Before getting to the magnificent lighting of the Old County Hall I should perhaps mention the lift.
This was the reason the County Hall project started in the first place – to give access to people who could not get up the stairs. That was before maintenance of the fabric became a major concern.
Unfortunately the lift designs failed to impress English Heritage (or Private Eye for that matter) and a less ambitious lift to the undercroft and basement was put in instead. One of the panes of glass is already cracked.
The lighting on the other hand looks magnificent, as is all the paving, roofing and flooring.
Along the walkways round the building are a number of pavement level up-lights.
The lighting engineers should get an award.
As should all the local craftsmen involved.
The Undercroft looks spectacular, all those beams. They have done a lovely job.
Absolutely stunning. Excellent work to all those involved, a credit to the town.
A stunning centre piece for Abingdon!
WELL DONE !!!!!
I walked passed it last night and it does look good, but they have missed a trick by not being able to change the colour of the lighting. Especially as red, white and blue would look fantastic in the next couple of days.
Oh, forgot to say. Linda in the punchbowl has said that the cracked pane of glass was damaged in transit, not in situ.
It is a stunning building, very pleased with it.
Looks very good; just a pity about the rather silly lift; older people and disabled deserve better access to the upper levels.
And stop the TV calling it the Town Hall!!
(PS just been reading Bryson’s Small Island; see what he says -especially about the Precinct!)
We are sorry John but hopefully in the future English Heritage will let us put a proper lift. We wanted very much to cater for older and disabled people.
I don’t know Emma Barnes, but she is right, we wanted to allow access for everyone, hopefully English Heritage will let us in the future
Simply stunning….. Perfect to chuck some old buns off the roof!
Quite right about the misnomer, then you could say the same about the ‘lift’. In fact it is a hydraulic ramp. I was there the other day and had a view of the mechanism. In case anyone is wondering how a disabled person (and not others) gets permission, see the CCTV camera in the wall opposite the ‘lift’. Relatively discreet – ish.
I can confirm that the glass pane was in fact delivered cracked.
Also – not just any old buns will be thrown off the roof – they are Tesco buns. Best thing for them!
Freshly baked tomorrow morning – will be yummy if you catch one before they hit the deck. Nigel asked me to remind people that buns also thrown down high street as well as square and often less crowded that end so more chance of catching a bun 🙂
The lighting of the Museum/County Hall looks great in your photos.
Can’t wait for the Bun Throwing on Sunday!
We provided fire alarms,CCTV and intruder alarms. Proud to have played our part being an abingdon boy.
I walked through last night and already the underside has been hijacked and now used as an undercover smoking area for the Punchbowl locals. I do hope someone puts a stop to this as theres tab ends everywhere already.