Prince Albert Memorial at 149

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Prince Albert Monument - Theme Day Landmark
The Prince Albert memorial has been a landmark in Abingdon for 149 years.
Prince Albert Monument - Theme Day Landmark
His foundation was put in 150 years ago, in 1864, three years after the good prince died at the age of 42, and left the queen and nation in mourning. The monument is 48 feet high and designed by John Gibbs of Oxford.
Prince Albert Monument - Theme Day Landmark
Albert is cared for by the Albert Memorial (Abingdon) Trust, a charity whose aims are to maintain, preserve, and keep in good repair the Albert Memorial situated in Albert Park, Abingdon.
Prince Albert Monument - Theme Day Landmark
It is the start of the month and the city daily photo community choose a theme and this month it is landmark. To view other landmarks visit here.

Abingdon Hydro Share Offer

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Shares in Abingdon Hydro went on sale this morning at the Guildhall in Abingdon. The share offer is open until 20th December.
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
This community project, with plans to generate electricity from the Thames in Abingdon, has had a long journey to get this far… getting planning permission, and approval from the Environment Agency, and answering questions from anglers. 10% of the projects costs are to fund a new fish pass.
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
They now hope to raise £1.25m from people in the local community to finance the project. There is a risk with the investment, but against the risk is a government tax offer. The earliest investors in this renewable energy project got a 50% tax relief on their investment, and others get 30% tax relief.
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
Along the River Thames different groups, some private, some community financed, are putting in Archimedes screws near locks to generate electricity. Thanks to the hard work of Richard Riggs and others the Abingdon Hydro will be largely community financed .
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
The current flow of the River Thames at Abingdon Weir would be what is needed to keep generating at near full power.

Find out more at Abingdon Hydro.

Halloween Opening of the Museum

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Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
In Abingdon’s finest building, the Abingdon County Hall museum, there was a special Halloween treat from 7-9pm this evening.
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
Pumpkin Heads were placed on up lights on the pavements outside.
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
A new museum attendant stood there to frighten unsuspecting visitors.
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
The Spooky Music Horn group played Harry Potter Scores, and Phantom of the Opera in the sessions gallery.
Abingdon Museum Halloween Opening
There were also night time roof views of the town at the first Halloween Opening of the Museum.

Abbey Meadow Refurbishment Ideas wanted

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The Abbey Grounds had a major refurbishment back in 2007 – funded by Heritage Lottery money. In addition the Vale of White Horse District Council created a new play area in the Abbey Meadows and a water splash area, and despite the threat of closure the town council stepped in to keep the Open Air Pool going.
Abbey Meadow Refurb
The Abingdon’s Abbey Grounds riverside area is now very popular during the summer. The aims of a 2015 refurbishment are to make it popular all year round to a “wider demographic.”
Abbey Meadow Refurb
The area beside the River Thames currently includes: an outdoor swimming pool, a splash water feature, pitch and putt, a crazy golf course, outdoor tennis courts, a children’s play area, and areas to walk or relax by the river. (thanks to Richard Gottfried for the picture above.)

Now more money has been found by the Vale of the White Horse District Council to put towards a project in this same area in 2015.

They are inviting community groups to come forward and take part in workshops this November. One advertised on the internet will be Tuesday 4 November 6-8pm at the Guildhall in Abingdon. From ideas that come out of this, and other workshops, they will develop 3 schemes to go to public consultation in the spring.

On the District Council web site its says “The Vale of White Horse District Council is keen to invest in these facilities to further benefit residents and to see this prime riverside site appeal to an even wider demographic, so that it attracts visitors all year-round.

From their web adverts I see they envisage the workshop taking “2 hours and in order to engage with a broad section of groups, please could you only send 1 representative from your organisation, to discuss:

→ Your assessment of how the space is currently used and by who
→ How should we improve the area and why
→ Your thoughts on how you would like to see things move forward”