A Double Life for the Post Box

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The post box outside the Ock Street sorting office used to be a familiar Elizabeth II pillar box — part of a classic cylindrical design stretching back to Victorian times.

Currently, however, it is wrapped in black plastic.

The same thing happened to the Waitrose post box in Abingdon, before Christmas. When it emerged from its wrapping it had gained a solar panel, barcode scanner, and drop-down compartment for parcels, along with a slot for letters.

The change shows how postal trade has moved from letters to parcels as a result of online shopping and returns. Now the Great British post box has a double-purpose. It can take letters, but can also process parcels. This is an entry to City Daily Photo’s February Theme Day – DOUBLE.

A Fifth-Saturday Local Excellence Market in Abingdon

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The Town Crier was there to announce the Local Excellence Market in town today.

The event usually comes around on the fifth Saturday, when there is one, with local, independent stalls, and sociable people. Around 25 stalls filled the square.

Visitors could buy everything from hot food and bread to cakes, pies, crafts and gifts from local producers. There were spells of sunshine, no rain, and little wind.

Alongside the market was the launch of the new What’s Happening Abingdon, Spring – Summer 2026, produced by the Abingdon Events Partnership, who also organise the market.

Abbey Millstream Through the Year: January 2026

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The millstream leaves the River Thames close to the weir and passes under a humped wooden bridge.

The water level in the millstream remains remarkably steady, even when the Thames is in flood. On the far bank there is a tangle of mossy trees, beyond which the buildings on Audlett Drive can be seen, including Snakes and Ladders and Protyre.

The stream is overgrown with fallen trees and water vegetation. In January another tree fell across the water, creating an obstacle for a pair of swans that regularly travel up and down the millstream.

One of the swans can be seen leaving the water and briefly using the bank to get around the obstruction.

The stream then flows beneath the green girder Thames View Bridge.

This bridge connects the Thames View houses to the Abbey Meadows, and here there is noticeably more birdsong, perhaps encouraged by garden bird feeders nearby.

There seem to be robins every few metres along this stretch.

There are also plenty of moorhen,

ducks and other water birds.

At the end of Abbey Close is another bridge, where a sign politely says “Love Abingdon” and “Please take your litter home.” I’ll be visiting this stretch of three bridges throughout 2026 to see how it changes month by month.

The millstream was created in the 10th century, when Abbot Æthelwold rebuilt Abingdon Abbey. It helped drain the abbey grounds while also providing a controlled flow of water to power the abbey’s mills.

Abingdon 100 Years Ago – January 1926

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Fire in Stert Street

A fire that might easily have become a serious blaze broke out shortly after seven o’clock on Thursday morning at Messrs Hilton’s Booteries in Stert Street. Flames were seen leaping through a pavement grating from the cellar below, first noticed by Mr Wheeler of the Vineyard.

In three minutes the Chief Officer (Mr. J. Gibbens) and Fireman Chivers were on the scene with a hose cart, and a minute later the water was pumped from the stream in Major R. Catmur’s yard. To reach the seat of the fire the left-hand shop window had to be emptied and the floorboards torn up, revealing charred beams beneath. Thanks to the speed of the response the fire was prevented from spreading.

It was remarked afterwards that, had the outbreak occurred during the night, the building — and possibly adjoining properties — would almost certainly have been lost.

Canon Oldfield and St Nicolas’ Church

Canon Oldfield has decided to resign his post as Deputy Lecturer at St Nicolas’ Church, a decision that has been received with much regret by his many friends in Abingdon. He has, however, kindly offered to continue helping as occasion arises.


Children’s Party at the Corn Exchange

Around 200 children attended a party organised by the Abingdon Liberal Association at the Corn Exchange. After refreshments, a conjuring entertainment was given by Mr Norman Chivers, followed by dancing.

