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The Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon is nestled next to the River Thames, around six miles to the south of Oxford and its recent past lined up with the famous car makers MG until the plant closed in 1980. Abingdon is one of the nation’s settlements that claims to be the oldest continuously occupied town; it is thought that people have lived here for 6,000 years straight and so many traditions and customs have developed over this time. It also means there are a number of historic buildings or at least parts of old buildings, with the likes of St Helen’s Church, the Abingdon County Hall, Abingdon Bridge and the Gateway of the Abbey all found in the town.
Abingdon has become something of a centre for communications companies as well as science and business parks. The town is home to the Thames View Industrial Park while the Harwell International Business Centre is also located in the vicinity. As well as businesses there are also several green spaces in the centre: there is Tilsley Park, Albert Park, the Abbey Gardens and the Abbey Meadow. Not only does the River Thames pass next to Abingdon, so too does the River Ock and both have old bridges that cross the gap made by the water. The Thames Path also brings an outdoor activity opportunity for visitors to this part of the world while the annual Ock Fayre, formerly the Michaelmas Fayre, takes its name from the small river. Another annual event comes in the form of the Abingdon Air and County Show which takes place at Dalton Barracks each May.
The town has been settled for many years and it first flourished during Roman times before the Saxons came to the area. A hamlet named Sevekesham was located nearby and then a Benedictine monastery known as Abbandun was founded under Hean in the vicinity. The 13th and 14th centuries brought about an upturn with the town becoming something of an agricultural centre while also developing expertise in the wool, weaving and manufacturing sectors. In 1538 Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and this led to a decline in the town. At this time Abingdon Abbey was the sixth richest abbey in the country. In 1556 a Monday market was established and the Michaelmas Fayre was instituted not long after. Canals arrived in Oxfordshire’s Abingdon in 1810 before the railways took over alm ost 100 years later. Up until 1869 Abingdon was Berkshire’s county town but Reading took over this mantle in the middle of the 19th century. And by 1974 the town had been re-positioned in the county of Oxfordshire with the manoeuvrings of the Local Government Act, just a few years before the MG car manufacturing plant was closed down.
Abingdon has become something of a centre for communications companies as well as science and business parks. The town is home to the Thames View Industrial Park while the Harwell International Business Centre is also located in the vicinity. As well as businesses there are also several green spaces in the centre: there is Tilsley Park, Albert Park, the Abbey Gardens and the Abbey Meadow. Not only does the River Thames pass next to Abingdon, so too does the River Ock and both have old bridges that cross the gap made by the water. The Thames Path also brings an outdoor activity opportunity for visitors to this part of the world while the annual Ock Fayre, formerly the Michaelmas Fayre, takes its name from the small river. Another annual event comes in the form of the Abingdon Air and County Show which takes place at Dalton Barracks each May.
The town has been settled for many years and it first flourished during Roman times before the Saxons came to the area. A hamlet named Sevekesham was located nearby and then a Benedictine monastery known as Abbandun was founded under Hean in the vicinity. The 13th and 14th centuries brought about an upturn with the town becoming something of an agricultural centre while also developing expertise in the wool, weaving and manufacturing sectors. In 1538 Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and this led to a decline in the town. At this time Abingdon Abbey was the sixth richest abbey in the country. In 1556 a Monday market was established and the Michaelmas Fayre was instituted not long after. Canals arrived in Oxfordshire’s Abingdon in 1810 before the railways took over alm ost 100 years later. Up until 1869 Abingdon was Berkshire’s county town but Reading took over this mantle in the middle of the 19th century. And by 1974 the town had been re-positioned in the county of Oxfordshire with the manoeuvrings of the Local Government Act, just a few years before the MG car manufacturing plant was closed down.