Achievements of the Friends of Abingdon


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Aims Friends' History Achievements Friends' News and Events Membership of Friends of Abingdon Venue Hire Planning Matters Officers of the Society Useful Links		The following is a list of the major projects in which the Society has palyed a major part over the years. The Abbey The informal meetings prior to the inauguration of the Society had rejected the alternative of forming a trust specifically to purchase threatened buildings, but the Mayor suggested the aim of purchasing one site and reconditioning the building on it as an example of what could be done, and mentioned the Abbey Cottages in Thames Street. Little could he have known what the consequences would be during the years to come. It was soon learnt that the derelict Abbey Cottages were threatened with demolition; although not yet actually the subject of a Demolition Order. The newly founded Society began urgent negotiations with the owner of the cottages, Mr W Dockar Drysdale of Wick Hall, and soon after the first General Meeting he offered to sell or lease them. A survey by Mr Walter Godfrey and the Ministry of Works followed, and showed that the cottages (now the Curator's house and the Unicorn Theatre) were actually domestic buildings remaining from the great abbey, rather than merely being built with abbey stone. By February 1945 the cottages and their gardens had been purchased for Ł400 and transferred to newly appointed trustees. This increased the Friends' interest in the adjoining Checker and Long Gallery, which were held by the Abingdon Municipal Charities and leased to the Borough Council. Although the Borough was willing to transfer the lease to the Friends, neither they nor the Trustees of the Charity could find a copy of the actual lease. In the end, a donation by the Pilgrim Trust enabled the Friends to purchase the Checker, Long Gallery, and the brewery Fuel Store opposite for Ł450 in February 1946. Another piece of land with a barn, opposite the Checker, was given to the Friends by Morland & Co, the brewers, in October 1945. (The Pilgrim Trust aims to provide initial stimulus and encouragement to a wide range of charitable purposes, using the income from an endowment of some Ł2 million from Edward Harkness of New York in 1930.) Shortly after VE-Day, in April 1945, a small enclosed plot of land was given by Mr James Lyell, a solicitor living at The Knowl in Stert Street. This land, described as stable-yard and premises, lay to the north of the Checker. Its sole access was over the car park of the Baptist chapel, a right of way which proved to be a source of trouble for many years. Another small plot of land, immediately to the north of the gardens of the Thames Street cottages and now corresponding roughly to the Friends' car park, had been the site of a cottage, No 13 The Abbey. The owner, Miss Selina Rogers of Sheen, sold the plot for Ł30. Abingdon Coaches operated their business from a garage at the bottom of Checker Walk, and had become accustomed to using this derelict land for turning and parking their vehicles. This, too, proved to be a source of trouble for many years. The final transaction was the gift in 1948 by Mr Dugdale of a cellar running under the easternmost Thames Street cottage, together with an adjoining small garden against the west wall of the Checker. This led to a series of misunderstandings and recriminations later. The old brewery yard immediately to the north of the Long Gallery and Checker was not included in the land conveyed to the Friends by Abingdon Municipal Charities and Morlands Brewery, but was clearly essential to the use of the buildings. This omission was corrected on the recent Land Registry plan of the property. These transactions completed the acquisition, by purchase and by gift, of the range of abbey buildings from the Curator's cottage to the Long Gallery, and also the strip of land to the north of these buildings. The first priority after the Friends had acquired the Thames Street cottages was to make them weatherproof and secure - and to call in the Borough ratcatcher. The next step was to convert the three cottages to the west of the covered passage or slype into an office and "rest room" at street level, and a caretaker's cottage above. Progress was delayed by wartime regulations requiring licences to be obtained for materials and labour. Some materials were recovered from the derelict stable on Mr Lyell's plot and the barn on Morlands' plot. Boards were taken from over the Long Gallery cellar to repair the caretaker's sitting room floor. There were many problems over the delays and price over-runs of the small building firm - to be repeated with other such firms in the coming years. The grant from the Pilgrim Trust made possible not only the purchase of the Checker and Long Gallery but also some preliminary work on the interior of the four cottages between the slype and the Checker. The ancient doorway into the upper floor of the Checker was reopened and some of the internal walls were removed, which showed the potential of this building as a hall for lectures. The Carswell (1947) The Carswell project was an early example of the Friends using their contacts and influence to make a practical intervention. Mr Richard Ely had inserted a brick fountain-head of great architectural merit into a building near Mr Warrick's Arms in Ock Street in 1719 to provide a better water supply. When Mr A E Preston