A Blue Plaque was unveiled at the Boundary House Pub last Saturday for Cecil Kimber, the creator of the MG Marque.
The Boundary House has been a pub for the last 25 or 30 years but before that it was a family home – built for Mr Cyril Viney, who lived there for many years, before and after Cecil Kimber’s residence.
There are now two plaques for Cecil Kimber who lived there from 1933-38. As far as I can tell Mr Viney was the proprietor there from 1927-33, and 1938-58.
The other Blue Plaque will be for Mr Arthur Preston, a great Abingdon Politician and Historian, who was active around 100 years ago. Trying to arrange his Blue Plaque has been more problematic and has been under consideration for almost ten years. The best location still needs to be decided. One place that could work would be Preston Road – the Abingdon road named after him.
“25 or 30 years” ?? More like 50. Either the Boundary House was a pub well before 1966, or I have been subject to time travel. Still prefer the Spread Eagle though.
Thanks Spike. Too late to correct now but that fits.
More than 50 even? When my parents were about to move to Northcourt Rd, from above the gents outfitters (now the chinese takeaway, by the memorial), they went there for a drink in the garden with friends who already lived at Northcourt Rd. I was just walking/running and was going round the fishpond. My Dad shouted at me, i turned, and promptly fell in!! I was convinced “the big fish was going to eat me!” I am now 54 so it must have been a pub for at least 52 years.
Remember playing in their while it stood empty for a while and I think that would have been around 1964, The pond was awful and stank to high heaven, it had a large basement that we entered from the rear of the building.
As an aside there were many remarkable buildings in Abingdon that were either demolished or transformed into something else. in that era.
Barton Court, Dr Barnardo’s, The Oriel Hotel, etc
Fell in that pond myself ,did not learn my lesson fell in the Thames as well 🙂
The Oriel hovel what a place that was.
As to Arthur Preston-didnt he have a house off PARK CRESCENT?
I think the pond was only filled in about 15 years ago – I know the “beware of deep water” sign ended up in our front garden!