In April we visited Abingdon. I think most of us were very pleasantly surprised as we were not expecting such an interesting and historic town.
Abingdon claims to be the oldest, continually inhabited town in the country. It was built around Abingdon Abbey, which was a Benedictine monastery founded in 675AD and was dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. It was one of England’s wealthiest and most influential religious institutions before its dissolution in 1538 by Henry VIII. However, the town survived after the closure of the abbey and went on to become an important town in the region.
In the 13th & 14th centuries Abingdon was an agricultural centre with an extensive trade in wool, alongside weaving and the manufacture of clothing.
It used to be the County Town of Berkshire but is now in Oxfordshire after the moving of the county boundaries in 1974.
The County Hall Museum dates back to the 17th century, when it was originally used as a courtroom for the Berkshire Assizes. It is a grade I listed building and in 1952 it came under the guardianship of English Heritage, who today use it as a museum, art gallery and exhibition hall.
ABINGDON ABBEY:
After the dissolution of the abbey, the building was demolished and the lead and stone was taken by river to London where it was used in the King’s palaces.
Site of the original abbey, which is now a public park.
All that remains today are some outbuildings and the original gateway. We had a special treat as our guide arranged for us to see inside the remaining abbey buildings, which are today used for social events, including a theatre. It is a popular wedding venue.
