Rivers, Ruins and Roadsters in Abingdon, England, Abingdon-on-Thames, England

Abingdon-on-Thames, more commonly known simply as Abingdon is a lovely destination for an interesting day out or a city break. Several accolades are associated with this ancient town on the banks of the River Thames in Oxfordshire. There is archaeological evidence to support its claim to be the oldest, continuously inhabited market town in England. It has the grandest town hall and Abingdon Lock on the River Thames is the oldest surviving lock chamber in the United Kingdon and possibly Europe. Abingdon owes its existence to the River Thames.

The Thames has played a key role in the history and development of Abingdon. Ancient trackways led to the River Thames in Abingdon as it was one of a few places where the Thames could be forded or crossed by a ferry when the water was high. This would have been the attractions to early settlers and travellers.

Today the River Thames, flowing just a short distance from the town centre is spanned by the medieval bridges on Bridge Street. It was inevitable that as the settlement here and the number of travellers passing through increased that a bridge would be built over the river here. Two stone bridges spanning the Ock River, were built to the west of the town, Ock Bridge (1080) and St Helen’s Bridge (c1200). Both were on the main route from the south and south west. Travel from the east across the River Thames remained difficult until the fifteenth century when the first stone bridge was built. It is thought a wooden bridge may have been there before a stone bridge was built in 1416. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).