This plaque on Lombard Street says “This Street widened at the cost of the Corporation 1874. John Kent Mayor.”

Before planning regulations, buildings could be jammed together in a higgledy piggledy way. The result would be some narrow crooked roads.

Abingdon Corporation in the 19th Century started to buy up dwellings or parts of dwellings to straighten out the kinks and narrow stretches of the main thoroughfares. This passageway from Queen Street to the Market Place gives an idea of the challenge they faced.

This building gives Stert Street its distinctive character, but does risk getting knocked by a passing lorry or bus.