Last night on Channel 4 there were some good shots of Abingdon on a program called SEVEN AGES OF BRITAIN .

In the Sixth Age 1350 – 1530 AD: Bettany Hughes ended the program in Abingdon where she spoke about the building of Abingdon Bridge by the Fraternity of the Holy Cross. The Fraternity of the Holy Cross (fraternitatus siue gilde sancte crucis) was abolished by Henvy VIII along with Abingdon Abbey. Most of the power of the Fraternity passed to Christ’s Hospital (a charity) in 1553. And Christ’s Hospital are still going strong with Almshouses in Abingdon. They may be the only remaining charity in Britain that run a park for the public good – that is Albert Park.