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Situated on the west bank of the River Thames, some seven-miles
downstream of the City of Oxford, Abingdon is an important and historic
market town. Recent excavations have established that Abingdon is
the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in England.
Abingdon town centre contains an attractive and historic blend of
buildings and architecture dating from 1100 to the present day.
The town’s pedestrian precinct and surrounding streets contain
a wide variety of shops, restaurants and public houses, whilst a
short walk takes the visitor to the attractive river frontage of
the Abbey Meadow or the riverside moorings adjacent to the Abingdon
Bridge.
Although no longer in production in Abingdon, the MG sports car
was produced here until 1979. Abingdon’s local brewery Morlands
(which closed in 1999) commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the
MG car factory by brewing a special ale called Old Speckled Hen.
The town is now home to many thriving new industries, established
on spacious, light industrial estates and science parks, including
computing and the manufacture of scientific instruments and cosmetics.
Its older industry of printing continues to flourish in the town.
In 1946, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority opened a research
establishment at Harwell and many of their staff came to settle
in Abingdon. Later, further institutes were founded nearby at Culham
Laboratories and a European link was forged with the establishment
of the Joint European Torus Project (JET) at Culham. The Harwell
site also accommodates the Diamond Light Source which is a prestigious
new science facility. The  facility,
which represents the largest single investment in science by the
UK for over 30 years, hosts as many as 40 research stations, supporting
the life, physical and environmental sciences. Abingdon has become
home for many families working at Harwell and Culham. For both residents
and visitors Abingdon is large enough to provide good and varied
facilities, but small enough to remain friendly and to retain its
special character.
Abingdon’s history is rich and varied. The town grew up outside
the gates of the seventh century Abingdon Abbey that, at the time
of the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1538, was
the sixth richest in Britain. Little of the Abbey remained following
dissolution, but the town’s prosperity continued with its
Monday Market, established well before 1328 and still thriving today.
In 2000, a Farmers’ Market was established which takes place
on the third Friday of each month. In the Middle Ages Abingdon Market
Place, which has recently been subject to a refurbishment and environmental
improvement scheme, was the scene of some of the most important
fairs in the country. The  traditions
of past are very much alive today in modern Abingdon as it hosts
the annual Michaelmas Fair and, one week later, the Runaway Fair.
These have as their origins the methods of hiring and firing labour
in the period after the Black Death in 1348. The Michaelmas Fair
of today is the longest street fair in Europe. There are other traditions
which are important to the town. One of these is in June each year,
visitors gather to watch the traditional Morris Men dance the length
of Ock Street as they celebrate the election of the “Mayor
of Ock Street”.
In 1556, Abingdon received its Borough Charter from Queen Mary Tudor
and Philip of Spain. The town’s long history of local government
began with the establishment of the Borough Council in that year,
and Abingdon became the County town of Berkshire. In 2006, the town
celebrated the 450th anniversary of the granting of its first charter.
Further details of the story of Abingdon may be found in a book,
“Cameos of Abingdon”. This book includes articles of
the town’s history, contributions from clubs and societies
and articles on the town’s trading, industrial and educational
establishments. The book can be obtained from Abingdon Town Council
offices at the Old Abbey House, Abbey  Close,
Abingdon - price £4.00. The County Assize Courts were held
in the magnificent County Hall on the South side of the Market Place
until 1869 when they were transferred to Reading, as was the status
of ‘County Town’. The roof of this building is the scene
for the unusual custom of bun throwing, which started at the Coronation
of George III in 1760, and involves the Mayor and Councillors throwing
buns to the people in the Market Place below, usually to commemorate
royal occasions. This tradition continues to this day, and in 2006
bun throwing took place to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of the
granting of the Royal Charter and also for the visit of Her Royal
Highness the Princess Royal. As a result of Local Government re-organisation
in 1974, Abingdon ceased to be a Municipal Borough. Together with
North Berkshire it formed the Vale of White Horse District Council
and became part of the County of Oxfordshire.
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