Michael says, ‘These willows outside Waitrose had branches overhanging the footpath but isn’t this taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut?’
Pollarding willows in the summer is not as common as in the winter when they are dormant.
60-64 West St Helen Street was listed in 1971, meaning it was of interest architecturally or historically. See the entry https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1200046?section=official-list-entry.
It was demolished in 1979. Steve, who grew up there, gave me a photograph of the demolition. I live in a part of the new build.
I found a photograph of the building before demolition, taken from a larger photograph in Abingdon Past and Present by Elizabeth Drury and Judy Thomas (All Rights Reserved).
The listed building is described as: One building. Early C19. Rendered. Tile roof. Plinth. Three storeys. Three windows, moulded flush frames, double hung sashes with glazing bars, panel with tabs supports a cornice. The centre window on the first floor and ground floor has tabs missing and the window to the right on the ground floor is irregularly placed and has no panel. Two cellar openings, flat arches. Doorway to Nos 60 and 62 is one composition, with three carved pilasters and a flat hood on brackets. Doorway to No. 64 is similar, but set lower..
Farmers Market on Friday, August 18th, from 9am to 1pm in the Market Square. Local farmers and producers will sell their fresh produce, meats, cheeses, breads, and other goods.
Big Summer Coffee Morning at Abingdon Baptist Church on Saturday, August 19th from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the church car park. Enjoy homemade cakes, teas and coffee, plus stalls selling cards, jewellery and crafts. Second-hand books are also on offer, and the JAM band will be playing throughout the morning. All proceeds go to the church’s development project.
MGs on the Market Place on Saturday, August 19th. The MGV8 will be celebrating their Golden Anniversary starting with a display from 9.30 – 12.00 before heading off to the Dog House for lunch.
Women’s World Cup Final between Spain and England at the Abbey Cinema on Sunday, August 20th at 11am. Tickets are £0 at the Abbey Cinema
Pick your own sunflowers at High Lodge Farm, on the road to Culham, until early September https://www.highlodgefarm.com/.
The Abingdon County Hall Museum has a small lift from street level that can take visitors to the cellar area. It first opened in July 2012, but has been out of order for all of 2023. Repairs are now underway.
In 2010, plans to install a lift to the main gallery were rejected by English Heritage, who argued that it would have caused harm to the Grade II listed building. However, Abingdon on Thames Town Council, who run the museum, have said in the past that they are committed to making the museum more accessible and are currently considering options for a larger lift. The museum manager was asked in the finance committee meeting of June 2023 to report back on options, and money has already spent on the project of a new lift.
In the meantime, visitors to the museum who need to access the upper floors can use the staircase. The staircase is located at the back of the building and has 120 steps.