Building progress in North Abingdon

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At the Abbey Fields housing development in North Abingdon, an information board shows some town facilities and their distance, including a 35-minute walk to Abingdon High Street and the River Thames.

Since my last visit Mobbs Row has appeared, named after Mobbs shoe shop.

The housing estate is divided into two large areas. One is being developed. The other has the infrastructure but no houses yet. There has been conjecture that the rate of progress will be slowed as housebuilding output is predicted to fall this year. That is because of rising mortgage rates, falling real wages and poor consumer confidence.

Some finished houses are for sale and ready to be moved into.

Building work also continues at the Kings Gate development.

On a previous visit, Hobby Green was fenced off, but now the green is visible. It is dedicated to former Mayor and Dunmore School teacher Pat Hobby.

World Book Day

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The Postbox topper on the Market Place has been changed to celebrate World Book Day on 2nd March 2023. As Abingdon has three bookshops, it is well placed to support children in choosing and owning a book.

Mostly Books is among 59 bookshops nominated to become Independent Bookshop of the Year.

The Bookstore has been serving customers for nearly twenty-five years in Abingdon – since November 1998. I see they have, local author, Steve King’s book, ‘Now I grow Oranges’, in the window.

World Book Day primarily aims to encourage children to read books, but there is nothing to stop adults from getting a new book on World Book Day. There are £1 books available, especially for World Book Day.

There is also W H Smith.

Boats, Bus tickets and sunset

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The day was chilly. No stalls on the Market Place. But later, a couple of boats from AV Boats on the River Thames took out some hardy people.

We caught the bus to Oxford to buy art materials that used to be so much better at Prices – a much-missed shop. Bus tickets are currently £2 as part of a government-financed scheme to get people onto buses.

Then for a walk as the setting sun shone through the clouds behind St Helen Church.