7th February 1920
(Pictures of children in Abingdon waiting at the Station Yard Depot for coal with wheelbarrows sacks and handcarts)

The coal shortage came up for discussion at a Town Council meeting in February. During the previous twelve months there had been a shortage of coal allocated to Abingdon, and it was said that only the mildness of the winter prevented dire hardship and distress.

Many men in their forties who were not ‘too old’ when their country needed them discover they were so now when they tried to get a job.

A motor lorry, on Monday afternoon, crashed into a window at The Knowl, Stert Street, the residence of  J, G. T. West, the framework and window being completely demolished.

A slight fire occurred last Saturday evening in one of the wool-drying sheds in the Pavlova Leather Works, but was extinguished by the employees before the Fire Brigade arrived.

At the Borough Police Court on Tuesday, for allowing dogs to stray without wearing muzzles, Walter Thatcher, builder, of Stert Street, and Louisa Ballard, shopkeeper, of Stert Street, were each fined 5s. and Lady Stratton of Stratton House, Bath Street, who did not appeal, was fined 7s 6d. (The Muzzling Order was introduced on the outbreak of rabies).

Saturday 14th February 1920

The American Cobweb, a rather novel way of raising money, was tried at the Wesleyan schoolroom, and was quite successful. The proceeds were for the National Children’s Home and Orphanage.

A pair of horses, attached to a lorry, whilst at Abingdon Station on Thursday, were frightened by the back-fire of a motorcycle, bolted out of the Station yard, Broad Street, and rushed up the steps of Lady Norman’s residence, joining the street, and one of the horses thrust its head through a panel of the door. Both horses fell, and were about to re-start, when they were pluckily secured by Mr J. Gibbens,

The following were fined 5s each under the dog muzzling order : – Percy Aldwinckle. Manor Farm, Shippon; Sarah Whale, landlady of. the Globe Inn. Market Place, Abingdon; Fred Sandford, gardener, of Caldecott Road. Abingdon; and Marion Halse, night nurse at the Abingdon Workhouse.

Arthur Day was charged at the Borough Bench on Monday with stealing from Milton Depot, on Feb. 7th, three sponges of the value of 10s. The defendant, with others, on leaving work, was searched, and the property was found on him. The Bench took a lenient view, it being a first offence, and fined him 30s.

Saturday 21st February 1920

Abingdon Choral Society gave an entertainment in Abingdon Corn Exchange. The first part of the evening was a cantata ‘The Song of Victory’– ironically written by a German composer, and the second part, miscellaneous items. There was an efficient local orchestra, and the proceeds were in aid of local charities.

The congregations of St. Helens, St Michaels, and St Nicolas Churches, Abingdon, held a very enjoyable Soiree at the Abingdon Corn Exchange, on Shrove Tuesday evening. There was a large company present and all were heartily welcomed by the Vicar, A very enjoyable evening was spent.

Saturday 28th February 1920

Tom Finnigan, 45, a soldier in the R.A.O.C at Didcot was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Bridge Street and assaulting P.C. Pill. The constable said the defendant was found shouting and using bad language, and on being ordered to be quiet and go away became abusive, and being taken into custody tore the constables coat. Defendant was fined 10s for being drunk, £2 for assaulting the police, and 5s damages.

Neville Bradshaw, undergraduate, Merton College, Oxford, was summoned for riding on the footpath at Cumnor Hill. Defendant pleaded that the road was very slippery. Case dismissed.

Abingdon Cattle Market was again closed on Monday in consequence of the foot and mouth disease.

The Abingdon Town Council war memorial committee resolved that the War Memorial should be placed in The Square and a roll of honour of all who had fallen or served in the war should be prepared. The number of men who enlisted during the war was 1336 of whom 205 died and 360 had been wounded. The number who received honours numbered 60.

The housing committee decided to make a start with the construction of about 50 houses on the east side of the land at Boxhill, facing the Oxford Road. The land to be purchased for £2900.

The proposal to bring a new Glue and Gelatine factory to the town could not be considered in view of the effluent estimate of 300,000 gallons a day and the nuisance which would be caused by the boiling of hoofs, bones and skins.

The Borough Mace went to be repaired in London where it was compared with the maces of the Houses and Lords and Commons and was pronounced by experts to be a far finer specimen than either.

Thankyou for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. A few town council stories came from Borough Archives in Abingdon Library. Adverts came from the North Berks Herald. Picture of children collecting coal from Oxford Journal Illustrated – Jan 14th 1920)