Abingdon Fair – Monday

Abingdon Fair
Normally Meteorite is next to Body Count in front of St Nic’s church.
Abingdon Fair
But this year Body Count was at the far end of Ock Street almost a mile away. The Abingdon Street Fair is that long.
Abingdon Fair
The Fair did look a little thin in places yesterday, during the setup, but rides have arrived since then. The Nottingham Goose Fair was still on up until yesterday.

Late in the day Super Bob appeared in the Car park of the White Horse Pub, and Froggit has appeared in front of the Tower Close Flats.
Abingdon Fair
Another difference this year is that the County Hall is still mostly under wraps – undergoing the museum improvements and half-century building maintenance job.
Abingdon Fair
The twirling light shone up into the sky by Hebborn’s Waltzer, from Oxford, gave quite a different effect when it lit up the corner of the County Hall – this year.
Abingdon Fair
The Prince of India joined in the spirit of the Fair by serving takeaways from the pavement. The Dil Raj handed out menus.
Abingdon Fair
Dads carried tired toddlers on shoulders…
Abingdon Fair
while Teenagers tried out more and more daring rides.

There was a little wind about, and a very fine shower late in the evening, but conditions were good. There were lots of people but not the normal crush.

Traffic from South Abingdon was very heavy during the early morning rush.

Fair Setup

Fair Set up
Some of the members of Abingdon Baptist Church were out taking mugs of coffee to the people setting up the fair.
Fair Set up
This is the team that set up the Meteorite ride this year, having a quick coffee break.
Fair Set up
During the Abingdon Street Fair,  buses need to find an alternative route for a couple of days.
Fair Set up
As do cars. The Bellingers forecourt is cleared, and the workers there get Monday and Tuesday off.
Fair Set up
Lots of us like to have a look at the fair being set up. It is an Abingdon tradition for young
Fair Set up
and old. This chap films every year, and has an archive going back many years. Let us hope we can get some good pictures tomorrow night.

Lift dig discovery?

Diggings
Peering into the hole, you can see how our fine County Hall is balanced on rubble foundations.

Also looking into the lift hole there appear to be areas that are now being more carefully dug out. It could be that the the archaeologists have been called in to investigate – possibly a Roman ditch.

Abbey shopping centre – before and after

Precinct Plan In
I read in the Abingdon Herald last Wednesday that the new plans for the redevelopment of the Abbey shopping centre (aka the precinct)  have been submitted. Pictures of before and after are still on display in one of the shops.

To summarise …

Before: flat 1970s roofs, smaller shops with covered walkways and fewer people

After: traditional roofs, larger shops to attract major national chains, with brighter spaces, and more people.  Let us hope it works out well for the sake of Abingdon.