Plans to Improve Cycling or Walking Through Abingdon Town Centre

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National Route 5 of the National Cycle Network runs all the way from Reading to Holyhead – and right through Abingdon. But here in town it has never quite lived up to the standard you’d expect of a national route. The paths in and out of Abingdon have been resurfaced in recent years, but there’s still room for improvement between St Helen’s Church and the Abbey Gateway. At the moment, cyclists have to take a long detour and then dismount – so many instead risk heading the wrong way up East St Helen Street.

Oxfordshire County Council has now published plans to improve things. The aim is to make cycling and walking through the town centre safer, with a new contraflow on East St Helen Street to legitimise what some cyclists already do.

The scheme also looks to sort out the junction at the top of East St Helen Street, improving it for people on foot, on bikes, or using mobility scooters. An outline was first put forward by local cycling enthusiasts, then refined by transport specialists – and now it’s open for wider comment through a public consultation. The junction plans include additional zebra crossings and the use of an enlarged island in the middle.

More crossings do mean more time when traffic has to stop, slowing traffic coming up Bridge Street or along Stert Street, where there are already other pedestrian lights.

The funding is already secured: a £1.47 million government grant from the Active Travel Fund will cover design and construction.

The public consultation runs from 30 September to 28 October 2025, with drop-in events at the Guildhall on:
Saturday 11 October, 10am–3pm
Tuesday 14 October, 4pm–7pm

A consultation report is expected in December. Final designs should follow in spring 2026, with construction due to start that spring and finish by summer 2026.

Details and the online consultation can be found at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/eaststhelenstreet

Albert Park Through the Year: September 2025

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Well into September and there was still a buzzing of bees – not round colourful blooms, but round the aromatic yellow-green flowers of ivy. These turn into black berries.

Looking up into one tree I saw dark eyes and a hooked beak. When I raised the camera I caught only the blur of a bird – a buzzard, which is sometimes seen perched on Trinity Church too.

Virginia creeper leaves have turned deep red, clambering over the walls and hedges near the main entrance. St Michael’s Church can be seen behind.

During the summer I hardly saw a squirrel, but now autumn is here they are back in numbers, often carrying nuts in their mouths.

Most of the conkers fell earlier in the month, but here are a couple of ripening shells with the nut emerging and ready to drop.

There are usually several dogs walking in the park. This one had found an abandoned ball and was coaxing its owner to kick it so he could chase.

The gate at the top end of the park has curling ironwork. ‘C’ on an ‘H’ – standing for Christ’s Hospital, the charity that runs the park.

The Ginkgo tree, which had been slowly yellowing through the summer, now glows golden – ahead of most of the other trees. I expect to see more Autumn colours in October.

Fire Engine on the Market Place – Emergency Call and Charity Challenge

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A fire engine was on the Market Place today (Monday) responding to what appeared to be a fire alarm at the former Pablos building. There was no smell of smoke, but the crew carried out a check to be sure.

At the weekend a fire engine was on the Market Place in a very different role — supporting a six-hour treadmill relay by three members of the fire service.

The effort is part of Running for Heroes, a campaign led by firefighter Chris Dabell, who plans to run the 2026 London Marathon in full firefighting kit to raise money for the Firefire Fighters Charity. The charity supports colleagues who have been seriously injured and highlights the daily risks faced by firefighters. The challenge also honours the memory of Jennie and Martyn, lost in the Bicester tragedy.

More details: runningforheroes.dabell.co.uk

Abingdon 100 Years Ago – September 1925

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Empire Pageant at Caldecott House
The Empire Pageant, organised jointly by the Abingdon Constitutional Associations and the Empire Pageant Committee, was held on Thursday in the grounds of Caldecott House, by kind permission of Mrs. Bailie. The event was highly successful, featuring numerous stalls and competitions such as bowling for ham and cake weight guessing. The Abingdon Town Band provided music throughout the afternoon and for dancing in the evening.

