Abingdon-on-Thames, Market town near River Thames in Oxfordshire, England
Abingdon-on-Thames is a small town on the bank of the River Thames in Oxfordshire county, roughly 6 miles (10 km) south of Oxford. Narrow lanes lead from the riverside up to the market square, where brick houses from the 17th century stand around the old town hall.
In 676, monks founded an abbey here that grew until its dissolution by Henry VIII in the 16th century. During the Middle Ages, the settlement became an important center for wool trading, which brought wealth and new buildings.
The County Hall from 1678 stands on pillars above the market square and serves today for meetings and ceremonies. On Mondays, traders gather with stalls beneath the arches as they have done for centuries.
Walks along the Thames offer quiet views, and most shops and cafés sit close to the market square. The museum inside the town hall displays local objects and memories of the local car factory.
During royal celebrations, council officials throw buns from the rooftop of the town hall to the crowd below. This custom dates back to coronations and today draws crowds of locals to the square.
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