Tourist information,Abingdon. and other Abingdon-on-Thames, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

Close to the centre of town,so easy to pop into and get some information and on the way to the Abbey grounds.
Open everyday from April to October,November to March closed on Sundays.

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Phone: +44 (0)1235 522 711
Address: Old Abbey house,Abbey cl.Abingdon,OX14 3JD
Directions: Go through the old Abbey gateway and it's straight in front of you.
Website: https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/azdirectory/T/ABINGDON%20TOURIST%20INFORMATION.html
Other Contact: information@abingdon.gov.uk

Didn't get a chance to look in,in the 2 hours i had in town but looks an interesting place to visit.

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Phone: +44 (0)1235 523 703
Address: Market place,Abingdon,Oxon,OX14 3HG
Directions: Centre of town.
Website: http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Contents/Misc/Index.asp?SiteId=37&SiteExtra=9295215&TopNavId=238&NavSideId=1029
Other Contact: enquiries@abingdonmuseum.free-on

Dating from the 15th century it has been rebuilt.
Currently having work done around it.

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Directions: Next to St. Nicholas church,in the centre of town.

Years ago only the elite burgesses were allowed to vote for the Mayor,so the townsfolk in 1700 decided to elect their own mock mayor to lead the Ock street Morris dancers.
On the nearest saturday to the summer solstice they meet once again to carry on the tradition.

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Website: http://www.abingdonmorris.org.uk/

Parts of the building date back to the 13th century but it is believed that 6th-7th century foundations lie underneath.
When the townsfolk revolted against the Abbey in 1327 it was their rallying point and the bells their call to action.
In the surrounding grounds are the Almshouses,Long Alley being the best.
The church was home to the Medieval Parish Guilds and they each had their own chapel hence the church is wider than it is long.
The Fraternity of the Holy Cross was one of the guilds and built the Abingdon and Culham bridges,also the Long Alley Almshouses in 1446.

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Directions: Walk down East St. Helens street from the centre of town,starting by the Punchbowl pub.

Long Alley is definately the best of the three Almshouses.
Built in 1446 by the Fraternity of the Holy Cross,the cloistered walk was added in 1605 and the Lantern in 1707.
Depictions from the bible adorn the outside of the cloister,above the gates.
Christ's Hospital took over from the guild in 1553.
Twitty's was built in 1707 and Brick Alley in 1718.
Sorry the picture of Twitty's is out of focus but you can just about make out the words.
It says Charles Twitty gave 1700 pounds for the building and maintenance in perpetuity.

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Directions: St.Helen's churchyard.

The Hospitium or guesthouse originally built in 1130,subsequently became the town's council chambers and was altered in 1731.
Sorry my pictures don't do it justice.

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Directions: Next to St.Nicholas church and the Abbey gate.

The monastery founded in 670 A.D. at Abbandun (Hill of Ebba) was moved to the present site in 695 A.D. In the Domesday book of 1086 it states that the Abbot of Abingdon was only second in landholdings in Berkshire after the King.
Under Aethelwold and Abbot Faritivs it became one of the most scholarly and wealthy monasteries in England.
In the 14th century the local people rebelled against the Abbeys' control of the burial rights and local markets and torched the Abbey.
Henry VIII stayed at the Abbey in 1518 with then wife Catherine of Aragon,later he demolished it and removed much of the stone work.
Todays ruins are a sham and were put up in the 1920's known as Trendell's Folly but the foundations are still buried underneath the grounds.
There are still several old Abbey buildings surviving the 13th century Exchequer building with its fine chimney and long gallery (c1500)next to it being the best,link shows some pictures.
Abbey buildings
For links to a more detailed history look in my Abingdon introduction.

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Address: Abbey close.
Directions: Walk through the old Abbey gateway and veer right of the information office and the grounds are on your left down Abbey close.

Lists all the walks.
Here is a link to last years boundary walk
Boundary walk

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Website: http://www.abingdonwalks.co.uk/

Both in October the Michaelmas Fair was a hiring fair when workers sold themselves into a years work bond.The Runaway Fair a week later was when workers who had runaway from hard masters would re-sell themselves.
Link here to last years Michaemas Fair
Abingdon fair 2006
Web site below for events over the whole year.

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Address: Ock street.
Website: http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=37&SiteExtra=9295215&TopNavId=554&NavSideId=6089