Bells APPEAL

St Helen's bells have rung their last peal, and this morning the church was open to give passers by a first and last look at the old bells before they are taken away. Six are going to a Cathedral in South Africa and the others will be recast.

The English style of bell ringing involves the bells swinging through a full 360 degrees from mouth up to mouth up and back. The continentental style is for a hammer to strike the bell. The English style gives a richer sound but is more wearing on the frame, and the bell ringers.

These bells were first hung in 1764. The frames no longer hold the bells securely, and the frame is wobbly, and the bells heavier than is necessary, and so it it was decided to APPEAL for a new set.

The new bells have been cast in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. and are waiting at Whites of Appleton (The Bellhangers), They will be hung in the spring.

Ode to the Guildhall

I'll tell you of the Guildhall
Its rooms for public use -
The ancient and the modern
all fused without excuse.

One end is made of concrete,
A nineteen sixties crime
It doesn't fit the setting
Or the medieval time.

It used for organ concerts
for craft fairs and a ball.
It has a stage and balcony
and is called the Abbey Hall

Walk across the foyer
And through an ancient door
You'll find the council chamber
Wood panelled long before.

It boasts some lovely paintings
A Gainsborough King and Queen
Next door you'll find the bear room
Where the Bear Club can be seen.

And down below more history
A room of ancient fame
The first schoolroom in Abingdon
The Roysse Room is its name.

The Maltings

If barley is left in a damp container and stirred it will germinate and produce high levels of alpha amylase which converts the starch to sugar. This process is called malting and the product is malt. This sugary solution can then be used for making whisky and beer.

A few years back there was a tall white building in the centre of Abingdon with A.B.M on its side. Beside it stood an equally tall round topped steel drum. It looked agricultural.

On that site there is a new town centre housing development called The Maltings. Persimmon Homes are making more out of the word maltings than ABM or more recently Simpsons Malt ever did. Simsons moved the large germination drums from Abingdon to Tivetshall in 1999. No need for Malt once Morland the last brewer closed in the same year.

Hellenic Football

Abingdon Town play football in the Premier Division of the GLS Hellenic Football League.

Formed in 1870, Town are the oldest club in Abingdon beating Abingdon United by a long way (about 77 years). In 1953 Town became founder members of the Hellenic League. This league initially only included clubs located no more than 30 miles from Abingdon County Hall. You can still find the likes of Didcot Town, and Chipping Norton Town, Henley, Kidlington, Wantage, Witney United, and Abingdon United in the Premier division.

Abingdon Town play at the Culham Road ground, on the Thames flood plain. Tickets cost £2.00 for adults. This season has not been their most successful. They lost 5-0 in the local derby with Abingdon United. United are near the top and Town near the bottom of the league. If Town cannot string a few more wins together they could be playing the likes of Cricklade and Pewsey Basset next season in Division 1 West.

Free Library - 1895

The tall central building proclaims in bright red brickwork 'Free Library' - built in 1895. The orange shopfront belongs to 'Crumbs Sandwhich bar' where you can get an 'all day breakfast' and the more sober shopfront is P B Conway, opticians. The group of three gabled frontages stand up tall.

I would like to find out more about the architect and see some of their other designs.

Blessed with two Baptists

This is the Abbey Baptist Church down Checker Walk. At one time it belonged to a group called the Strict Baptists, but they are now the Grace Baptists. The Abbey Baptist Church preach in the open air, and have a strong sense of mission and saving people's souls.

The other more main stream Baptist Church is The Ock Street Baptist Church. They have a long history going back to 1649 when it was founded by John Pendarves.