint!”

Our correspondent says “I need sunglasses such is the glare off the fresh white paint when looking out of the window in the full morning sunlight… Horrendous and unnecessary“

The Ox and Black Swan

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The Ox
The Ox Inn on the Oxford Road closed about a week ago.

A couple of years ago the two bars were knocked into one and bigger entertainment added. About the same time a hand car wash business started operating from the pub car park – the bright car wash signs became quite a feature on the Oxford Road.
The Black Swan
The popular Landlord and Landlady from The Ox have now moved to the Black Swan in the town centre. It was refitted before they took over and boards outside now advertise ‘Our New Menus’. So there is more mixing of cultures in the Abingdon pubs (as first the Fitz, then the Nags Head, and now the Ox have closed). Some regulars from the Fitz have probably moved to the Boundary House, and some from the Nags Head to the Stocks.
News of the World
Stephen Green sent me this caption from today’s News of The World. A picture of The Nags Head is used with the story ‘Pubs fall victim to recession.’

Fitzharrys Year 7 Litter Pick

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I have just checked the e-mail and there are 3 reports from different correspondents. It is always good to hear from others. Thanks to Ian for the first…
Fitzharrys Year 7 Litter Pick
“At the end of last term, some intrepid year 7 students volunteered to help clear all the rubbish that had blown up against the fence with Dunmore School over the last few years. They cleared several bin bags worth of litter. The constant rain failed to dampen their spirits, although the rewards of Mr Dennett’s big box of biscuits may have also helped keep enthusiasm high.

This latest drive to help clear the environment of Fitzharrys and the local area comes after all of year 7 cleared the field, all weather pitch and fences of our neighbours of litter. Students are also now eating their lunches in the hall to stop food waste and litter spreading around the school and community service volunteers work with the site team to help keep the school spotless.”