
The annual Youth Festival of Music did not happen today. In previous years the young people have performed during torrential downpours, and today was such a lovely sunny day.

The town crier had come out expecting to announce the music starting at 11, but as there was no stage and no performers, he gave a cry instead for the archaeologist in the County Hall Museum.

She had over twenty visitors during the day. Discoveries came mostly from Abingdon, but there were also visitors from Frilford, and Clifton Hampden. Their finds were mostly Roman and Medieval coins and pots. The two Roman Coins shown above are from the late third century.

Also of interest was a tandem for sale near the Market Place.
Will The Country Market be there next Week?

I read in the Herald and then saw on the BBC local website that the Abingdon Country Market is to close after 65 years.

The 90 minute Country Market in the Roysse Room on a Friday Morning used to bring in the crowds, but not so much any longer.

In recent years The Country Market stall at the Farmers Market has been far more popular. So we will see next Friday at the Farmers Market whether they are still there.
I hope so, and they are just moving with the times.
New housing for Old – but little for young families

The detached house next the shops on Wootton Road, the one with the white shiplap boarding, has just been demolished. I liked that house but am told it had structural problems and was beyond saving.

There is planning consent for it to be replaced with 3 x one bedroom and 5 x two bedroom apartments.

On Northcourt Road, next to the entrance to Fitzharrys School, another detached house, described on the planning application as “of no great merit, and could not justify retention” is being replaced by 4 x one bedroom and 3 x two bedroom flats. That development is further advanced.

The redevelopment of Mayott House, an old people’s home, on Ock Street, is also advancing. Foundations are laid. Some first floor walls are up.

There will be 4 apartments to purchase, prices from £102,500, and 36 apartments to rent.
In this quick roundup of the new housing, being built in Abingdon, there is room for the elderly, and some smaller apartments, but not that much for young families.
I do I do I do and more of whats on

At the Unicorn Theatre – Abingdon Drama Club perform “I Do, I Do, I Do” from Wednesday, 9th July to Saturday, 12th July, 7:30pm-10:00pm. This is a UK premiere of a play by Robin Hawdon, performed in the 70th anniversary year of the Drama Club.

At The Crown and Thistle on Friday there is a warm up event for the Oxfordshire Chilli Festival. No tickets necessary, but donations on the door for the chosen charities – Leah’s Wish and the British Heart Foundation. (The Chilli Festival itself is in Abingdon-on-Thames on 16th August.)
Then at the weekend in Abingdon I see there is:
-
Archaeology Uncovered – take along your finds to Abingdon Museum –
Saturday, 12th July, 10:30am-3:30pm - Abingdon-on-Thames Youth Music Festival – Market Place – Saturday, 12th July, 11:00am-2:00pm
- Rodney Quakes’ Shindig, with some familiar faces, play Electric Folk at The Old Anchor – Saturday, 12th July
- Music for a Summer Evening – Long Gallery, Abbey Building – Sunday, 13 July 2014 – 7:30pm
