Monthly Archives: September 2018

Hilton Garden Inn summer progress

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Hilton Garden Inn
The developers have made good progress over the summer, and the extension to the Hilton Garden Inn Abingdon has reached its final size and just needs fitting out.
Hilton Garden Inn
The existing rooms will also be refurbished, if they have not been already. Some work has happened to some of them.
Hilton Garden Inn
This will mean the Hilton Garden Inn and Premier Inn, both on the Marcham Road, and not far from the A34, will be the big two hotels in Abingdon. There is also the Crown and Thistle in the town centre with 18 more interesting rooms. Abingdon does need more hotel accommodation in the town centre but the Upper Reaches has been boarded up for two years, and there has not been any news on that for quite a while.

Battle of Britain Classic Car run

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Classic Car run
The Sisters of Swing entertained the people gathered at the Abingdon Royal British Legion before the Battle of Britain Classic Car run.
Classic Car run
About fifteen cars took part in the drive organised by George Haslam. There were not only a variety of MGs, but also a Rover, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini, Morris, Austin,
Classic Car run
and a classic Aston Martin, with a hand crank starter, called Betsie.

The plan was to drive from the Royal British Legion, on Spring Road, to the Lodge Hill Garage to see the Spitfire, and then to Bridge House, on Thamesview, for tea and a chance for the residents to view the cars.

Fire crews called to remove guttering dangling above Abingdon Market Place

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Fire crews
This morning in town M&Co had to be closed and cordoned off because the corner of the roof had come adrift, and was looking dangerous. Two fire engines from Abingdon-on-Thames Fire Station were dispatched.
Fire crews
The rescue platform was lifted up to where the guttering was broken off
Fire crews
and then secured to the platform and broken off completely.
Fire crews
Quite a crowd gathered to watch the operation.

GEORGICS V puzzle

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Georgics V
Steve has sent me a picture of a dog sign that looks the same age as the one put on the blog 2 days ago. He found it between Bella Napoli and Frend & Co Jewellers.
Georgics V
Then to trump that he also sent a sign, above the Fatface shop, that could have been left from the Coronation of King George V in 1911. The Latin for George V that appeared on coins from 1911 was GEORGIVS V. (I am not sure why a ‘C’ rather than a ‘V’ is used on the sign.)
Georgics V
This is a detail from a larger Coronation picture from 1911 taken in Abingdon where the crowd could be gathered for the bun throwing, or perhaps for the moment when people first joined in ‘God Save the King’ for George V.
Georgics V
And here is an advert for A.H.Simpson & Son – Tailors and Outfitters from about that time, as it appeared in the Hooke’s Abingdon Almanack.
Georgics V
The building is now the premises of FATFACE Abingdon, where the facade of the upper two storeys have not changed much in over 100 years, but no longer copy the arches of the lower floor.