wrote his pamphlet on the Carswell in 1940 Morlands Brewery had started to demolish the building, intending to move the fountain to another site. Wartime restrictions halted the work, and the Carswell remained in a perilous state without its supporting wall for the remainder of the war. Morlands then consulted Mr Walter Godfrey, and in July 1947 the Friends became involved in taking action to have it moved to its present site in Conduit Road. Mr Godfrey obtained a licence for the work and, with difficulty, found a builder, and it was moved to its new position by September. The funds raised by the Friends by public subscription and from Morlands were inadequate, the Borough would not contribute, and so the Friends made good the balance of E115 from their meagre resources. The Roysse Archway (1950/52) Before the Roysse Court was thrown open to Bridge Street in 1938 its only entrance was spanned by the archway erected in 1811 at the expense of the 5th Earl of Abingdon. In November 1950 the Borough consulted the Friends and accepted their recommendation that the arch should not be demolished. By March 1951 the Borough had reversed their decision and wished to re-erect it at a new entrance to the Abbey Grounds. Mr Longland and Mr Cobban had already appealed for funds to restore it in situ, and the Borough eventually agreed to this. The repair was complete by February 1952, but the restored arch was soon blocked by the new emergency exit from the Great Council Chamber. Fitzharris Manor House (1951/53) The Friends' most complex and intensive intervention was the struggle to avoid the demolition of Fitzharris Manor House. This had been purchased in 1946 by the Ministry of Supply in order to develop the grounds as a housing estate (now with the alternative spelling, Fitzharry's) for staff at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell. From 1948 the Friends drew attention to the deterioration of the house, and the relevant government departments gave assurances that it would be preserved. Then in 1951 these assurances were withdrawn. The Friends made suggestions as to how the house could be repaired and put to good use, and opened a vigorous correspondence in The Times. Letters were published from the Vice-President of the Berkshire Archaeological Society, Bodley's Librarian, and the Secretary of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England; from the Chairman of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings; from Graham Hutton, the economist; from the Chairman of the Georgian Group; and from Richmond Herald. The threat of demolition was postponed while the Ministry of Supply, the Ministry of Works and the Ancient Monuments Board each denied responsibility for preserving the house. In October 1952 the publication of a letter in the North Berks Herald appeared to indicate, perhaps unintentionally, that the Borough Council had withdrawn its support. Further questions in Parliament failed to save Fitzharris Manor but, possibly as a result, subsequent town-planning legislation included a clause which may have safeguarded other buildings. When demolition began in July 1953 the Friends arranged for some items of interest from the house to be saved. These were gradually sold off, apparently to antiques dealers. Wooden panels stored in the Town Clerk's garage were sold in 1956 and a Georgian grate in 1958. The remaining items were still stored under the Long Gallery in 1964, when Mrs Gabrielle Lambrick listed a Strawberry Hill Gothic doorway and door, a Tudor stone fireplace, and a window frame. The fireplace was sold later in 1964, and the window and door in 1966. The only reminder of the house today is a plaque set in the grass to mark the site. Fitzharris Motte (1949_& 1957) This small moated mound, surrounded by a loop of the Stert stream, was constructed for one of the Norman knights established on abbey lands in the 11th century to provide military service to the Crown. In September 1949 the Friends were consulted by the owners, AERE Harwell, and approved a plan to drain and turf the moat. There was a serious threat in October 1957 when AERE suggested that the Motte should be levelled and grassed over. The Friends acted to have it scheduled as an Ancient Monument in order to protect it, and in 1969 declined an offer by the Atomic Energy Authority to transfer the Motte to them. Street and school names (1949 & 1954) The Friends were consulted in 1949 about the changes which led to the names Abbey Close, Checker Walk, and Coseners House - all of which, together with the Checker and Long Gallery, had previously been known rather confusingly as "The Abbey". More recently the choice of Abbey Close as the name of the new road from the Vineyard to St Nicholas church was among the suggestions made by the Friends. In 1954 they were consulted about the naming of the new school in Faringdon Road, which became Larkmead School. No 9 High Street (1952) The Tudor house of Abingdon's first Mayor, Richard Mayott, was demolished prior to building premises for the Oxford Cooperative Society. The Friends asked the workmen to watch for items of interest and, as a result, a carved stone Tudor fireplace was rescued. One of the stones had been re-used, and had elaborate medieval carving on the reverse, almost certainly from the abbey church. The fireplace was re-erected by Abingdon School in Lacies Court. St Helen's churchyard (1957) The Borough put forward proposals for drastic changes to the churchyard in