Fire in Stert Street

A fire that might easily have become a serious blaze broke out shortly after seven o’clock on Thursday morning at Messrs Hilton’s Booteries in Stert Street. Flames were seen leaping through a pavement grating from the cellar below, first noticed by Mr Wheeler of the Vineyard.

In three minutes the Chief Officer (Mr. J. Gibbens) and Fireman Chivers were on the scene with a hose cart, and a minute later the water was pumped from the stream in Major R. Catmur’s yard. To reach the seat of the fire the left-hand shop window had to be emptied and the floorboards torn up, revealing charred beams beneath. Thanks to the speed of the response the fire was prevented from spreading.

It was remarked afterwards that, had the outbreak occurred during the night, the building — and possibly adjoining properties — would almost certainly have been lost.

Canon Oldfield and St Nicolas’ Church

Canon Oldfield has decided to resign his post as Deputy Lecturer at St Nicolas’ Church, a decision that has been received with much regret by his many friends in Abingdon. He has, however, kindly offered to continue helping as occasion arises.

Children’s Party at the Corn Exchange

Around 200 children attended a party organised by the Abingdon Liberal Association at the Corn Exchange. After refreshments, a conjuring entertainment was given by Mr Norman Chivers, followed by dancing.

The picture shows prizewinners at the Abingdon Liberal children’s fancy dress dance(photo, Warland Andrew). ‘Mother Gamp’ (centre), ‘Poppy’ (left), ‘Daisy’ (right)

Music for the evening was supplied by Mr Horsky’s String Band, and the event was described as an enjoyable one for all concerned.

The Parish Magazine Goes to Every Home

With the approval of the Church Council, a new scheme has been introduced whereby the Abingdon Parish Magazine will be delivered free to every household in the town.

Explaining the decision, the committee wrote:
“The Parish Church stands to-day, as for hundreds of years, as the Parish Church, and there would be a want of ideal and vision if ever she ceased to recognise that all who live within the parish boundaries are parishioners.”

Wireless for the Isolation Hospital

An appeal has been launched to provide a wireless installation for the Joint Isolation Hospital at Abingdon.

Donations quickly mounted, with contributions from local firms, individuals, and organisations. By Thursday the total stood at £87 3s. 6d., reflecting strong community support for bringing this new innovation to the hospital. At a Corporation Meeting, as no contribution could be made from public funds, the suggestion was made that they have a ‘whip round’.

Slate Club Dinner at the Plasterers’ Arms

The annual dinner of the Plasterers’ Arms Slate Club was held with 43 members present. After sick benefits had been paid out, each member received a share of £1 2s. 3d.

The evening included songs and musical items, with several members contributing, accompanied by piano and violin. It was reported as a thoroughly convivial gathering.

Oddfellows’ Historic Visit

A notable event in the history of the Abingdon District of Oddfellows took place with the first-ever visit of a member of the Board of Directors, Bro. R. Annis of Ilford.

At a well-attended dinner and meeting, the scale and strength of the Manchester Unity were outlined, including national membership figures and financial statistics. Bro. Annis spoke of the new tables recently introduced and encouraged members to continue their energetic work.

To mark the occasion he was presented with an engraved leather wallet as a memento of his visit.

Flooding Around Abingdon

Severe flooding caused widespread disruption around Abingdon in mid-January. The Abingdon to Dorchester road was closed, and the Causeway lay under nearly three feet of water for more than 150 yards. Several motorists attempting to pass through had to be hauled out with ropes.

At its height the river stood over six feet above summer level. Even after it began to fall, fields remained submerged.

One dramatic incident saw a man and a girl canoeing down the flooded river as the result of a wager. Their canoe was swept against the bridge buttress and became lodged in the branches of a willow tree at the bottom of Mr. J. R. Stevens’s Island, and both occupants managed to scramble to the bank, waist-deep in water. The canoe itself was ultimately lifted from the river and relaunched below the bridge, after which the two voyagers continued on their way.

Snowstorm and Letter to the Editor

Following bitter winds, snow fell across Abingdon, reaching a depth of over four inches. Tobogganing children quickly appeared, but conditions for travel were difficult.

A letter to the North Berks Herald praised the town authorities for clearing the streets, while strongly criticising the county authorities for leaving main roads almost impassable for nearly a week. The writer pointed out the hardship caused to cyclists, tradesmen, and village chapels left without preachers.

The letter ended with a call for proper preparation — including snow ploughs — before the next snowfall arrived.

Diving Expert at Abingdon

The Roysse Room was packed when Captain Damant, R.N., delivered a lantern lecture on recovering gold from the wreck of the Laurentic. The ship, sunk in 1917 with millions of pounds in bullion aboard, lay at a steep angle off the coast of Northern Ireland.

Captain Damant described the physical strain and danger of deep-sea diving, the bitter cold, strong underwater tides, and the painstaking work of dismantling the wreck piece by piece first using explosives. and then by hand. After two years’ effort, more than 98 per cent of the gold was eventually recovered.

The lecture was warmly received, and votes of thanks brought the evening to a close.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the British Newspaper Archive for access to the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette for some stories.

Additional thanks to the North Berks Herald Library microfilm in the Abingdon Library for stories, a letter, and the adverts and to the Oxford Journal for the picture from the children’s party which I digitally enhanced

The diving suit picture is from Ebay.