The wooden monk that once stood on the Marcham Road roundabout has fallen again. Carved from a single tree trunk, he was a reminder of Abingdon’s Abbey, greeting drivers as they arrived from the A34.
But time and weather have taken their toll. The base has rotted from within, splitting apart and throwing the monk to the ground. Another crack runs through his head – as if suffering double vision.
Over the years, the monk had become a local character. Occasionally dressed up in costumes, he brought smiles and scandal to this prominent Marcham Road Roundabout.
Originally installed by Abingdon Town Council during a Britain in Bloom campaign and sponsored by Abbey Press, the figure was cared for — until Abbey Press closed and no new sponsor came forward. He first fell a couple of years ago and after a few months was propped back up. But now the rot has spread too far.
I was recently in Cirencester and saw their own monk and abbot, standing in their Abbey Grounds. Unlike our monk, they stand on a stone base, protected from the soil. They were created by an artist as part of the Abbey 900 Legacy Project and dedicated in September 2021.
Our Marcham Road monk may have fallen, but the idea behind him still stands: a reminder of Abingdon’s heritage. Perhaps it’s time to ask — what should decorate the roundabout now? It’s the first roundabout many visitors see on the way into town. Although many visitors don’t get further than that roundabout – with its out-of-town hotels, trading estate, business park, petrol stations and supermarkets.
There was a similar problem with Cody’s tree at Farnborough. The original was copied before it disintegrated completely and now remains as a permanent Bronze memorial to that town’s heritage.
Any new feature on that “Welcome to Abingdon” roundabout will cost money so why not raise and spend it on the existing monk ? If you are quick there is enough remaining to take a cast. It could then be moulded in a more resilient material to renew this historic Abingdon feature. Perhaps a good project for all the concrete technicians who work around town – with sponsorship from the building firms whose sales blurb shouts about the desirability of coming to this historic town.
Nooooo. Please please please don’t let house builders sponser a replacement. It will be the most godawful piece of tat this side of Milton Keynes. I don’t mind if they pay for it but they CANNOT decide what it should be.
Forgive me Father for l have sinned. I drank too much communion wine and fell over.
Now perhaps we can get rid of this object that nobody is responsible for
A monk with a fondness for cheer,
Met a fate in the public sphere
He fell on the roundabout,
One night when he downed about
Ten pints of Abingdon beer.
Loose Cannon Beer I hope
I cannot believe the councils. As reported in the Abingdon Herald, Oxfordshire County Council had previously said it did not own the monk and Abingdon Town Council was also of the same position. In fact, the town council also said the roundabout is not owned by them so the monk is not its responsibility at all. No it might not be their responsibility but creating a good image for Abingdon is. This roundabout is the first when people come into Abingdon from the A34. It would be nice to have a replacement for the monk or something similar.
I was never a fan of the monk, I thought that it wasn’t a particularly impressive piece of carving.
On the other hand, in our house that roundabout was the “Stroppy” roundabout….because it had a monk on.
I’ll get my coat.
I think there needs to be something as you enter the town from every direction but if the Monk isn’t it I’m not sure what is. Putting things on roundabouts is fraught with problems as sooner or later someone is going to vault the roundabout and hit it, also visibility, distraction, etc, etc, etc are all considerations for whatever sits there.
I did think that the previous various roundabouts that were sponsored really helped and made the place look good and cared for, that time or era seems to have passed, no one not even the council seem to want to take ownership, everyone sees cost over benefit which is sad.
Maybe they should have a monk driving an open top MGB. On one door have, in colour, the Morlands brewery logo and on the other, also in colour, an RAF roundel. 1400 years or so of Abingdon history in one go.
How about a good floral display? It would represent one of the glories of Abingdon where the flowers are such joy.
By the way, the monk was a friar. Monks don’t wear the rope girdle; friars (Franciscans and Dominicans) do – the three knots stand for poverty, chastity and obedience. Just saying 😉
…and Abingdon’s monks were Benedictines!
Precisely.
Franciscans and Dominicans are order founded in the 13 century. Benedictines were founded in the early sixth century. Benedictines have abbeys and abbots. Franciscans and Dominicans don’t.
Maybe they should have a monk or friar etc……..
If he sits in an MG with an RAF roundel, does that make him a trendy air friar ?
Perhaps he can be conserved and have a place in the musuem….he does now count as part of the town’s history and although not the most attractive of beings I do have a fondness for him after all this time. Bit like Didcot Power Station really- bit of an eyesore but still a sign of home!
So who or what government entity is going to chuck it in the wood chip for use on the ock river walk?
If someone can fetch it off the roundabout I have contacts who can restore or improve it.