While the newer part of the Guildhall is being revamped, the Town Council Tourist and Visitor Information service has moved downstairs to Roysse Court.

Next door, at St Nicolas Church at lunchtime, Ruth Weinberg was doing a slide show on Victorian Abingdon – the second event this year for Heritage Open Days.

She told us that the River Stert used to be an open ditch that ran along Stert Street, with bridges across. There was a peculiar sound to be heard on Saturday nights when people left the  Stert Street drinking establishments, called the Saturday Night Sound – of people landing with a splash. It was an interesting and entertaining talk with many good pictures.

This Saturday, there are events on the Market Place, and 16 open properties – all for free. It will be the first time that The Abingdon Bridge (at The Old Police Station on Bridge Street), and the Bowling Club in Albert park, have taken part.