Abingdon
Abngdon
The town of Abingdon grew around a large Benedictine Abbey which was founded in 645, originally the county town of Berkshire it is now in Oxford and is a very attractive town.
The abbey was largely destroyed in the dissolution but the guest house remains other fine buildings include the 13th century checker, the guildhall as well as the imposing county hall in the market place. This was built in 1682 by Christopher Kempster one of Christopher Wrens St Pauls stonemasons, the building now houses a county museum.
The town prospered as a result of the wool trade and in medieval times was famous for cloth and weaving, after the dissolution the town went into decline, Alms-houses were founded by Edward VI these can be seen on Long Alley next to St Helens church.
The town was once the home of MG cars but this closed in 1980 the famous rock band Radiohead hails from Abingdon.
Activities in Abingdon
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