The pageant emphasised unity, cooperation, truth, and love, and was staged by Miss Green of Hermitage on the lawn at the back of the house. Characters represented included Britannia, Liberty, Justice, Spirit of Progress, Spirit of the Flag, and representatives of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, West Africa, India, West Indies, Malay, and Ceylon. At the close, Major Glenn MP thanked Miss Green and congratulated the performers. .(They included Morris Dancing by boys from the Church School)

Earl of Oxford and Asquith Stung by Wasp
While motoring through Abingdon on Thursday, the Earl of Oxford and Asquith was stung rather severely on the arm by a wasp. On his doctor’s advice, he remained indoors for a day or two and was unable to open the Liberal fête at Faringdon, which was instead opened by Mr. Anthony Asquith.

First Sod Cut for Abingdon Church Hall Extension
Last evening, Lady Gore-Brown cut the first sod for the extension of Abingdon Church Hall, which is expected to be completed within four months. Plans for extending the hall have been discussed for several years, and last year’s major fundraising effort made this possible. The building contract was awarded to Messrs. Randall & Son for £2,720. The committee already has £1,140 7s. 10d in hand, including £59 raised at the sod-cutting event during which The Mayor of Abingdon released balloons as a fundraising competition.

Abingdon Free Library Expands Collection
Abingdon Free Library has recently added 500 modern fiction titles, with a similar number of non-fiction books expected soon. Last year, 30,000 volumes were issued to a population of 7,167. The library encourages public use, free selection from shelves, and provides reading lists to foster a reading habit. Not everybody realises they can find books themselves from the shelves and continue the old way of requesting books from the catalogue.


Oxford Cricket League – Division 1
Semi-Final (Abingdon Pavlova vs Woodstock): Played at Abingdon, the match was drawn, with Abingdon Pavlova scoring 126 and Woodstock 104 for 8. Play continued until 8 pm, when Woodstock appealed for poor light and the umpires upheld their claim. Woodstock refused to complete the match on the following day and asked for a replay instead. And so it was judged that Pavlova should have a pass to the final.

Final (Abingdon Pavlova vs Morris Motors): Played on the Hertford College ground, the final was completed on Sunday after rain delayed the Saturday start. Morris Motors won decisively by an innings and 77 runs, before a large crowd.

Prolific Tomato Plant at Caldecott House
A remarkable tomato plant, grown by Mr. Juggins in the greenhouse at Caldecott House, bore about fifty tomatoes, weighing over 71 lbs in total.

Primitive Methodist Church Harvest Thanksgiving
The Primitive Methodist Church celebrated Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday, with large congregations attending morning and evening services. Mr. W. Bramwell Hill of Swindon preached on the theme “In an Ancient Garden” in the morning and “Until the Harvest” in the evening. A public meeting on Monday evening presided by Mr T Leach featured Reverend G. E. Wallace on the text “Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness.” Decorations were arranged by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin and Mr. A. J. Argyle and others, with musical contributions by Mr. H. Horsley on the violin. The celebrations concluded with a sale of goods.


Angling Societies Visit Abingdon
Several angling societies visited Abingdon recently. Over 400 anglers from Birmingham fished Appleford and Wilsham Reaches, and other area, with modest catches of dace and gudgeon. A smaller group returned the following Sunday, enjoying good sport along Wilsham Reach, bringing 28 bags to the scales. Both societies expressed appreciation to the town.

Master Bakers’ Annual Outing
The Abingdon and District Master Bakers’ Association held its annual outing on Thursday, with 300 members enjoying a day in London. Some visited Wembley, while others attended the Bakers’ Exhibition.

Abingdon Cycle Dealer Bankrupt
Mr. Thomas F. Cavey, cycle dealer of 15 Bath Street, Abingdon, was declared bankrupt. Mr. Cavey began business in 1921 with £90 capital but cited declining trade, strong local competition, and high expenses as reasons for failure. His debt totals £88. A public examination of Mr. Cavey is scheduled for October 5 at County Hall, Oxford.

Thanks to the Oxford Journal Illustrated for the photographs of Abingdon events from the British Newspaper Archive. Also thanks to the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette from the British Newspaper Archive for story details and the North Berks Herald microfilm in the library  for story details and the underwear advert..