This year, the Abingdon Craft Fair has moved to St Helen and St Katharine School on Faringdon Road, Abingdon, because of the refurbishment of the Abbey Buildings. The fair is open from Friday to Sunday.

It is an attractive and interesting venue, with well-lit rooms, large windows, beautiful corridors and a verandah overlooking a green. Some of the old external façades have been incorporated into the interior spaces, giving the building added character. It was also noticeably warmer than the Abbey Buildings.

There was a good crowd when we arrived on Saturday lunchtime, with plenty of craft stalls to browse.

The jug featured on the Craft Fair poster for several years was made by Jeanne Jackson of Shepherds Cottage Pottery in Horspath. That particular jug was sold years ago, but Jeanne had a similar one on her stall, along with many other attractive pieces.

There were also familiar faces from Abingdon Artists, including Clare Cross, whose work could be seen in a different setting.

I also saw the lady I had seen spinning during Heritage Open Day. She was  turning fleece into yarn using the naturally coloured wool from her own flock of 57 sheep near Wallingford.

The Berry Bakery was running a café area serving soup, sausage rolls, cakes and hot drinks – a welcome stop for visitors.

Paul, one of the organisers, said they had chosen the venue because it had character and offered much more than a bare school hall.

There were also reminders of the school’s own achievements. St Helen and St Katharine was named Independent Girls’ School of the Year in 2025, and the walls displayed some excellent artwork by its students. One display was the Year 5 Aquarium.