order to create a public garden. The Friends opposed this vigorously, and made alternative proposals. The scheme was eventually dropped. Memorial to St Edmund of Abingdon (1961/4) A memorial to St Edmund was proposed by Dr Emden, a Vice-President of the Society and former Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Edmund was an eminent 13th century scholar and Archbishop of Canterbury, and arguably the most distinguished son of Abingdon. Funds for a memorial plaque on the south-west buttress of St Nicholas' church were raised by donations, and the plaque was dedicated in June 1964. Town centre redevelopment (1963) The Friends generally welcomed the proposals for the redevelopment of the Bury Street and Broad Street area (which became the shopping precinct and Charter), but expressed concern at the loss of listed buildings which this would entail. They expressed similar concern about listed buildings in Ock Street and Bath Street threatened by the proposed inner relief road (now Stratton Way), and pressed strongly for a bypass road to have higher priority. Youth Centre in the Abbey Grounds(1963) The Borough proposed to allow the Berkshire County Council to build a Youth Centre at the east end of the Abbey Grounds. The Friends expressed concern that this could affect important archaeological remains of the abbey. 6-10 Lombard Street (1982) The Friends objected to the proposals to demolish buildings on the south side of Lombard Street, which were zoned as residential, in order to redevelop the site as office accommodation. In particular, the Friends supported the demands by the Archaelogical and Historical Society for the retention of a two-bay timber-framed medieval building which was behind the later frontage of No 6 Lombard Street. The objections were unsuccessful, but the building was recorded before demolition. The Baptist Manse, 35 Ock Street (1985) The Friends deprecated various proposals for this building, which had a late 18th or early 19th century facade on a 17th century timber-framed core, and had been unused for years. They made a submission to the public enquiry in 1985 which rejected a planning application to demolish all but the facade and build a modern office block behind it. Since then it has been sympathetically redeveloped. Edward Street (1985/6) This narrow street between Victoria and Spring Roads is an interesting example of Victorian terraced housing. The Friends supported complaints by residents that serious traffic congestion had been caused by the change at No 43 from a bakery and shop to a part of F Knight's building maintenance supplies business. There was also concern at the fire risk from the storage and handling of LPG cylinders in a densely packed residential area. The business has since moved to the old timber yard at the bottom of Spring Road. The Abbey Gateway During the 1980's there was a serious increase in the number of incidents of damage to the archway by large vehicles. The Friends, and others, pressed repeatedly for action to prohibit over-large vehicles. As a result a height restriction was imposed in mid-1989, pending the final closure to through traffic when the new section of Abbey Close was opened to the Vineyard. The town centre murals (1984 & 1991) Early in 1984 Mr Harry Knights proposed a mural on the concrete walls of the Stratton Way pedestrian underpass. The Friends supported this project, and Mrs Margaret Jones painted a series of figures from the history of the town. Then in June 1990 he suggested the passageway from the Market Place to Stert Street as another site for a mural. The Friends obtained permission from the owners and lessees of John Menzies shop, applied for Listed Building consent and for a grant from the Joint Environmental Trust, and assisted in negotiations over the design. The mural showing the three centrepieces in the Market Place was again painted by Mrs Jones, in August 1991. The murals have had the desired effects of displaying aspects of the town's history while at the same time deterring fly¬posting and major graffiti. The underpass mural is to be refurbished during 2007 under Mrs Jones’ direction. 66-68 Bath Street (1992) Abingdon School applied for planning permission to demolish the old Cottage Hospital and redevelop the site with school buildings. Although there were other issues involved, the Friends felt it proper to concentrate their attention on the street frontage of the proposed building. They commented adversely on the first design submitted, on the grounds that it would be overbearing and dominant, but raised no objection to the third design, as implemented, which went a long way towards overcoming these criticisms. Heritage Centre and Trails (1992/3) A talk given in 1990 by Mr Arthur Percival of the Civic Trust suggested projects which could be tackled by local amenities societies. He urged the setting up of Heritage Centres to increase awareness of the environment, both built and natural. Out of this grew a fruitful collaboration between the Friends and Abingdon Museum to use the basement of the County Hall as a Heritage Centre for schools. He also suggested providing a good Town Trail leaflet for self-guided walks, and this led to collaboration between the Friends and Mrs Penny Bayer of the Department of Development and Leisure of the District Council in the preparation of leaflets for a River Walk (1992) and an Abbey Walk (1993). The Museum nowadays incorporates a resource centre on one of its upper floors.

