There was a heavy hail storm that left a layer of slushy ice on the ground, and running water on the paths. Thunder roared overhead and the chap who sits under a tree in all weathers with his dog decided to make a move.
People had been gathering at the bowls club but they all left and drove off during the hail storm. The pitch was covered and, if our lawn is anything to go by, it took an hour or two to melt.
Leigh has sent in this poem about Abingdon for the 10 poems about Abingdon blog project. Thankyou to her. I hope you enjoy it as I did.
On St Helen’s wharf I stand
To watch the water flow
Reflecting lives lived long ago
Closing my eyes, I feel the sun grown strong within my soul
I sense the strength of the church behind me
Across the water, a monk catches my eye
His cassock filled with holy treasure
Hours spent in scripture and pleasure
Like a kingfisher he weaves through the reeds
Flashes of crimson on a somber breeze
Make haste, the King’s men come tomorrow
We must not let the Abbey fall
We cannot let them have this all
We must listen to Our Father’s calls
And he is gone, I fear not long destined to be in his earthly world
Now here are the boats, the Thames is alive
A clamor of passengers and cargo arrives
The drinking begins, there are merry goings on
A large group of locals break into song
The smell of Morland ale overwhelmingly strong
A young boy approaches
Little blond curls, a laughing face
A familiar imprint in an unfamiliar place
Twirling his wool cap, he is clearly enjoying the day
He looks at me from years away
I bend down to speak, what is this jubilee?
He looks at me, wide eyed, I must know!
It is Michaelmas Fair
Sweet treats and games, not Latin and prayer
He skips away floating on cobbles of air
Change has come, bitterly cold
The square filled young and old
Soldiers parading
A whole town commemorating
Falling silent for those lost before today
Prayers for our men
They bow their heads and line the Thames
A war to end all wars they said then
Yet the bells tolls not once, but twice
Amen
And finally I hear
Morris men approaching near
With bells and music and Oxfordshire cheer
A whole town celebrating, salivating
Whilst buns burst down from the sky
An apricot sun sets deep over Rye Farm
Painting brushstrokes across the sky with its arm
I bid a farewell to those who have passed
And I turn to wander home
Restful at last
For this is where I hold my own memories near
And cherish those I love most dear
Where a part of me will forever be
Woven with ghosts of whispered history
Abingdon
Leigh Hogan – All Rights Reserved 2021
P.S Blogging may be a bit patchy in May as I am coming and going a lot for family reasons. So please send in what you can to help fill out the month.
Old Abbey House is boarded up as redevelopment starts.
Daniel has been able to get a higher view over the fence showing the scaffolding.
He even has a view of the roof.
For the history of Old Abbey House there is the Abingdon Buildings and People site. A quick summary:
For more of Daniel’s aerial shots you can visit his facebook page https://www.facebook.com/danielgloverdrone
The field between the Dunmore Road and Wootton Road, currently being developed for new houses, has been used for agriculture since at least 1880 and probably much further back.
The earth or soil here comprises a topsoil of clay with a subsoil of stiffer clay and bands of sand and gravel.
The British Geological Survey of the area indicates that beneath the soil is harder Amphill & Kimmeridge Clay from the Jurassic Period.
Since my last visit to the development, the speed limit on the Abingdon outer relief road has changed from 40 MPH to 30 MPH near where the new housing is to be.
The Wootton Road is closed both sides of the Wotton Road roundabout for a few weeks, although you can still go round the outer relief road.
For more pictures of Earth in all its meanings (from soil to the environment to the whole planet) visit City Daily Photo – Theme Day,