Fat Face

There is a new shop in town called Fat Face. They sell what they describe as 'active wear and outdoor clothing.' The shop is at the corner of High street and Bridge street, the shop with the round corner window where Ciro Citterio used to be until they went into liquidation.

Fat Face clothes are fairly pricey and I haven't bought anything yet. But I do like that bright window display, and those young looking clothes.

I hope they will do enough business to stay. Maybe I'll have to pay a bit more for my next purchase of 'active wear or outdoor clothing' to help keep them in Abingdon.

Airey Neave Mews

This blue strip of light still startles me whenever I walk at night along St Edmunds Lane, and past the entrance to Neave Mews. The sculpture by Philip Bews and Diane Gorvin was constructed almost a year ago, as were the houses of Neave Mews.

Airey Neave was the member of parliament for Abingdon until March 30th 1979. He is famous for being the first person to escape to freedom from Colditz (the second world war pOW camp). He then became a spy for the rest of the war.

This modern housing estate has Electric Gates, and three-story houses round a courtyard. One entrance is through the gate, and the other is under an archway at the Foyer. I can imagine Airey Neave in a German uniform quietly making his way to the gate, and in perfect German talking to the guards before making his way through to a boat waiting for him on the River.

Make Believe History

Much of Abingdon's history is dominated by the once-great Bededictine Abbey. The large central church, St Mary's, is thought to have looked like like Wells Cathedral. Nobody really knows.

What we do know is that it stood in the area that is now The Abbey Park. In one corner are ecclesiastical arches that look like they could belong to that once-great church. But bring along any expert and they'll let you know that you have a genuine fake: a victorian folley.

Under Wraps

Yesterday, students from the Art Foundation course at Abingdon College were wrapping up street signs, park benches, trees, and even themselves, all in the name of art. The example I have to show you is a very well known feature in Abingdon town centre. Not E.T.

Abbey Carpark

The charges start at 50p for 1 hour, 90p for 2 hours, and £1.70 for 3 hours. This is the only car park that charges on Sunday currently, being near the riverside park, with its entertainments and play equipment.

Conduit House

This old building at the top of Conduit Road is at the south east corner of Albert Park. It is far older than the victorian park, and the large victorian houses that surround the park. In the early 19th century it stood in a large field named Conduit field. Some small springs from the field were tapped and the water collected here in what was a forerunner of our huge modern resrvoirs. It housed a cistern where clean water could be stored, and then piped down a conduit to the people of Ock Street. Conduit House is probably much older than Abingdon's charter being mentioned in the Amyce town survey of 1554, and may have been built by the monks of the Abbey.