Henry VIII’s progress to Abingdon

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Henry VIII progress to Abingdon
Abingdon got a mention near the end of Episode 4 of the historic drama, Wolf Hall, currently being shown on the BBC. Thomas Cromwell dictates “Itinary for the King’s summer progress; depart Windsor, then to Reading, Missenden, Abingdon … then Wolf Hall!

Henry VIII stayed at Abingdon Abbey, on another occasion, at the start of April 1518 with wife Catherine of Aragon in the time of Cardinal Wolsey. There is an exchange of letters between Richard Pace, who is with the King, and Wolsey who is left to conduct government back in London.

The court were on the flight from the ‘sickness,’ and the chief chief issue concerning Abingdon is ‘There is very little accommodation in this small town’ and “Sufficient provision has been made at Abingdon of horse meat for the King. Cannot tell how ‘other poor men’ will do.”

The letters are available on the internet and Pace starts writing from Abingdon on 27th March 1518.

College Hedge is gone

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Hedge Cutting
Today they were chopping down the big hedge that has grown up in front of Abingdon and Witney College to reveal the refurbished building behind.
Hedge Cutting
Thanks to Helen and Craig for separately letting me know.

Craig said “You might want to get down to Abingdon College this morning – those hideous conifers are coming down!“.

By lunchtime, when I got there, it was nearly all gone.

Half Term in Abingdon

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It is half term this week in Oxfordshire and teachers and school pupils get a week off school.

There have been, and still are, events put on for the holiday.
My Half Term in Abingdon
The Abbey Fishponds  had a day of play activities. This nature reserve between Radley Road and Audlett Drive is now run by the Earth Trust – like Radley Lakes.
My Half Term in Abingdon
The library had a special Harry Potter day on February 5th and the displays are still up this half term.
My Half Term in Abingdon
Abingdon County Hall museum are looking back at WWI again with medals and postcard workshops Wednesday and Thursday.

The North Abingdon Children’s Centre have taken over the Community Shop, and Barns cafe had Origami day today…

Abingdon Lock Gates returned, Rock Garden rediscovered, and yellow Survey Boat sited

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Abingdon Lock Gates returned
The second set of Abingdon Lock Gates were being lowered back into position today after their inspection and refurbishment at Sunbury.
Abingdon Lock Gates returned
Then began the work of connecting everything back together again so that the gates would open and close, and hold back water.
Old Rock Garden rediscovered
The lock keeper and volunteers are working hard to clear round the overflow channel that flows from upstream of the lock to rejoin the Thames by a culvert beneath the lock. This channel has been hidden for many years.

This channel was previously crossed by a wooden bridge, but in the 1960s a more solid path was engineered with a culvert beneath. The recent clearance has revealed the large rocks of a former rock garden – the work of a previous Lock keeper.
Old Rock Garden rediscovered
Steve sent me a picture of a yellow survey boat that he saw motoring up and down between Abingdon Lock and Culham Lock today. He did not say what it was surveying, but the colour indicates it is nothing Top Secret.