Heritage Open Days and other events in the next week

Heritage Open Days – 13–14 September This year’s theme is ‘Exploring Abingdon’s Architectural History’.

Roysse Room Exhibition: Abingdon’s Historic Buildings – Lost, Recorded and Understood – Sat & Sun, 10 am–4 pm.

Unit 25, Bury Street: Evolving Abingdon (redevelopment of the 1960s–70s) and Reaching for the Stars (fusion energy at Culham) – Fri–Mon, 10 am–4 pm. Abingdon Artists will be displaying their painted building in Unit 25 over Saturday and Sunday.

Abbey Buildings: Roman re-enactments and rural crafts on Saturday to complement the exhibition in the County Hall Museum

Open Properties: Over a dozen buildings open, including the Old Gaol foyer, Sophos Building, and Christchurch barn conversion. St Helen’s Church will have an organ try-out, tower climbs, and quizzes.

Trinity Abingdon marks its 150th anniversary with an exhibition on Saturday. On Sunday there will be a guided tour at 2 pm followed by an illustrated talk at 2.30 pm about the church’s history and architecture.

Walks & Trails: Guided walks on Sunday, plus self-guided and treasure trails.

Full programme at abingdonheritage.org.uk. The Heritage stall will be on the Market Place for more information and to sign up for walks.

Other Events

The final St Michael’s Church Cream Tea of the year: Saturday 13 September, 2.30–4.30 pm – £5 including tea or coffee and cake.

Concert at St Michael’s Church: Sunday 14 September, 3 pm – pianist and conductor Huw Rhys James performs Haydn, Mozart, Liszt and Debussy. Tickets £12 (under-16s free).

Make Music Abingdon is at the Loose Cannon Brewery: Thursday next week – includes Ben Heaneyn, previously featured at HealthFest.

Environment Agency Tests Temporary Flood Barrier in Abingdon

The Environment Agency (EA) today carried out a trial deployment of its temporary flood-defence barrier in Abingdon. Developed in response to three separate floods in January, November and December 2024, the scheme is designed to withstand a one-in-thirty-year flood event. The equipment will be stored locally and can be used to protect up to 30 homes in Chaunterell Way and Nash Drive if flooding occurs this winter.

Today’s exercise allowed the EA field team to practise deployment, check alignment, and time how quickly the barrier can be installed. Three 50-metre sections were taken from crates and assembled on site. Once in place, plastic sheeting and weighted chains were laid over the structure to seal gaps and form a watertight dam.

A Swan Family and Lone Cygnet

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In Abingdon, a swan family has been growing up this year. They travel between the River Thames above Abingdon Weir and along the Mill Stream by the Abbey Meadows.

At first there were two adults with eight cygnets. Then the family became one adult with seven, and now just six remain, guarded by the lone parent.

One cygnet has gone its own way, and can often be seen from Wilsham Reach and St Helen’s Wharf.

But life, apart from the family, is not easy. A gang of adolescent swans now dominates that stretch of the Thames. In past years an adult ruled there with its family, chasing off rivals. This year the younger birds have taken charge, and the solitary cygnet is seen off whenever it ventures where they want to go, like the slipway where they like to preen.

Work Starts on West St Helen Street Building

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Work has begun to take down the end wall of the scaffolded building near the top of West St Helen Street.

The scaffold was erected in October 2024 after widening cracks led the district council’s Building Control team to act on safety grounds.

The situation has affected many people. Pedestrian access has been restricted, which has been particularly difficult for disabled and elderly people. It has also closed off rear access and parking for some residents and blocked the rear access to the Grapes pub (currently under refurbishment). Residents of the flats above moved out, and Pappy’s Jamaican restaurant was forced to vacate the building.

No timescale for completion has been announced, although Pappy’s put up a ‘Coming Soon’ banner a few weeks ago.