Abingdon was occupied by settlers of the Bronze and Iron ages. It was a flourishing town in the Roman period, which in turn gave way to a Saxon settlement. The earliest documents tell of a hamlet called Sevekesham sited at a ford of the Thames. Hean, nephew of King Cissa was granted land for founding a Benedictine monastery called Abbandun (Hill of Ebba) at the same time as his sister Cilla founded the Nunnery of Helnestowe on or near St Helens Church, the principal church in 675AD. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1538, Abingdon Abbey was the 6th richest in Britain.
Recent archaeological finds have proved that people have been living here continuously for 2,600 years, longer than any other town in the country, making Abingdon 'Britain's Oldest Town'.
The Monday market has existed since 1556. The Michaelmas Fair (now known as the Ock Fair) was originally a 'hiring mart' for those seeking employment.
In 1810 the Wilts and Berks canal arrived with Abingdon becoming a key link between such places as Bristol, London, Birmingham and the Black Country. In 1906 it was abandoned as the canal sides collapsed and the railways offered faster transport. The first link to the railway came in 1856 with a branch connection to Culham and subsequently via Radley. The local station closed in 1963.
Abingdon was the county town of Berkshire, becoming part of Oxfordshire after local government reorganisation in 1974.
MG Cars were manufactured in Abingdon for 50 years until production ceased in 1980.
Two of the main roads into Abingdon cross rivers - the Thames and the Ock - over bridges listed as ancient monuments. The bridge over the Thames is over 550 years old. The Thames has always been important to the town and today is a focal point for many recreational activities. Riverside gardens attract visitors, anglers fill the riverbanks and pleasure cruisers queue to pass through the picturesque lock.
Abingdon is within easy reach of both the M40 and the M4
Abingdon has a population of approximately 35,000 and is served by two principal Councils: Oxfordshire
County Council covers the whole of Oxfordshire and is responsible for education, social services, highways, strategic planning and libraries.
The Vale of White Horse District Council also covers the towns of Wantage and Faringdon and surrounding villages and is responsible for housing, local plans, and development control, environmental health, refuse collection and major recreational facilities.
All three Councils work closely on traffic issues affecting Abingdon including joint funding of specific items.
There are regular consultations which take place between Town and Vale District Councils, and other bodies including the Chamber of Commerce, with some joint funding of Environmental, Economic and tourism projects, through the Joint Environmental Trust and the Joint Economic Forum.
Freemen of Abingdon
The Freemen of England and Wales are an association of Guilds and individual Freemen whose roots go back into antiquity. Prior to the Reform Act of 1835 only those who had obtained the Freedom of the Borough could vote or become Councillors. There were definite responsibilities coupled with these privileges involving the day to day running and even the defence of towns and cities. Failure to meet these obligations met with severe penalties.
This system of local government disappeared in 1835, but in many towns the tradition was kept alive by granting honorary freedom to distinguished citizens. The Borough of Abingdon was one such town, a tradition continued today by the Abingdon Town Council.
To be made an Honorary Freeman of Abingdon is a very great honour that is rarely bestowed. In the past it has been given to organisations such as the Royal Air Force, Abingdon, and to the Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1955. In 1966 the Borough of Thame, New Zealand, was granted the Freedom, and in 1977 it was bestowed on the Abingdon charity, Christ's Hospital.
More recently, the freedom has only been granted to individuals who have given a large part of their lives to voluntary work for the town.
One of the historic privileges of Abingdon Freemen is permission to drive their sheep across Abingdon Bridge without charge.
Recent archaeological finds have proved that people have been living here continuously for 2,600 years, longer than any other town in the country, making Abingdon 'Britain's Oldest Town'.
The Monday market has existed since 1556. The Michaelmas Fair (now known as the Ock Fair) was originally a 'hiring mart' for those seeking employment.
In 1810 the Wilts and Berks canal arrived with Abingdon becoming a key link between such places as Bristol, London, Birmingham and the Black Country. In 1906 it was abandoned as the canal sides collapsed and the railways offered faster transport. The first link to the railway came in 1856 with a branch connection to Culham and subsequently via Radley. The local station closed in 1963.
Abingdon was the county town of Berkshire, becoming part of Oxfordshire after local government reorganisation in 1974.
MG Cars were manufactured in Abingdon for 50 years until production ceased in 1980.
Two of the main roads into Abingdon cross rivers - the Thames and the Ock - over bridges listed as ancient monuments. The bridge over the Thames is over 550 years old. The Thames has always been important to the town and today is a focal point for many recreational activities. Riverside gardens attract visitors, anglers fill the riverbanks and pleasure cruisers queue to pass through the picturesque lock.
Abingdon is within easy reach of both the M40 and the M4
Abingdon has a population of approximately 35,000 and is served by two principal Councils: Oxfordshire
County Council covers the whole of Oxfordshire and is responsible for education, social services, highways, strategic planning and libraries.
The Vale of White Horse District Council also covers the towns of Wantage and Faringdon and surrounding villages and is responsible for housing, local plans, and development control, environmental health, refuse collection and major recreational facilities.
All three Councils work closely on traffic issues affecting Abingdon including joint funding of specific items.
There are regular consultations which take place between Town and Vale District Councils, and other bodies including the Chamber of Commerce, with some joint funding of Environmental, Economic and tourism projects, through the Joint Environmental Trust and the Joint Economic Forum.
Freemen of Abingdon
The Freemen of England and Wales are an association of Guilds and individual Freemen whose roots go back into antiquity. Prior to the Reform Act of 1835 only those who had obtained the Freedom of the Borough could vote or become Councillors. There were definite responsibilities coupled with these privileges involving the day to day running and even the defence of towns and cities. Failure to meet these obligations met with severe penalties.
This system of local government disappeared in 1835, but in many towns the tradition was kept alive by granting honorary freedom to distinguished citizens. The Borough of Abingdon was one such town, a tradition continued today by the Abingdon Town Council.
To be made an Honorary Freeman of Abingdon is a very great honour that is rarely bestowed. In the past it has been given to organisations such as the Royal Air Force, Abingdon, and to the Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1955. In 1966 the Borough of Thame, New Zealand, was granted the Freedom, and in 1977 it was bestowed on the Abingdon charity, Christ's Hospital.
More recently, the freedom has only been granted to individuals who have given a large part of their lives to voluntary work for the town.
One of the historic privileges of Abingdon Freemen is permission to drive their sheep across Abingdon Bridge without charge.
A Little History
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