This is the bridge I referred to on New Year’s Day as ‘The Abingdon Sword Bridge’. It doesn’t resemble a sword in shape but has a connection to the Abingdon Sword.

The Abingdon Sword, discovered in the River Ock in Abingdon, is now held by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, with a replica on display at the Abingdon Museum. It’s a fine example of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship, believed to have belonged to a prince or wealthy nobleman.

If you step back and view the bridge from the riverbank, you’ll notice its outer panels feature floral or leafy designs, copied from the handle of the sword. The artist Richard Farrington was commissioned to create these special panels when the bridge was erected in 2007 as part of the Thamesview development.

The inside panels of the bridge show creatures. On one side, the central panel shows the four surrounding panels in miniature. These are thought to represent the four gospel writers, traditionally symbolised as:
* Matthew: A man
* Mark: A lion
* Luke: A calf
* John: An eagle

See if you can see which is which.

On the opposite side are creatures (maybe serpents or dragons) intertwined in the knotty way often seen in Anglo Saxon craftwork.

You might also notice padlocks attached to the bridge cables — left as symbols of modern day romantic relationships. There were more padlocks, but some have been removed and new ones added.

This and other art works round Abingdon can be explored using The Abingdon Art Walk, just one of several walks available from the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society. Paper copies can be found in Abingdon Library and the Information Centre.