Abingdon Winter 2025 Walk
Abingdon-on-Thames has a strong claim to be England’s oldest town. Archaeological digs have shown that this was one of the earliest areas in which our hunter-gatherer ancestors first began to lead more settled lifestyles, attracted by the food and trading opportunities provided by the confluence of the Stert and Ock rivers with the River Thames. Objects on display in the town include tools such as hand axes from almost 400,000 years ago found locally.
The St Helen’s area developed as one of the principal trading wharves on this part of the Thames and the mediaeval houses that line the tranquil East St Helen Street were the homes of the successful merchant and business families of the town.
The growing importance of the town was reflected in the design of the County Hall which dominates the Market Place. Erected between 1678 and 1684, it was first know as the Sessions Hall as it was built as an assize court above with a market hall below. Christopher Kempster’s building seems to have drawn heavily on the work of Sir Christopher Wren.
The Old Gaol, as it is still known, was completed in 1811 and was built under the direction of Daniel Harris, Governor of Oxford Prison
The Long Alley almshouse is an elegant building, still in use for its original purpose. But it also has great significance for the history of the town of Abingdon.
