Abingdon 100 years ago – January 1922


7th January
The High Sheriff — Sir Mortimer singer K.B.E., of Milton House, High Sheriff for Berks, has undergone an operation in London, and is now progressing favourably.

The free-will offering scheme for the financial purposes of the Abingdon Churches amounted last year to £201 10s. The Parish Magazine says ‘In a parish of over 7,000 with 700 communicants, only 160 support this fund,’ and that ‘the sum collected is quite inadequate to supply the large demands made upon it’.

The local matches played on Saturday included Abingdon Town and Abingdon Pavlova in the North’ Berks League. The game and the teams were very even, the result being victory by one goal for Abingdon Town. In the second division of the League, the Abingdon Y.M.C A. team met Radley on the latters ground, the home team secured one goat to nil. The Y.M.C.A. had one of their players injured temporarily, and the goal was secured during this players absence.

Last Friday morning at about 10 o’clock the Abingdon Fire Brigade received a call to Tubney, where two thatched cottages, one of which was occupied by the local policeman, were on fire. The roofs and other considerable damage to the effects of the cottages was the result. It is supposed that a spark from steam roller engine set fire to the thatched roof.

The Abingdon Angling Society’s annual Christmas competition took place last week, and 39 members entered. There were only seven bags brought in to the scales, and the first prize (£1), was for three roach, won by A. Hutchens,

Mr Bromley Challenor, coroner for North Berks, has sustained a bereavement by a fatal accident in the hunting field of his father-in-law, Mr J. T. Duncan, shipowner, Cardiff, who was hunting with the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds last week. The horse failed to jump a stone wall, whereby deceased was thrown and sustained a broken neck.

The Abingdon Union inmates concluded the Christmas festivities on Thursday evening in last week with a capital concert provided by local talent. Several Guardians were present, and at the interval each inmate received a Christmas present.

14th January
At St. Helen’s Church, on afternoon last, there was a large congregation for a programme of sacred music, when the organist was the talented young local musician, Mr A. Emerton. The soloist was the Rev. C. L. Bradley, Vicar of Tubney.

At the Cattle Market on Monday last, there was good supply of fat and store cattle, sheep and pigs. Beasts realised up to £44 5s, cows in calf £34. Tegs up to £5 14s, and fat hogs reached £10 17s 6d.

The Abingdon Church Sunday Schools had their annual treat in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday last, when capital entertainment was provided, and the prize giving took place. The infants of the Abingdon Baptist Sunday School were entertained with their annual treat on Wednesday evening in last week, and enjoyed a capital tea and a Christmas tree.

Mr A. L. Smith, who was for ?(unreadable)? years supervisor at the Abingdon Post Office, has been awarded the Imperial Service Medal for long and faithful service.

21st January
On Thursday last there were over 600 spectators to witness a match on the Abingdon Ground between Berks and Bucks V Oxfordshire. The home team won by 4 goals, to 2. The teams dined together after the match at the Crown and Thistle Hotel, the Mayor of Abingdon presiding.

The death is announced of Mr Edward John Harris, formerly of Park Crescent, Abingdon, He was for several years Alderman of Abingdon, and filled the office of Mayor on three or four occasions, but resigned through ill health, and left Abingdon.

The number of unemployed given by the returns of the Abingdon Labour Exchange last week was 102, viz., 83 men, 11 women, 4 girls and 4 boys. The number on short time was 166, vis., 40 men, 118 women, 6 girls and 1 boy.

The surveyor, at meeting last week of Abingdon Rural. District Council reported that there were 23 men engaged at work for the unemployed at stone breaking, and to engage more men shortly. In reply to a Councillor the Surveyor stated that the average earning the men at stone breaking was £1 per week, and last week two men earned 37s each.

Mr H.G. W. d’Almaine, Town Clerk of Abingdon, has been elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, in recognition of his research work.

At the County Bench Monday. Ernest Stone. 21, East St. Helen’s, Abingdon was fined £1 for riding a bicycle without a light at Milton on January 7th. P.C. Wood said the defendant when stopped was very abusive.

Thomas George West. cycle agent, Walton Street, Oxford, was fined £1 for failing to enter in a book the dates of using a motor cycle.

28th January
The Old Berks Hunt Ball was held in the Borough Buildings on Thursday night, when the company numbered about 200 and everything passed off most successfully.

The death took place last week Mr Joseph Ivey, at the age of 68 years, and the remains were interred in the Cemetery Wednesday. For many years the deceased had carried on the business of baker and confectioner in Lombard Street. From 1896 to 1905 be was a member of the Abingdon Town Council.

Borough Police Court, Tuesday. Henry Tyrrell, farmer, Steventon, and George Bonner, Pommy Farm, Radley, ware each fined 10s for not having names on their carts at Abingdon Cattle Market on Jan. 9th

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

Adverts brought to you with help from the Nork Berks Herald.

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