The Almshouses as you have never seen them before – unless you go by this way regularly. The charity of Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, who look after them, dates back a long way. The new roof tiles will be chosen to last. Christ’s Hospital must think in decades while we think in days.

However in the day-to-day blink-of-an-eye the archway leading from the Almshouses to the river was, apparently, damaged by a delivery lorry.