Just ten days ago I took a picture of a coots nest below Abingdon Bridge, with six baby coots. Today there were two adult birds sitting on the nest, with no babies in sight. What happened?
The Herald had a couple of Abingdon Bridge stories this week. The Old Gaol development are advertising three restaurants ‘To Let.’
And Planning application P15/V1255/FUL has been submitted at the end of May so that The Boat Centre on Nags Head Island, now owned by Salter Steamers, would relocate the chandlery into the old workshop, and with minor remodeling, make a cafe from the old chandlery.
This evening three swimmers, emulating David Walliams, swam under Abingdon Bridge.
There were plenty of people on the other side of Nags Head Island, at The Nags Head, to take pictures.
The Upper Reaches Hotel, with its large riverside carpark has not been in the news, but there are rumours that it could be about to see changes.
popped in the upper reaches last night to see if I could use the public bar and was told by the staff that the whole place will cease trading as of today.
Looks as if all our old riverside is about to change.Pity.It all used to look so picturesque.The Old Gaol in particular is bleak without the willow trees mercilessly chopped down some time ago.I can’t imagine what sort of restauranteers would want to move in there as it is.Another nail in Abingdon’s coffin?
Red kites are quite partial to baby chicks – so I’m told.
Passed Upper Reaches today and it was in the process of being “Boarded up” and Locksmiths in attendance..so sad
Been poor for some time now so I’m not surprised. A shame as is a wonderful site – hope someone else picks it up and turns it round.
So the upper reaches is closing down rather than being refurbished? There is a lack of hotel rooms in Abingdon, I am surprised if it is not viable. Real shame.
Had my wedding reception there way back when, and it was a bit, um, grim, even then. One would assume that it could be a viable business given the lovely setting and aforementioned lack of hotel accommodation in Abingdon. I’m just looking at all that prime real estate in the photos….
it would make a fantastic billionaires house…..
make a good bar/restaurant/live music venue…
Music venue, theatre, anything so long as it is open to the public and makes use of the riverside location. A decent hotel, with public bar, tearoom and restaurant – and maybe tie up with Salters to offer boating on the Thames – would be good. Part of the building is listed and all is in the Conservation area so there will be restrictions on what can be done.
Perhaps cranbourne will take it over….and turn it into the social housing they owe us?
too good for social housing – for fairness to be maintained it should always be functional – if you want fancy pay for it yourself.
No doubt Cranbourne will put in a commercially sensitive bid…never to be revealed to the public…and get gifted it? Oh wait…it’s not the Vales to give away this time….so maybe not this time.
The windows of the Upper Reaches are now all boarded up – looks terrible.
I’m surprised people are so downbeat, this sounds like progress to me. They clearly weren’t capable of making a decent go of the place. Hopefully, someone with some vision will take an interest.
Oh that was me and two friends swimming didn’t realise you had taken pictures !
Swimming the Thames.
We regularly swim this stretch of the river as is quite quiet and clean.plus we often pop in to one of the local pubs for an after swim drink or two.
We are in training to swim the English Channel next year and having the Thames on our door step is so handy.
It’s also fun seeing so many people waving and talking to us as we swim.
It’s very encouraging.