We are very fortunate to have three book shops in Abingdon, and there were five, possibly more, books about Abingdon published in 2011 …
The Abingdon Waterways Walk is a very recent booklet, describing an 8.5 mile circular walk, with text by Heather Brown, and pictures by Stuart Roper, produced by Choose Abingdon.
“A sweet and hopeful people – a story of Abingdon Baptist Church 1649 – 2011” is a book written and revised by Michael Hambleton.
Celebrating Abingdon’s History, is a book produced by Abingdon Area Archaelogical and Historical Society. The book comprises 9 papers first presented at St Helen’s Church in honour of local historian Mieneke Cox.
52 things to do far from the madding beaches is a book about the Vale of White Horse, which of course includes Abingdon. The book grew out of a competition asking people to submit poems and prose, photographs and paintings about where they live in the Vale. It is a book to dip into and also gives ideas of things to do locally.
The final book called The Lost Abbey of Abingdon I have not even seen yet. I tried to get a copy today but both Mostly Books and The Bookstore sold out on Christmas Eve, and are currently ordering more. W H Smiths did not have the book on their system yet. I will add the picture when I find a copy.
By the way… Have I missed any books you know about Abingdon from 2011?
I was racking my brains over the reference to THREE bookshops – eventually realised you were including WHSmiths. I have to confess that never think of them in that context! When they came to Abingdon I thought that at least they would sell CDs/DVDs – when i discovered they didn’t I couldn’t think of anything i would nee to buy in there.
Re books, can’t think of any more from 2011 but there was an interesting one in 2010 – Manfred Brod’s “Abingdon in Context” – it focuses on a different aspect of our history – how the politics and governance of the town developed from the Abbey and Guilds, via the Borough – and the role of important local families, many of whose names are commemorated in our streets.
“Radley Farms and Families: 1600-2011” from the Radley History Club. A high quality 210 page book.
Also… Dick Bosley published a small 32 page booklet this autumn called “Time Gentlemen PLEASE!: A brief history of Abingdon”. This is about the influence of beer in Abingdon and includes information about brewing, pubs in Abingdon along with recollections of people who were pub regulars in the mid 20th century.
There are copies for sale in the Brewery Tap.
The beers and pubs book sounds interesting. I remember that Abingdon seemed to have loads of Pubs in the early/mid 80’s!
Not quite about Abingdon, but certainly by an Abingdon resident, and fascinating to boot:
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/9188293.A_life_spent_with_lasers/