Monthly Archives: September 2011

Heritage Open Weekend 2011 – Saturday

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Heritage Day
Heritage Open Day is normally just the Saturday. But this year there are some open properties and activities on Sunday.
Heritage Day
The new Abbey Heritage trail was unveiled today. Both the Mayor and Chairman of the Vale were at the opening, and it was followed by a guided walk round the new information boards.
Heritage Day
The Abingdon Branch model railway was in the new part of the Guildhall.
Heritage Day
East St helen Street was – as ever – the most popular part of the day with so many houses having displays of their history in windows, or open. This doublet, found in an attic, was on display.
Heritage Day
Throughout the day there were two jesters entertaining the crowds,
Heritage Day
as were the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.
Heritage Day
There were a number of different walks,  but I finished off the day with a walk round the lost pubs of Abingdon.  More to do on Sunday, where the big event is Fun in the Parks from 2-5 in the Abbey Gardens.

Old Tesco Garden Centre to close

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Tesco Garden Centre
Changes are afoot at the large Tesco superstore in Abingdon. Parking will continue to be free for three hours but after that there will be a £70 car park charge. There is also 25% off everything at the Garden Centre.
Tesco Garden Centre
The Garden Centre is closing down.
Tesco Garden Centre
It has not appeared a core part of the business for some time and has been allowed to run down.
Tesco Garden Centre
The garden centre would have been closed anyway as part of an enlargement of the main store – a scheme which did not get planning permission, but now it is closing anyway. Perhaps it will just allow more car parking space. Anybody know?

All quiet on the West St Helen Street front

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New Road
Work began on Monday morning to resurface West St Helen Street. For a time there was two way traffic on what is normally a one way street. The road was done in sections. Monday was from the church to just below St Helens Court.
New Road
Tuesday they did most of the road up to Lombard Street.
New Road
Today, Wednesday, they did just the top bit. So apart from needing lines it looks complete.

Traffic might be flowing again normally if people knew the road has re-opened, but as they don’t, it is all quiet on the West St Helen Street front.

Crowds cheer in David Walliams at Abingdon Lock

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David Walliams
When we arrived at Abingdon Lock a large crowd had already begun to gather to support TV personality, and charity-challenge-taker, David Walliams – who is attempting to swim 140 miles of the River Thames over 8 days.
David Walliams
On this the second day of the challenge, David started at dawn to make up for 2 miles lost yesterday. The press boat came in about 20 minutes before David, and filmed some crowd scenes before it got dark.

It was dark when David finally swam through to Abingdon Lock at 20:20. Alongside were,  canoes and another swimmer for moral support. He had made up the lost miles by doing 20 miles today.
David Walliams
Not quite 20:20 vision but it is difficult to get pictures over a large crowd . Wrapped up from the cold, David Walliams starts off again from Abingdon to Goring tomorrow soon after 7 am.

You can make donations to Sports Relief and follow his progress on this link.