Snow Queen in Abingdon

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Last night was the coldest of the year, with temperatures falling to between –5 and –10°C. Snow was falling when many of us woke in Abingdon this morning. It settled on roads and pavements.

Some shop windows still carry their seasonal snowy displays and for once have been matched by the conditions outside.

Town council staff were out gritting paths across the Market Place and in the town council parks.

They were also busy updating the notice boards with the latest posters.

One of the events being advertised is The Snow Queen. For a few hours at least, Abingdon seemed to be under her spell.

A cold day in town

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From early this morning the recycling lorry has made its rounds through central and Abingdon, catching up and collecting far more than usual: the cardboard boxes, bottles, and wrapping paper of Christmas. Before Christmas there had been a press release warning that household waste would only be collected if bin lids were fully closed, as ‘there is a real risk that an overfilled bin won’t attach properly to the lifting equipment’ and could cause damage. Even so, the crews seemed to manage this large post-Christmas clear-up without rejecting many bins.

Only a small amount of snow fell three days ago, but with clear skies and temperatures staying at or below freezing, it lingers, melting only where the winter sun reaches it.

The cold was felt in the Market Place. Quite a few stallholders were there, among them Martin, selling off some of his photographic cards at £1 each.

There were also plenty of spring bulbs for sale, a reminder that warmer days are not far away.

As the Market was cleared away in the afternoon, the Christmas lights could still be seen.

As darkness fell and temperatures dropped further, the gritting lorries came out.

Bridge Repairs Along the River Ock

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During the Boundary Walk on New Year’s Day we followed the River Ock and saw outdoor staff from the town council mending the bridge halfway between the town end and Drayton Road.

The vertical wooden slats of the old bridge, pictured here in March 2025, were in a poor state of repair. Since then, orange barriers had been clamped along the sides of the bridge as a temporary measure.

The replacement sides now use horizontal beams made from recycled plastic, designed to resemble wood. A similar material and construction was used when the sides of the town end bridge were replaced three or four years ago.

Queen Mary’s Favour

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On New Year’s Day, the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were out. They met at the Punchbowl at 2 p.m. before processing to the Market Place, where they danced for the crowd who had gathered.

Roger Cox, in his role as Fool, introduced each dance. For one dance he drew attention to a stone, inscribed 1556 – 2006, in the centre of the Market Place, commemorating the Abingdon Charter granted by Queen Mary in 1556.

He announced ‘Queen Mary’s Favour’, a dance created in 2006, for that same 450th anniversary. Here is a video in which the Morris dance round and salute their squire – The Mayor of Ock Street, Harry Knight.

Dancing may have kept some of them warm. Being danced round may be an honour, but not a way to keep warm on a cold day