Aims
Friends' History
Achievements
Friends' News and Events
Membership of Friends of Abingdon
Venue Hire
Planning Matters
Officers of the Society
Useful Links

The following is a list of the major projects in which the Society has palyed a major part over the years.

The Abbey

The informal meetings prior to the inauguration of the Society had rejected the alternative of forming a trust specifically to purchase threatened buildings, but the Mayor suggested the aim of purchasing one site and reconditioning the building on it as an example of what could be done, and mentioned the Abbey Cottages in Thames Street. Little could he have known what the consequences would be during the years to come. It was soon learnt that the derelict Abbey Cottages were threatened with demolition; although not yet actually the subject of a Demolition Order. The newly founded Society began urgent negotiations with the owner of the cottages, Mr W Dockar Drysdale of Wick Hall, and soon after the first General Meeting he offered to sell or lease them. A survey by Mr Walter Godfrey and the Ministry of Works followed, and showed that the cottages (now the Curator's house and the Unicorn Theatre) were actually domestic buildings remaining from the great abbey, rather than merely being built with abbey stone. By February 1945 the cottages and their gardens had been purchased for Ł400 and transferred to newly appointed trustees.

This increased the Friends' interest in the adjoining Checker and Long Gallery, which were held by the Abingdon Municipal Charities and leased to the Borough Council. Although the Borough was willing to transfer the lease to the Friends, neither they nor the Trustees of the Charity could find a copy of the actual lease. In the end, a donation by the Pilgrim Trust enabled the Friends to purchase the Checker, Long Gallery, and the brewery Fuel Store opposite for Ł450 in February 1946. Another piece of land with a barn, opposite the Checker, was given to the Friends by Morland & Co, the brewers, in October 1945. (The Pilgrim Trust aims to provide initial stimulus and encouragement to a wide range of charitable purposes, using the income from an endowment of some Ł2 million from Edward Harkness of New York in 1930.)

Shortly after VE-Day, in April 1945, a small enclosed plot of land was given by Mr James Lyell, a solicitor living at The Knowl in Stert Street. This land, described as stable-yard and premises, lay to the north of the Checker. Its sole access was over the car park of the Baptist chapel, a right of way which proved to be a source of trouble for many years. Another small plot of land, immediately to the north of the gardens of the Thames Street cottages and now corresponding roughly to the Friends' car park, had been the site of a cottage, No 13 The Abbey. The owner, Miss Selina Rogers of Sheen, sold the plot for Ł30. Abingdon Coaches operated their business from a garage at the bottom of Checker Walk, and had become accustomed to using this derelict land for turning and parking their vehicles. This, too, proved to be a source of trouble for many years.

The final transaction was the gift in 1948 by Mr Dugdale of a cellar running under the easternmost Thames Street cottage, together with an adjoining small garden against the west wall of the Checker. This led to a series of misunderstandings and recriminations later.

The old brewery yard immediately to the north of the Long Gallery and Checker was not included in the land conveyed to the Friends by Abingdon Municipal Charities and Morlands Brewery, but was clearly essential to the use of the buildings. This omission was corrected on the recent Land Registry plan of the property.

These transactions completed the acquisition, by purchase and by gift, of the range of abbey buildings from the Curator's cottage to the Long Gallery, and also the strip of land to the north of these buildings.

The first priority after the Friends had acquired the Thames Street cottages was to make them weatherproof and secure - and to call in the Borough ratcatcher. The next step was to convert the three cottages to the west of the covered passage or slype into an office and "rest room" at street level, and a caretaker's cottage above. Progress was delayed by wartime regulations requiring licences to be obtained for materials and labour. Some materials were recovered from the derelict stable on Mr Lyell's plot and the barn on Morlands' plot. Boards were taken from over the Long Gallery cellar to repair the caretaker's sitting room floor. There were many problems over the delays and price over-runs of the small building firm - to be repeated with other such firms in the coming years.

The grant from the Pilgrim Trust made possible not only the purchase of the Checker and Long Gallery but also some preliminary work on the interior of the four cottages between the slype and the Checker. The ancient doorway into the upper floor of the Checker was reopened and some of the internal walls were removed, which showed the potential of this building as a hall for lectures.

