Clubs and Societies Continued

Just a few of the many stalls from yesterday..

The Multiple Sclerosis stall with the chap who raised lots of money doing a sponsored wheeled walk... as featured in the Herald.

Abingdon Drama Club. Next performance is 'Separate Tables'

Abingdon College and District Film Society - ABCD

Abingdon Carbon Cutters.

35 Ock Street - the Church in Abingdon's open house.

The Mayor with Saxton Rovers youth football.

and Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society - Aaahs.

Clubs and Societies Day

The Clubs and Societies Open Day was happening today in the Guildhall. The Old Speckled Hen Clog dancers are seen here strutting their stuff outside.

It was an opportunity to meet members of many local organisations and find out what they do.

As always it was over subscribed and very popular, and some people who could not find a pitch inside, set up their pitch on a windy Market Place. This is Jackie from the Abingdon Craft Club...

More pictures to follow...

Underneath the Thai Orchid Restaurant

Underneath the Thai Orchid Restaurant, a new shop sign has been put up. It has the same blue writing on white ground as the previous two signs for the Chinese Medical Centre, and Hadleigh China Shop.

Like these statues in the upstairs window of the Thai Orchid restaurant, the shop has an oriental theme. It is .... to be continued

A Masons Shopping Cart

Not everybody can pop down to Masons in Abingdon to run through the range of zips... glance over the gingham ribbons... or check out the tartan fabrics.

There is no real substitute for the experience of riffling through the lace at Masons in Abingdon - but you can take an on-line tour with a Masons shopping cart .

Back to Roots

Sophie Grigson has a number of cookery books on sale at Mostly Books, including one on Vegetables. She was in town just over a week ago for the V-Day 2008 Charity performance at the Guildhall, raising money for victims of domestic violence.

She will be back again on Friday 11th April to open this new shop in East St Helen Street. The proprietors are going back to roots with their shop.

Roman Bathhouse in Abingdon

Archaelogical excavations, between Twickenham House and the Old Gaol, have uncovered evidence that the site contains the remains of a Roman Bathhouse in very good condition. It is thought Twickenham House will now need to be underpinned and completely excavated. Ultrasound readings indicate that the baths may also go under the County hall Museum which will also need underpinning during excavation.

Co-op Building - March Progress

Nearly four Stories High

from aisles to sky.

Bridge Street Preparations

Preparations for the move of the AbITs gateway lights from the other side of the bridge to opposite Lewis Baker have begun. Yellow positioning marks are already painted...

and services are being laid under the road.

There will be the loss of four parking spaces, but perhaps more crucially for some of the Bridge Street businesses will be the increased restriction on parking and loading. Two of the shops don't have rear access and so have no alternative. I expect the takeaway restaurants depend for some custom on people nipping out of cars to collect.

Another complication for these businesses is the fencing off of the Old Gaol as archaelogical diggings, and surveys proceed. This means more loss of space in the Old Gaol courtyard which did get used by some neighbours.