River levels remain high on the River Thames around Abingdon

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River levels on the Thames around Abingdon remain high this week, with flooding of low-lying land.

In places, flooding appears to be coming up from below, with a high water table leaving the ground saturated even where the river has not visibly spilled over.

While levels are beginning to fall, the ground is now saturated, and levels could rise again if further heavy rainfall arrives upstream.

The weir gates now appear to be fully open. This may explain why the weir walk was closed in advance as a safety precaution. The closure removes a well-used circular route.

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.