The picture shows prizewinners at the Abingdon Liberal children’s fancy dress dance(photo, Warland Andrew). ‘Mother Gamp’ (centre), ‘Poppy’ (left), ‘Daisy’ (right)

Music for the evening was supplied by Mr Horsky’s String Band, and the event was described as an enjoyable one for all concerned.


The Parish Magazine Goes to Every Home

With the approval of the Church Council, a new scheme has been introduced whereby the Abingdon Parish Magazine will be delivered free to every household in the town.

Explaining the decision, the committee wrote:
“The Parish Church stands to-day, as for hundreds of years, as the Parish Church, and there would be a want of ideal and vision if ever she ceased to recognise that all who live within the parish boundaries are parishioners.”

Wireless for the Isolation Hospital

An appeal has been launched to provide a wireless installation for the Joint Isolation Hospital at Abingdon.

Donations quickly mounted, with contributions from local firms, individuals, and organisations. By Thursday the total stood at £87 3s. 6d., reflecting strong community support for bringing this new innovation to the hospital. At a Corporation Meeting, as no contribution could be made from public funds, the suggestion was made that they have a ‘whip round’.

Slate Club Dinner at the Plasterers’ Arms

The annual dinner of the Plasterers’ Arms Slate Club was held with 43 members present. After sick benefits had been paid out, each member received a share of £1 2s. 3d.

The evening included songs and musical items, with several members contributing, accompanied by piano and violin. It was reported as a thoroughly convivial gathering.


Oddfellows’ Historic Visit

A notable event in the history of the Abingdon District of Oddfellows took place with the first-ever visit of a member of the Board of Directors, Bro. R. Annis of Ilford.

At a well-attended dinner and meeting, the scale and strength of the Manchester Unity were outlined, including national membership figures and financial statistics. Bro. Annis spoke of the new tables recently introduced and encouraged members to continue their energetic work.

To mark the occasion he was presented with an engraved leather wallet as a memento of his visit.

Flooding Around Abingdon

Severe flooding caused widespread disruption around Abingdon in mid-January. The Abingdon to Dorchester road was closed, and the Causeway lay under nearly three feet of water for more than 150 yards. Several motorists attempting to pass through had to be hauled out with ropes.

At its height the river stood over six feet above summer level. Even after it began to fall, fields remained submerged.

One dramatic incident saw a man and a girl canoeing down the flooded river as the result of a wager. Their canoe was swept against the bridge buttress and became lodged in the branches of a willow tree at the bottom of Mr. J. R. Stevens’s Island, and both occupants managed to scramble to the bank, waist-deep in water. The canoe itself was ultimately lifted from the river and relaunched below the bridge, after which the two voyagers continued on their way.


Snowstorm and Letter to the Editor

Following bitter winds, snow fell across Abingdon, reaching a depth of over four inches. Tobogganing children quickly appeared, but conditions for travel were difficult.

A letter to the North Berks Herald praised the town authorities for clearing the streets, while strongly criticising the county authorities for leaving main roads almost impassable for nearly a week. The writer pointed out the hardship caused to cyclists, tradesmen, and village chapels left without preachers.

The letter ended with a call for proper preparation — including snow ploughs — before the next snowfall arrived.


Diving Expert at Abingdon

The Roysse Room was packed when Captain Damant, R.N., delivered a lantern lecture on recovering gold from the wreck of the Laurentic. The ship, sunk in 1917 with millions of pounds in bullion aboard, lay at a steep angle off the coast of Northern Ireland.

Captain Damant described the physical strain and danger of deep-sea diving, the bitter cold, strong underwater tides, and the painstaking work of dismantling the wreck piece by piece first using explosives. and then by hand. After two years’ effort, more than 98 per cent of the gold was eventually recovered.

The lecture was warmly received, and votes of thanks brought the evening to a close.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the British Newspaper Archive for access to the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette for some stories.

Additional thanks to the North Berks Herald Library microfilm in the Abingdon Library for stories, a letter, and the adverts and to the Oxford Journal for the picture from the children’s party which I digitally enhanced

The diving suit picture is from Ebay.