When the friends of Abingdon were inaugurated in 1944 they had 2 aims:

• To arouse in all people of Abingdon and the neighbourhood a lively and practcal interest in the town and its setting
• To help preserve what is best worth retaining amongst its old buildings and to encourage new buildings worthy of its civic tradition and character

In their early days they achieved a great deal in acquiring the old Abbey buildings and some medieval cottages in Thames street which – after the borough rat catcher had dispatched the previous tenants – and restored with great care.

In the map above the most well known parts are:
A1 – Cottages converted to offices and curator’s house
A2 – Cottages converted to the Unicorn Theatre
B1 = Checker and Undercroft (Checker Chimney pictured alongside)
B2 = Long Gallery

But their influence and help was felt in many other projects and campaigns. To take a few:

• Saved the Carswell from destruction (pictured above)
• Restored the Abbey Archway
• Fought to save Fitzharris Manor House from demolition (without success)
• Put a memorial plaque to St Edmund in the wall of St Nicholas Church
• Fought the demolition of 35 Ock Street
• Supported the creation of the town centre murals