This years winners...

This years winners at the Oxford Preservation Trust's Environmental Awards were mostly from the City of Oxford but did include a couple from Oxford's closest neighbour town Abingdon...

"...Local councils were also recognised in Abingdon Town Council and the improvements to their Market Place..."

"Certificates were also awarded for ... public artwork on Penlon Place in Abingdon..." They must mean this bronzed apron draped across a stone bench,

this pair of boots, and sack of barley. They appear to have been idly left behind by workers of Abingdon's former industries.

Tithe Farm / Ladygrove Update

Work has begun at the playpark behind Chaunterell Way. The first two pieces of play equipment are taking shape.

Not far away the bridge over the Ock at the end of Mill Lane has been repaired and re-opened. It had been damaged by vandals, and closed for almost a month, but now has a new non-slip ramp.

St Helen's Church Steeple

The steeple provided a fixed point before the days of GPS and Sat Navs. I for one can still easily imagine the sun going round the earth.

It goes down behind the clouds.

and reappears

then goes down for good. Its an illusion I know. It is easy to forget that we are not the centre and we are the ones turning, around and around like a fairground ride.

Abingdon Michaelmas Street Fair - 3 of 3

On a night when the Stock Markets - as shown in this Stert Street stockbroker's window - were in chaos ... the fair continued

Shooting galleries

Amusements

On the Market Place the rides carried on as though nothing was wrong ...

On Monday it had been difficult to move at this point on Ock Street. But by Tuesday, despite the good weather, it was getting very quiet by 10 pm .

And after midnight, the Fair just vanished.

Abingdon Michaelmas Street Fair - 2 of 3

Despite threats of rain the weather kept dry. It was a squeeze getting along Ock Street with all the crowds. Just a few pictures of some of the rides.

Jungle Fever with the County Hall alongside

The swing roundabout near Vauxhall Belingers.

Superbowl

Dodgems

Storm. This is one of the two highest rides. Its a giant rotating arm with a little cage at each end.

Finally Chaos.

Tribute

Abingdon Michaelmas Street Fair - 1 of 3

The fair used to be set up on Sunday afternoon but nowadays it begins first thing Sunday Morning, and is almost complete by mid afternoon.

People walk the length of Ock Street to see what is on offer. Here are a couple of visitors from the Middle East with their Abingdon hosts. "Abingdon isn't like this normally!!!"

Here are Private Blonde and friend in front of the Ask Restaurant.

The fair does mean there will be no traffic queues on Ock Street for a couple of days.

Crazy Croc helps enforce the car free street.

The fair is all smack bang in the middle of a residential street. Not all residents love it. Some move away for a couple of days.

Only one ride gets going on the setup day - Sunday, and thats the galloping horses after the Fair Blessing Service. Its the only ride that is ever for free.

New Shop, Old Pavement

Faulkner Photography have been kitting out the new studio on Lombard Street. This was once the Crystals shop, and for a short while the Acupunture Centre.

The footfall down this way will improve once the Co-op opposite opens.

That orange cone has been there since the time of the West Saint Helen Street Hole. Further down, near the ambulance car, there is a white square painted to say "we are aware" round another rickety pavement.

There was a lot of work patching the road in the aftermath of the Hole. But not yet the pavements.