Abbey House was opened in the early 1990s on the site of the Old Cattle Market. The Car Park alongside is called the Cattle Market Car Park, but “Cattle Market House” did not quite have the aplomb for the new central administrative Offices of the Vale of the White Horse District Council.

Staff moved in from regional offices in Faringdon, Wantage, and Abingdon to this grand new building all under one roof. It was named Abbey House, and the older building alongside became Old Abbey House.

In 2003 the entrance was rebuilt with ramps to make it more accessible, and the area downstairs kitted out as a service centre with desks. Here local people can pick up leaflets or consult on a whole range of District Council services:

• Economic Development
• Local Planning and Development Control
• Most Car parks and Public toilets
• Arts and Tourism
• Leisure and Recreation
• Housing benefits
• Housing (through Vale Housing Association)
• Elections
• Refuse collection
• Building Control
• Street cleansing
• Environmental Health including inspection of food, taxis etc
• Council Tax

The sign of the District Council incorporates the White Horse on the Ridge Way at Uffington, King Alfred who was born at Wantage, and an Abbot from Abingdon. There is water perhaps for the river Thames, or perhaps for the River Ock which unites the Vale.