By Hester Hand, Chair, Friends of Abingdon Civic Society
In May 1944 – despite the fact that Britain was at a crucial stage of World War II, with bombers taking off from nearby airfields - over 100 Abingdon people attended a meeting called by the then Mayor to consider the formation of a Society “To arouse in all people of Abingdon a lively and practical interest in the town and its setting and to help preserve what is best worth retaining amongst its old buildings and encourage new buildings worthy of its civic tradition and character”.
The background to the meeting was that at that time Abingdon’s historic buildings – and those in many other small towns – were showing signs of neglect during the two world wars and the intervening depression. Some had already been demolished and there were concerns that others would follow and that replacements might not be sensitively designed.
The meeting voted to establish the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society and many locally eminent people were involved including the MP, the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, the Mayor and leading local historians, architects and lawyers.
The Friends are best known for their work in acquiring and restoring the domestic buildings of the medieval Abbey, but less recognised is the part they played in preserving other Abingdon landmarks such as the Roysse Archway, Fitzharris Motte and 35 Ock Street. There were some buildings which they could not save from demolition, but where they did manage to ensure that their interior features were recorded, and in some cases, they saved items such as fireplaces for use elsewhere. They were also instrumental in the erection of the memorial to St Edmund on St Nicholas’ Church and the creation of the murals in the Stratton Way underpass and the alleyway by R&R and arranged talks and visits and undertook projects with schools.
In some ways the challenges facing the town now are much as they were 80 years ago and in 2019 the original charity divided into two in order that each could better focus on facing those challenges in their own area. The Abingdon Abbey Buildings Trust runs the medieval buildings, including the Unicorn Theatre, and has ambitious plans to make them fit for use for the next 80 years. The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society still works to preserve the town’s best historic buildings and to ensure that new developments are appropriate: this includes encouraging local people to take an interest in development proposals and to contribute to consultations before it is too late. An important current campaign is to end the stalemate over the derelict Upper Reaches Hotel site. They also organise the popular Heritage Open Days and twice-yearly walks programmes and run the new Unit 24 Community Space in the shopping centre.
Those original 100 people are of course long gone, and others have continued in their footsteps ever since. Both the current charities welcome – indeed need – support from the community: if you would like to find out how you can help them flourish for the next 80 years, check out their websites or come along to their Anniversary Celebration in the Abbey Buildings on Thursday 27 June.
To find out more visit abingdoncivicsociety.org.uk and abingdonabbeybuildings.co.uk
