{"id":33409,"date":"2025-02-24T21:48:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T21:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abingdonblog.co.uk\/?p=33409"},"modified":"2025-02-24T21:48:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T21:48:47","slug":"abingdon-100-years-ago-february-1925","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/?p=33409","title":{"rendered":"Abingdon 100 Years Ago \u2013 February 1925"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nA man in charge of some cows was proceeding in the direction of Oxford after Abingdon market on Monday when he happened to leave one of them behind without knowing it. On going back after discovering the fact, he observed two \u2018knights of the road\u2019 busily milking the cow, using their cans as receptacles. The driver of the cows, either amused or amazed, let them continue with their work.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday \u2014 before the Mayor (Mr. J. D. Godfrey) \u2014 two deserters from the Army, Privates James Taylor and Edward Beck, of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, were remanded to await an escort. P.S. Martin (Milton) said he saw the two men in uniform. On being asked for their passes, they stated that they were walking out from Oxford but later admitted they were deserters from Gosport.<\/p>\n

The inmates of the Poor Institution spent an enjoyable evening on Monday when they were entertained by Mrs. A. H. Roberts, who brought over her school children from Dry Sandford. The programme was much enjoyed, and much credit is due to Mrs. Roberts for the way she had trained the children. The Master (Mr. R. D. Bushell) occupied the chair.
\n
\nAt the Fire Brigade\u2019s annual meeting on Monday, the motor fire-pump fund was closed, with the Brigade making a final donation to cover the cost of the pump purchased in 1923. The total price of the new appliance was \u00a3725 13s. 4d., with over half raised by public subscription. The Abingdon Corporation contributed \u00a3200, and the Brigade itself covered about a fifth. The benefits of modern equipment were clear during the recent fire at Letcombe Regis, where the Abingdon Brigade arrived ahead of their Wantage colleagues, whose equipment was suited only for town use. Abingdon can take pride in its highly efficient Volunteer Brigade, which remains cost-effective to maintain.<\/p>\n

Christopher John Pratley of The Abbey, Abingdon, was summoned for allowing his chimney to catch fire due to neglect. He denied the charge, explaining that the chimney\u2019s awkward bend made sweeping impossible. The court dismissed the case but advised him to discuss repairs, to allow access for a chimney sweep, with his landlord to prevent a more serious fire.<\/p>\n

A case of anthrax raised alarm in Abingdon after a local farmer\u2019s heifer fell ill and died. Unaware of the danger, the farmer called a butcher to slaughter the animal, but by then, it was already dead. The spleen, significantly enlarged, was later examined by a veterinary surgeon, who confirmed it as a case of anthrax, prompting swift action from the authorities to prevent the infected meat from reaching the market. The case was referred to the Ministry of Agriculture for further investigation.
\n
\nThomas Beesley, a Tipperary native, was found rolling on the pavement in The Vineyard, claiming he had taken poison (strychnine and laudanum). A nearby medicine bottle added to the drama, but after a visit to Dr. Chalmers, an emetic revealed his true condition \u2014 intoxication. A known troublemaker, Beesley was sentenced to 14 days of hard labour.<\/p>\n

Ann Barnet, a 72-year-old resident of the Almshouses of the Vineyard in Abingdon, died suddenly. An inquest was held, where her son, Harry Barnet, testified that she was active and had appeared well just days prior. The almshouse nurse, Elizabeth Franklin, explained that Ann had been under Dr. Scott’s care for rheumatism and bronchitis. On the morning of her death, Ann’s blinds were still drawn, and after gaining entry to her locked room, by a workman removing a window pane, she was found deceased. Dr. Scott attributed the death to acute indigestion combined with a weak heart.<\/p>\n

John Harman appeared before the Borough Police Court on Monday, charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer. P.C. Couling found him intoxicated in the Market Place and advised him to go home, but Harman responded with foul language before striking the officer and tripping him up. With the help of a passerby, he was restrained, though more police were needed. Despite his otherwise good record as a Workhouse inmate, Harman was sentenced to 14 days in prison.
\nMiss Doris Minnie Williams of Stert Street married Mr. John Wilfred Drew at the Wesleyan Church. The bride, given away by her father, wore ivory crepe de chine with a lace veil and orange blossom. The bridesmaids, Miss Florence Williams (sister of the bride) and Miss Dorothy Faulkner, wore blue and orange shot taffeta dresses with black hats. They carried mauve and pink tulips and wore gold slave bangles, gifts from the bridegroom. A choral service was held, followed by a reception at the bride\u2019s home.<\/p>\n

Oxfordshire County Council sought to get legal counsel on Christ\u2019s Hospital of Abingdon\u2019s liability for maintaining roads and bridges, and are working with Berkshire authorities on legal action. Following a flood, part of Culham Bridge collapsed, but Christ\u2019s Hospital refused to act. The county surveyor arranged emergency measures for public safety, and temporary road repairs were deemed necessary. The Governors of Christ\u2019s Hospital were informed these actions did not affect liability. The committee put forward \u00a3600 for repair costs.<\/p>\n

Past and present scholars of Roysse\u2019s School competed in boat races on Culham Reach, with current students winning both first- and second-crew races. Past scholars included R. E. Eason, an Oxford rower from the previous year\u2019s boat race.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette and North Wilts Herald<\/em>\u00a0from the British Newspaper Archive and to the North Berks Herald<\/em> microfilm in the library. The advert is from the North Berks Herald. The Fire Engine is from The Abingdon Fire Service by John Hooke. The Picture of Trinity is from a postcard in my collection. The sheet music is from Ebay. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A man in charge of some cows was proceeding in the direction of Oxford after Abingdon market on Monday when he happened to leave one of them behind without knowing it. On going back after discovering the fact, he observed two \u2018knights of the road\u2019 busily milking the cow, using their cans as receptacles. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-heritage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33409\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abingdonblog.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}