This year, like last year, The Abingdon Christmas Tree is sponsored by The Monday Market Traders.
They will be back tomorrow with lots more Christmas Trees …
and other festive favorites like mistletoe and holly.
All the other smaller markets, that have sprung up in recent years, are advertised with banners and road side signs but locals know Monday is Market Day in Abingdon from 8.30am to 3.30pm. Stalls include fresh fruit and vegetables, outdoor plants, bags and suitcases, clothing, greeting cards, picture frames, mirrors, bread, dairy and meat products, eggs, pickles and jams, pet supplies, carpets, vacuum cleaner bags, pillows and cushions, watch straps and batteries, jewelery,books, olives and nuts, BLACK BAGS and elsewhere more BLACK BAGS …
The Market sounds good – but they do know that most Abingdonians with a pound itching in their pocket aren’t around between 8.30 and 3.30 on Mondays?
Does anyone know why, with all the efforts that are being put in to promoting our medieval market town…why we still doen’t have a weekly saturday (or even sunday) market? It would seem a no brainer from my pov… As well as a fantastic lynch pin for other laudable efforts?
I can only assume that it was put forward at “the first meeting” regarding the town and it’s future fortunes…but was poo-poohed for some reason…? If so, why.
If it wasn’t even mooted (oh dear), do we know why not?
On the assumption it’s a no brainer; why isn’t it happening?
If it isn’t a no brainer….what am I missing or misunderstanding?
I agree, anyone know the reason why?
There are no restrictions on there being weekend markets, indeed there frequently are with the local excellence markets, the continental markets, etc
Markets are independently organised and apply to the town council for a license. A lot of the traders move around between different towns on different days so for the organisers it’s quite a logistical challenge to switch days.
Personally i’d like to see a vintage or antiques market in town, maybe on a sunday. The council have been looking for one of the organisers to take on a market in abingdon but to no avail so far. If anyone is interested or knows anyone who would be let us know.
I seem to remember a regular visitor to this site had some interested parties but the council would not let it be used for these purposes on a weekend,
They will let the french and Italian market in but not a local(apart from the excellence thing) market on a Saturday.
I stand to be corrected but this was the council’s stance a few years back.
FST – as you will see from Iain’s post above things have moved on from then – that argument no longer applies. The Local Excellence Market takes place every time there is a fifth Saturday in the month because the traders already have commitments for 4 Saturdays each month so that is the only time they can come.
Both the TC and the Chamber try to organise market-type events as often as they can, but as Iain says the essential step is to find traders who want to sell there.
Daniel – I know it is not the same thing, but have you noticed how many of the shops are now open on Sundays (and not just at Christmas) – that should help those who can’t get into town in the week.