This is not the new seat on the Ock Valley Walk. It is the seat nearest the town end of the Ock Valley walk. Strange objects often appear next to it. Usually they are the cast-offs from drinking or smoking or eating activities, but this time we have a single child’s shoe.

Neither is this the new seat, although it was recently given a new coat of black paint to hide the postbox red beneath. It is situated just past the little weir and pool area near Meadowside. It looks better black, but as you can see the paint can be scratched off to reveal the red beneath.

These seats are new, and like much of the River Walk are the idea of our current Mayor Peter Green. They are recycled willow trees trunks, and form a small theatre area for visiting school children.

Finally, here is the new seat on the Ock Valley Walk. It is black like the first, stylish like the first, and donated by a chap who loved the walk.

The open air pool has already closed for the season, and today was the last day that the kiosk was open – to hire out golf and tennis equipment. The man in charge said that August had been fairly quiet, but that today was fantastic. Perhaps, a combination of lots of sunshine, and this being the last chance saloon.

This group are teeing off for the first hole. The youngest lad took three or four swings before hitting the ball, but then hit it well enough to end up in the mill stream – thats the shade in the distance.

The play park and water jets were also popular, and beside the victorian lake, a large game of rounders was happening.

Over the other side of the river, it was heaving with boats. I’ve not seen many busier days all summer.

The Friends of Abingdon have given four days free entry to the Abbey Buildings, coinciding with heritage weekend.

You may wonder what these medieaval ladies are doing in the Abbey. Well, lady visitors were allowed to the Abbey. The Abbott was a power in the land, and his quarters became a hub of entertainment, and saw many Lords and Ladies and Royalty.

The oldest part of the remaining Abbey Buildings is the Undercroft – a stone vaulted area. Today, were displayed, large black and white pictures of the buildings in various states of repair. And a table with bread and cheese and grapes had been laid for a very authentic lunch.

The cheeses were bought yesterday from the Normandy Market. In the times of the Abbey people from the continent would bring wares to trade at important places like Abingdon Abbey. So French cheese was perhaps not too far fetched.

I just love the long gallery, but still struggle to get a half-decent picture. The passageway on the right would have given access to a number of rooms on the left, but nowadays it is just one big space – already featured in an earlier post as an exhibiton venue.

I know there were medieaval wall painting in yesterday’s post, but I did not want to leave out these wall paintings.

Lastly can I thank the Friends of Abingdon for all the help and information. They were really nice friendly people. Abingdon is well befriended.

The Heritage Day tour starts at the Abbey Gateway.

A lot of cyclists were about at the various churches because today was also the Oxfordshire Historic churches cycle ride. It is sponsored, and the money is to look after church buildings.

Over in the Market Place there was the Normandy Market. They had good weather and lots of customers.

Amnesty international were out offering people hugs called ‘chugs’. I did not quite understand and gave the chap a handshake instead. Near Costa Coffee, people were protesting against animal experimentation at Oxford University…

I did the tour of historic buildings… The Christ Hospital panelled elizebethan meeting hall has many portraits and a jocobean table. But the chap there did not seem to keen on me taking pictures, especially not for publication, and this is a form of publication. Instead…

Here is the Compton Organ in the Guildhall. It dates from the 1930s. The sign says ‘Come to concerts. Hear it play. Don’t let this old organ Fade Away.’ Next concert Sunday September 24th at 3 PM.

In the same hall, there were line dancers trying to get us bystanders to join in, but I decided not. Outside there were Morris Dancers.

Inside the other rooms of the Guildhall were displays by Abingdon’s historical and archaelogical societies. This box of ammonites comes from the kimmeridge clay of Abingdon.
Houses and churches were also open. Here is one of the medieaval wall paintings at 26 East St Helens Street.

And a little further down at number 59 was an information board claiming that the building was once the Half Moon public house.