The Carswell (1947)

The Carswell project was an early example of the Friends using their contacts and influence to make a practical intervention. Mr Richard Ely had inserted a brick fountain-head of great architectural merit into a building near Mr Warrick's Arms in Ock Street in 1719 to provide a better water supply. When Mr A E Preston wrote his pamphlet on the Carswell in 1940 Morlands Brewery had started to demolish the building, intending to move the fountain to another site. Wartime restrictions halted the work, and the Carswell remained in a perilous state without its supporting wall for the remainder of the war. Morlands then consulted Mr Walter Godfrey, and in July 1947 the Friends became involved in taking action to have it moved to its present site in Conduit Road. Mr Godfrey obtained a licence for the work and, with difficulty, found a builder, and it was moved to its new position by September. The funds raised by the Friends by public subscription and from Morlands were inadequate, the Borough would not contribute, and so the Friends made good the balance of E115 from their meagre resources.

The Roysse Archway (1950/52)

Before the Roysse Court was thrown open to Bridge Street in 1938 its only entrance was spanned by the archway erected in 1811 at the expense of the 5th Earl of Abingdon. In November 1950 the Borough consulted the Friends and accepted their recommendation that the arch should not be demolished. By March 1951 the Borough had reversed their decision and wished to re-erect it at a new entrance to the Abbey Grounds. Mr Longland and Mr Cobban had already appealed for funds to restore it in situ, and the Borough eventually agreed to this. The repair was complete by February 1952, but the restored arch was soon blocked by the new emergency exit from the Great Council Chamber.

Fitzharris Manor House (1951/53)

The Friends' most complex and intensive intervention was the struggle to avoid the demolition of Fitzharris Manor House. This had been purchased in 1946 by the Ministry of Supply in order to develop the grounds as a housing estate (now with the alternative spelling, Fitzharry's) for staff at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell. From 1948 the Friends drew attention to the deterioration of the house, and the relevant government departments gave assurances that it would be preserved. Then in 1951 these assurances were withdrawn. The Friends made suggestions as to how the house could be repaired and put to good use, and opened a vigorous correspondence in The Times. Letters were published from the Vice-President of the Berkshire Archaeological Society, Bodley's Librarian, and the Secretary of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England; from the Chairman of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings; from Graham Hutton, the economist; from the Chairman of the Georgian Group; and from Richmond Herald. The threat of demolition was postponed while the Ministry of Supply, the Ministry of Works and the Ancient Monuments Board each denied responsibility for preserving the house. In October 1952 the publication of a letter in the North Berks Herald appeared to indicate, perhaps unintentionally, that the Borough Council had withdrawn its support. Further questions in Parliament failed to save Fitzharris Manor but, possibly as a result, subsequent town-planning legislation included a clause which may have safeguarded other buildings. When demolition began in July 1953 the Friends arranged for some items of interest from the house to be saved. These were gradually sold off, apparently to antiques dealers. Wooden panels stored in the Town Clerk's garage were sold in 1956 and a Georgian grate in 1958. The remaining items were still stored under the Long Gallery in 1964, when Mrs Gabrielle Lambrick listed a Strawberry Hill Gothic doorway and door, a Tudor stone fireplace, and a window frame. The fireplace was sold later in 1964, and the window and door in 1966. The only reminder of the house today is a plaque set in the grass to mark the site.

Fitzharris Motte (1949_& 1957)

This small moated mound, surrounded by a loop of the Stert stream, was constructed for one of the Norman knights established on abbey lands in the 11th century to provide military service to the Crown. In September 1949 the Friends were consulted by the owners, AERE Harwell, and approved a plan to drain and turf the moat. There was a serious threat in October 1957 when AERE suggested that the Motte should be levelled and grassed over. The Friends acted to have it scheduled as an Ancient Monument in order to protect it, and in 1969 declined an offer by the Atomic Energy Authority to transfer the Motte to them.

Street and school names (1949 & 1954)

The Friends were consulted in 1949 about the changes which led to the names Abbey Close, Checker Walk, and Coseners House - all of which, together with the Checker and Long Gallery, had previously been known rather confusingly as "The Abbey". More recently the choice of Abbey Close as the name of the new road from the Vineyard to St Nicholas church was among the suggestions made by the Friends. In 1954 they were consulted about the naming of the new school in Faringdon Road, which became Larkmead School.

No 9 High Street (1952)

The Tudor house of Abingdon's first Mayor, Richard Mayott, was demolished prior to building premises for the Oxford Cooperative Society. The Friends asked the workmen to watch for items of interest and, as a result, a carved stone Tudor fireplace was rescued. One of the stones had been re-used, and had elaborate medieval carving on the reverse, almost certainly from the abbey church. The fireplace was re-erected by Abingdon School in Lacies Court.

