Nothing new to say about the Old Gaol in this monthly blog update, but there are pictures of two holes. The first part of the Old Gaol development will involve building some of the superstructure for the underground carpark.
What probably interests people more than underground carparks, are the planned public facilities. I don’t know how up to date the Cranbourne Homes website is, but interestingly it does say…
“Coming Soon: Old Gaol, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
New Homes, Restaurants, Shops and Community Facilities Centered around the Conversion of the Historical Old Gaol, Associated Buildings and Twickenham House on the Banks of the River Thames in Abingdon On Thames. First Phase Expected Release Autumn 2011.”
I thought they had given up the idea of shops and restaurants and planned just restaurants, but that was before Ask came to town, so maybe shops are back in the plan.
I’ll never get my car in there.
It’s sad looking at the pictures of the development. I learnt to swim in the Old Goal swimming pool. My first kiss was there too at the roller disco that used to run on Sunday evenings.
I hope they keep some of the original character of the gaol. The place has a lot of memories for me. My late father Roy, managed the old gaol in the late seventies and early eighties.
It was an unique place where you could meet the most extraordinary people and sportsmen alike.