A few weeks ago I was asked for some picture to go into a couple of local magazines to publicise Heritage Day. I sent them a variety of pictures. Both magazines chose this one of Peter Gent and Lorraine Oates as their main picture. The costumes came from Centre Stage who were in Bath Street and are now in Coxeters.
Centre Stage still had those outfits and so I got them again. Lorraine redid her Anne Boleyn, but Peter Gent is not as fit nowadays, and so somebody else filled in during Heritage Day 2010. Here they are with a new Abingdon tradition – the Ashnah Belly Dancers.
The pictures I took this year don’t really represent the day very well but thanks to the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers who always help to make the day.
Ruth Cross from the Guildhall did a fantastic job. Her family are into steam engines and artifacts from the recent past and there was much to see from them. There was also displays by the Berks and Wilts Canal celebrating 200 years of the canal. They had walks, talks, and boat trips.
As usual the Country Market with cakes and jam were at the Guildhall, in the old rooms which are some of the most precious in Abingdon.
The Chair of the Vale was in her parlour to be photographed with all comers.
MGs from the MG Car club were on the Market place. But now I find I have no pictures of all the other open properties. The Merchants house had around 600 visitors. The museum gave up counting those who visited the pump room.
Many thanks to everybody who helped. This is a big community event run entirely by volunteers who give their time and enthusiasm.
noticed the houses in east st hekens street with details of their past in the window – wish i’d had time to read them all.
I used to live in The Merchant House…it wasn’t called that then! I suffered the refurbishment of 26A by the Oxford Preservation Trust and investigation by the Oxford Archeological Unit but loved every minute of it. How I wish I still lived there…it was a wonderful home for me for ten years.