St Nicolas churchyard is currently having some long awaited work to make the path wheelchair accessible.
But the project was suddenly made more complicated by a large hole opening up under the digger. The workman was lucky to get out without injury. You might have expected the River Stert Culvert, or a burial chamber to be the cause of such a hole.
The hole was actually an old coal cellar right next to the old chimney.
By the way, I recently found this picture in Waite’s Guide Book of Abingdon, from the early 1900s. It shows Waite’s Printing Works, at 1 Stert Street, neighbouring St Nicolas Churchyard,
-where the TSB now stands.
How did that dreadful TSB building ever get planning permission next to St Nicolas Church? It looks even worse from the back.
Does anyone ever use that bank? Never seen anyone go in. No hole in the wall, whats the point!
It difficult to compare an etching of the printing works with a photograph of the TSB. The ground floor of the TSB is not very attractive; but the attempt on floors 1 and 2 to imitate a Georgian style is hardly worse than the printing works.
Lloyds/TSB may well leave Stert Street in the future restructuring. Let’s hope MacDonalds don’t move in!
I always knew St Nicolas was holey ground.
Sorry – could not resist.
Coal Hole….who would have thunk it.
Ppjs.If you want to see what it used to look like try ‘viewfinder.English.heritage. org.UK’ for Henry Taunt’s photo ref:CC97/02077
Thanks, Geoff; what a fantastic resource – and what a prolific photographer Mr Taunt was!