St Helen's churchyard (1957)

The Borough put forward proposals for drastic changes to the churchyard in order to create a public garden. The Friends opposed this vigorously, and made alternative proposals. The scheme was eventually dropped.

Memorial to St Edmund of Abingdon (1961/4)

A memorial to St Edmund was proposed by Dr Emden, a Vice-President of the Society and former Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Edmund was an eminent 13th century scholar and Archbishop of Canterbury, and arguably the most distinguished son of Abingdon. Funds for a memorial plaque on the south-west buttress of St Nicholas' church were raised by donations, and the plaque was dedicated in June 1964.

Town centre redevelopment (1963)

The Friends generally welcomed the proposals for the redevelopment of the Bury Street and Broad Street area (which became the shopping precinct and Charter), but expressed concern at the loss of listed buildings which this would entail. They expressed similar concern about listed buildings in Ock Street and Bath Street threatened by the proposed inner relief road (now Stratton Way), and pressed strongly for a bypass road to have higher priority.

Youth Centre in the Abbey Grounds(1963)

The Borough proposed to allow the Berkshire County Council to build a Youth Centre at the east end of the Abbey Grounds. The Friends expressed concern that this could affect important archaeological remains of the abbey.

6-10 Lombard Street (1982)

The Friends objected to the proposals to demolish buildings on the south side of Lombard Street, which were zoned as residential, in order to redevelop the site as office accommodation. In particular, the Friends supported the demands by the Archaelogical and Historical Society for the retention of a two-bay timber-framed medieval building which was behind the later frontage of No 6 Lombard Street. The objections were unsuccessful, but the building was recorded before demolition.

The Baptist Manse, 35 Ock Street (1985)

The Friends deprecated various proposals for this building, which had a late 18th or early 19th century facade on a 17th century timber-framed core, and had been unused for years. They made a submission to the public enquiry in 1985 which rejected a planning application to demolish all but the facade and build a modern office block behind it. Since then it has been sympathetically redeveloped.

Edward Street (1985/6)

This narrow street between Victoria and Spring Roads is an interesting example of Victorian terraced housing. The Friends supported complaints by residents that serious traffic congestion had been caused by the change at No 43 from a bakery and shop to a part of F Knight's building maintenance supplies business. There was also concern at the fire risk from the storage and handling of LPG cylinders in a densely packed residential area. The business has since moved to the old timber yard at the bottom of Spring Road.

The Abbey Gateway

During the 1980's there was a serious increase in the number of incidents of damage to the archway by large vehicles. The Friends, and others, pressed repeatedly for action to prohibit over-large vehicles. As a result a height restriction was imposed in mid-1989, pending the final closure to through traffic when the new section of Abbey Close was opened to the Vineyard.

The town centre murals (1984 & 1991)

Early in 1984 Mr Harry Knights proposed a mural on the concrete walls of the Stratton Way pedestrian underpass. The Friends supported this project, and Mrs Margaret Jones painted a series of figures from the history of the town. Then in June 1990 he suggested the passageway from the Market Place to Stert Street as another site for a mural. The Friends obtained permission from the owners and lessees of John Menzies shop, applied for Listed Building consent and for a grant from the Joint Environmental Trust, and assisted in negotiations over the design. The mural showing the three centrepieces in the Market Place was again painted by Mrs Jones, in August 1991. The murals have had the desired effects of displaying aspects of the town's history while at the same time deterring fly¬posting and major graffiti. The underpass mural is to be refurbished during 2007 under Mrs Jones’ direction.

66-68 Bath Street (1992)

Abingdon School applied for planning permission to demolish the old Cottage Hospital and redevelop the site with school buildings. Although there were other issues involved, the Friends felt it proper to concentrate their attention on the street frontage of the proposed building. They commented adversely on the first design submitted, on the grounds that it would be overbearing and dominant, but raised no objection to the third design, as implemented, which went a long way towards overcoming these criticisms.

Heritage Centre and Trails (1992/3)

A talk given in 1990 by Mr Arthur Percival of the Civic Trust suggested projects which could be tackled by local amenities societies. He urged the setting up of Heritage Centres to increase awareness of the environment, both built and natural. Out of this grew a fruitful collaboration between the Friends and Abingdon Museum to use the basement of the County Hall as a Heritage Centre for schools. He also suggested providing a good Town Trail leaflet for self-guided walks, and this led to collaboration between the Friends and Mrs Penny Bayer of the Department of Development and Leisure of the District Council in the preparation of leaflets for a River Walk (1992) and an Abbey Walk (1993). The Museum nowadays incorporates a resource centre on one of its upper floors.