Monthly Archives: January 2012

A Thankyou from Sri at Best One

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Tesco Opens
The former Ox Public House opened as a Tesco Express yesterday. Tesco staff held a small opening ceremony.

I have a comment from Sri from Best One next door. I hope he does not mind me repeating it here …

“I hope all of you have a very good start in 2012. As you know, I am the owner of the Best One shop that just opened last year in January. And have built a very successful business and customer relationship. Today is 20/01/2012. The Tesco express opening day. I can’t describe my feelings and stress. So you can imagine it’s not a good start of the year 2012. However my lovely local customers have encouraged me with support. Today I have seen in my shop, most of the customers who are very close. All said to me ‘Stay steady and we will support you’. I think it is extra ordinary… Thankyou … Sri”

Deer near Radley Lakes

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Deer near Radley Lakes
Thanks to Peter for this picture of the deer at Wick Hall through the trees from Radley lakes. He says these countryside walks start only a few hundred yards from the Peachcroft/Audlett Drive estates.

The hide on the Abingdon side of Radley lakes has a large poster of birds on the wall and on Peter’s visit he identified several species of duck and other water birds eg different gulls, grebes and cormorant. He says “Who knows what you might see. (Take your binoculars though!). There is a claim of someone seeing an osprey last autumn! The path around the lake is easy to follow and well worth a visit. The Earth Trust have done a marvellous job so far and I hope they raise the funds to build a visitor centre.“

The Old Mayor’s House – from back to front

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The Old Mayor's House
I often pass these flats and read the two large address plates on the back saying that this is “The Old Mayor’s House”.

Today I read about that building in Historic Abingdon, Fifty-six articles by Agnes C  Baker. On the 18th April 1952 she wrote  “The house breakers are at work in Abingdon … at No 9, High Street … workmen hurl down masonry … just as close on 400 years ago the house was build.”

Number 9, The High Street, was once the house of Richard Mayott, the first Mayor of Abingdon –  1556. He was also Mayor 1568-69, and for the third time in 1578, during which time he died.

Miss Baker writes that elaborate carving have been discovered on the back of one stone fireplace, and says that people conjecture that the stone is from Abingdon Abbey.
The Old Mayor's House
Back then the building was being rebuilt to provide better premises for the Co-operative Society.

That same shop is currently To Let. Two letting agents seem to be involved – one of whose sign fell down at the end of November, and is still to be seen in a heap on the ground.

Views round Nags Head Island, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

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Views from Nags Head Island
Thanks to Spike for this wonderful sunny view from a kayak taken a day or two ago. You can just see Nags Head Island on the left.

Getting this picture gave me the excuse to use a few more pictures of Abingdon-on-Thames taken over the weekend. They are views round Nags Head Island.
Views from Nags Head Island
Abingdon Boat Centre / Kingcraft Chandlery and Quayside Services.
Views from Nags Head Island
The further end of the island with the striking Red Dragon boat, and the even more striking spire of St Helen’s Church.
Views from Nags Head Island
Looking over the River Thames towards the cricket field, with some frosty trees in the foreground.
Views from Nags Head Island
The Old Gaol – old buildings.
Views from Nags Head Island
Old Gaol – new buildings.
Views from Nags Head Island
And a swan coming to see if I have any food.
Views from Nags Head Island
I must not forget that there is also a pub – called the Nags Head – for sale – over the bridge, on the other half of the island.