Abingdon Grape Harvest

Leave a reply


The Ox and Bucks Wine Collective, a local community group, concluded their 2024 grape harvest last weekend in Abingdon. Members brought in grapes from their vines, pooling their efforts to produce a collective wine.

The harvest collection took place at two locations:
* Bucksum near Thame on September 29th
* Peachcroft Farm, Abingdon on October 6th

Thanks to Margaret for the pictures.

The volume of grapes was down on 2023. Despite rising temperatures, erratic weather can make it difficult to cultivate grapes in a cooler climate.

The harvested grapes will be processed and bottled, with the finished wine expected to be available for collection in May or June 2025.

Dangerous Gable End Wall and Access Problems in West St Helen Street

1 Reply


The Vale of White Horse Buildings Control department recently fenced off a passageway adjacent to the Co-op due to concerns about a dangerous gable end wall. This closure has also now impacted Pappy’s Afro Caribbean Takeaway, forcing the business to evacuate their premises temporarily.

The closure of the pavement and dropped kerb has reduced the options for those with disability scooters or wheelchairs.

The pavement on the other side of West St Helen Street has limited turning space. A disability scooter user lost their balance attempting to go that way and struck their head on the wall. So there is an urgent need for improved accessibility.

I rang Building Control at 15:00 today and am awaiting a call back.

Up, Down, and All Around at the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair

7 Replies


Clouds of candy floss were bagged up for the final day of the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair.  The weather forecast was cloudy with a high chance of precipitation.

But the show went on.

A fire engine was parked by the Abbey Gateway. The fire station is in the middle of the fair and so the fire engine needs to be ready to respond in case of emergency.

The other side of the Abbey Gateway people were enjoying the amusements.

There were dry spells with lengthy showers in-between.

Fine weather for ducks – a prize every time.

Along Ock Street there were plenty of brave people up on the rides, going round and round and up and down.

By the Drayton Road double roundabout there’s a swing roundabout that goes much higher and then down.

The Michaelmas Fair will disappear overnight and be back next weekend in a reduced size as the Runaway Fair.

Abingdon Michaelmas Fair continued

Leave a reply


The Abingdon Michaelmas Fair stretches across the Market Place and along High Street and Ock Street, making it the longest street fair in the United Kingdom.

Marshall, the fire puppy from Paw Patrol, was among the popular cartoon characters featured on balloons at the 2024 Abingdon Michaelmas Fair. Joining him was Bluey, sticking out at the top on another balloon.

While the cartoon characters may vary from year to year, food at the fair stays the same. Favourites are burgers, sausages, and chips.

Not all of us can understand the appeal of eating + disorienting rides.

I love the Mexican Food from Dorindos –

but not combined with the Extreme Speed of Vortex.

The weather held out well for the Monday of Michaelmas Fair. As the sun set at around 7 PM, the lights in the Market Place illuminated the crowd.

More tomorrow.