In the first edition of the Trinity Triangle magazine, in September 1982, I found the following:
ADULT PUZZLER
Which pub in Abingdon has gravestones in its garden and why?
ANSWER (October 1982)
Our oldest member at Trinity – Miss Evelyn Rant – answered the Adult Puzzler correctly. She said, ‘The White Horse at the corner of Spring Road was once a burial ground.’
I did visit the White Horse and got pictures of some of the stones in the rock garden, but I was not sure any were from gravestones.
The staff at the pub knew nothing about the graveyard. However, Jackie Smith, the town archivist, has access to a map that shows Ock Street with the Air Balloon pub, a yard, a building, and then a Quaker burial ground. That Quaker burial ground starts near Reeves fish and chip shop.
Arthur Preston’s book, St Nicholas Abingdon and other papers (p. 98), refers to ‘the dissenters’ graveyard at the west end of Ock Street – known as the Quakers’ burial ground.’
Very interesting.
How very odd as Quakers famously did not drink alcohol. What a quirky world!! Thank you, very interesting.