The Abingdon Vase

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The Abingdon Vase
On a recent post I mentioned that Abingdon Vases are often for sale on Ebay.

The Abingdon Sanitary Manufacturing Company produced toilets in Abingdon Illinois from the early 1900s.
The Abingdon Vase
During the great depression, when demand for sanitaryware hit rock bottom, the company diversified in 1934 to produce decorative vases using the same china.
The Abingdon Vase
An increase in the demand for sanitaryware in 1950 meant they stopped producing the vases. The company is still in business today, part of Briggs Industries, Inc., where you can still order Abingdon sanitaryware.

To find out more about the vases press here. For memories about the factory press here.

View of Abingdon Bridge from the Old Gaol Garden

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Old Gaol Garden
Somebody commented that the Old Gaol Gardens are now open, and so I went through the gate at the side and had a walk round.
Old Gaol Garden
The gardens will be used for the medieval foot tournament on Heritage Day. The battling knights will have a softer landing there than on the Market Place, and their squires will be able to pitch tents on the grass.

Ten Cygnets in Abingdon

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Ten Cygnets in Abingdon
A swan family was on the Mill Stream yesterday
Ten Cygnets in Abingdon
with six cygnets.
Ten Cygnets in Abingdon
The day before yesterday there were another four cygnets, with parents nearby, on the St Helen’s slipway.

None of them had been ringed by the swan uppers at the start of the school holidays. My blog report about a decline in swan numbers, based on Swan Upping catches, could have got it wrong.

August Bank Holiday by the River Thames in Abingdon

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August Bank Holiday
On August Bank Holiday the sun was out and so were the crowds by the River Thames in Abingdon. The pool and splash pad area were crowded.
August Bank Holiday
There were lots of people down at Abingdon Lock watching the boats come and go.
August Bank Holiday
A continuous stream of people crossed the weir both ways. At times people with bikes or buggies had to wait until the oncoming bikes or buggies had crossed. So riverside walks were well used.

The playground was packed. There were a few people playing pitch and putt, and even more playing crazy golf.
August Bank Holiday
Only empty place was the tennis court.
August Bank Holiday
A consultation with community groups and school children showed how they valued the riverside facilities in November 2014.

The last three ranked facilities are likely to be chopped by the Vale of White Horse District Council when they revamp the area. The crazy golf and tennis courts will become a larger play area. I have not heard what is planned for the pitch and putt.