Yesterday we visited the original Annie’s Tearooms at the Canal in Thrupp (near Kidlington) and enjoyed Sweet potatoe soup (featured on the Not Abingdon Blog).
Today we started a walk at Annie’s at the Boathouse in Abingdon. We split the sudoku and crossword so we both had a puzzle to do, then enjoyed some warming Leek and potato soup. We noticed that other Thames walkers had also stopped off here for refreshments.
We left Annie’s behind and walked along the far bank of the River Thames. For anybody driving along the A34, Abingdon might just look like a place of business parks, and out of town shopping.
but Abingdon is a river town with all its buildings on one bank of the River Thames.
The walk in the direction of Culham is muddy in places so boots are a good idea at this time of year. The walk passes close to the old Culham Bridge, built in the reign of Henry V, and no longer used for traffic. So you can head back to Abingdon from there along the causeway or…
take the route via Sutton Courtney (next Thames crossing) and back to Abingdon – a seven mile walk. The spire of St Helen’s Church can be seen for miles around, and the bright lights of the Old Anchor are there to welcome visitors on winter evenings.
The splendid Old County Hall was completed in 1682 by Christopher Kempster, one of Wren’s master masons during the building of St Paul’s Cathedral. The County Hall houses the town’s museum, and is well lit up at this time of year.
Friends and I walk from Abingdon to Sutton Courtenay each Friday and have lunch at the Fish. Sometimes, we manage to stagger back!
It’s a lovely walk, but (as Backstreeter says) a bit muddy at this time of year. Annie’s Place is a good place to meet for coffee before we begin.
Indeed Annes Tea Room is in a lovely location in Abingdon and very comfortable. If people want to take children to the cinema and do not want to travel very far. Films in Abingdon are starting on 29th December in the Unicorn Theatre. They have published a program starting with Ferdinand and Paddington 2. Tickets can be booked from http://www.theunicorn or there is a phone number.
Slight correction to Janet’s post, the weblink should be:
http://www.theunicorn.ac
Initial films are: Ferdinand, Paddington 2 and Murder on the Orient Express, then short break for the pantomime (Alladin) then restarting showing ‘Greatest Showman’
Te only drawback to these films is that I suspect most people have already seen them prior to Christmas but good luck anyway!
Myself and my partner completed the same walk today. We had no idea this bridge existed until reading it in the blog. can anyone point me in the direction of some information about how the road came into being and why it ceased to be used and when it all happened? Can you also give me information regarding the bridge across the Thames that crosses the Nags head?
@Chris The Bridge that traverses the Nags Island is known as both Abingdon Bridge and Burford Bridge and has been in situ since 1422. The thoroughfare was widened and the supporting arches widened on several occasions to accommodate increased river and road traffic. In the early 20th century (1928 I believe) parts of the bridge were demolished and the supporting structure was completely altered after extended dredging to ensure full stability. Christs Hospital of Abingdon continued to support the maintenance of the bridge until 1927 when responsibility was formally passed over the County Council.