The End of an Era for Our Lady’s Abingdon

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For the first time in over 160 years, there are no Our Lady’s Abingdon pupils to be seen. The school closed suddenly over the summer, leaving families to seek new places – some already starting in local state schools, others still searching.

The closure also leaves behind a large site close to the town centre, including Barton Field, the school playing fields. With so many new houses being built nearby, there may well be debate about whether part of the grounds could still serve an educational purpose.

Our Lady’s Convent history stretches back to January 1860, when Sister Mary Elizabeth Rigby and two nuns from the Sisters of Mercy in Bermondsey came to Abingdon at the invitation of parish priest Revd Dr John Paul O’Toole. They were supported by Reverend Mother Clare Moore, recently returned from work with Florence Nightingale in the Crimea. The Sisters began in a Northcourt cottage, Joymount, then moved into villas on the current site in 1862. The first pupil enrolled in 1865, and in 1867 Sir George Bowyer gave land to allow the school to expand. By 1877, classrooms, music rooms, a dining hall and dormitories were in place.

For many years the convent was run by the Sisters of Mercy, remembered today in the churchyard of Our Lady and St Edmund Church.

In 2007 Our Lady’s Convent became a charitable company limited by guarantee and changed its name to Our Lady’s Abingdon School. Two years later, boys were admitted to the Senior School.

Now, as the new term begins without OLA, its long story has reached an abrupt halt.

This Week in Abingdon: HealthFest, Horticulture, Swim for Dogs, and Folk Music

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Abingdon HealthFest returns to the Market Place on Saturday 6th September, from 10am to 2pm. This annual event brings together sports clubs, care providers, community groups, and charities — with demonstrations and advice, some of which could even prove life-saving. The Mayor will be on hand to tour the stalls and chat with participants. See full details here: Healthy Abingdon.

The Abingdon Horticultural Society Autumn Show (Sat 6th September, Northcourt Centre) offers a colourful range of competition classes — flowers, fruit and veg, floral arrangements, homecraft, preserves, baking, beverages, photography, and children’s entries — with cups and medals up for grabs.
The Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool has just one more week left of the season. It closes on Monday 8th September after the popular Swim for Dogs event in the afternoon and evening. Expect plenty of owners trying to coax their dogs into the pool and some more enthusiastic doggy paddlers. Places are booking fast.

On Thursday 4th September, there’s live Americana-style folk music with Roswell Road at the Unicorn Theatre, part of the Music at the Unicorn series, with support from Sarah Yeo. More details: musicattheunicorn.org.uk.

And looking ahead — more events are on the way, including Heritage Day. I’ll highlight those separately in a few days time.

Albert Park Through the Year: August 2025

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The last day of August brought a mix of sunshine and showers, marking the end of a month that began dry and finished with rain. This Rowan with leaves turning yellow and brown, and berries, shows autumn’s on the way.

Flowers were scarce in August. Only in the last couple of days has the first autumn crocus appeared.

Nuts are plentiful this year, and acorns have been falling from the oak trees since early August.

A squirrel climbs here among the beech leaves to gather beech masts – though one wonders whether the harvest has arrived too early to last through autumn and winter.

Other trees display their seeds. The wonderfully twisted Golden Rain tree next to the Albert Monument is covered with bladdery seed pods.

Among the newly planted trees, a young Dawn Redwood, dedicated to a former park keeper, is struggling; its browned leaves stand in contrast to the other more healthy newly planted trees.

The Bowls Club has been active throughout the summer. The green is so fine – like felt on a snooker table.

A rainbow appeared yesterday, seen here from the park looking out toward Trinity Church.

Here is a sunrise with pink clouds showing one of the park’s broad paths and the many trees.

As evening came, crows gathered near the tops of the tall fir trees, cawing loudly to announce their arrival at their roosts.

Local Excellence Market in Abingdon

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There was a Local Excellence Market on the Market Place in Abingdon today. The morning began with blue skies streaked with cloud.  One stallholder said they expected rain by about 3 pm and hoped it was not earlier.

A new addition this time was a stall offering dog massage. The stallholder explained that, just like people, dogs can carry tension in their shoulders. Massage helps to ease stiffness, improve circulation, and even speed recovery from injuries — and most dogs seem to enjoy the experience.

The Oxfordshire Independent Authors Group were also represented, with four writers sharing a table and showcasing books by a dozen local authors. In the picture are:
* Another Mother’s Child by Mary McClarey
* Sangre de Toro by Rachael Adam
* Murder at the Manor by Colin Wade
* Stick or Twist by Edward Christie

At a corner of Martin Wackenier’s photography stall, Chris was knitting and displaying toys. Her corner adds colour. She has taken up macramé as well, and brought along some of her first handmade plant hangers.

Alongside these were the familiar regulars — arts and crafts, honey, samosas and various breads and cakes and cooked burgers, the fruit and veg stall, the chilli stall, and many more — together creating a busy and attractive event in town.

Meanwhile, over in the Guildhall, a craft and gift market was taking place. The organisers often arrange their market to coincide with busier market days, with helpers on hand to point visitors across.