Abbey Close

Abbey Close
At one time Abbey Close (called Abbey in earlier town maps) was a short road from the Market Place through the Abbey Gateway towards the Abbey Meadow.
Abbey Close
On one side it is still dominated by the long wall of the Abbey Grounds, and on the other side are houses.
Abbey Close
After the railway was removed, and the church hall behind St Nicolas was demolished, Abbey Close was extended to the Vineyard in 1989. Abingdon Past and Present and More of Abingdon Past and Present by Judy Thomas & Elizabeth Drury have pictures before and after.
Abbey Close
The millennium needle was added at the far end of Abbey Close in 2007.
Abbey Close
Comparing Abbey Close in 1950
Abbey Close
with 1990 you can see how it has grown and meanders round.

9 thoughts on “Abbey Close

  1. Hester

    I think the upper picture must be later than 1950 since it mentions the Abbey Hall which wasn’t built till 1966. It also doesn’t show the St Nicholas Church Hall which was there till the late 1980s.
    The 1990 picture is very odd – I suspect it was for a specific purpose (hence the numbers) so completely omits some features such as the Guildhall/Abbey Hall complex and the Abbey Buildings.

    Reply
  2. Daniel

    If you had a mini roundabout outside Fatface/St Nicholas so cars (and cars only) from Culham headed north could swing right, under the arch and left in to Abbey Close to get on to the Vineyard.

    Instantly reduces traffic through town.

    Simple. And very cheap, although I am happy to receive a minimal consultants fee for this if it works I am, as a gesture of good will happy to take far far more money should it be a really bad idea.

    Reply
  3. Daniel

    You jest ppjs, however my mini roundabout does nothing to the flowers…except give greater cause to pause and admire.

    I have also had in mind a ferry/boat across the river at the Anchor…however I decided not to pursue it as I would be obliterated by a swath of health and safety and likely fees to pay The Veil…. But I agree that “a circular walk” is required…and so a bridge or crossing along Wilson Rs, or the marina can only be a good thing (alas, good things rarely happen, and even less so post BREXIT).

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.