The Ghost of Abingdon Abbey!

"Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Silver and Gold Jewellery

for Christmas at the Abingdon Craft and Design Show"

The Abingdon Craft and Design Show is held in the small town of Abingdon which is located on the rivers Thames, Ock and Stert, just to the south of Oxford. The venue is within the ancient remains of a famous Abbey.

There are many legends about how and when 'Abingdon Abbey' was first established. The most popular claims that a hermit called St. Abban initiated things shortly after the Romans left Britain. This story was probably made up so that the Abbey could claim it was the oldest monastery in the country.

Precisely how much of the Abbey's early history is true and how much is legend is unknown, but it is clear that by 675 there was a monastery in what is now the town of Abingdon. It was probably built by a local Saxon Prince called Hean. His sister set up a nunnery at St. Helen's Church at the same time. Sadly, nothing of this first Abbey remains, after it was destroyed by marauding Danes from nearby Reading.

The Abbey church was rebuilt in Medieval times and was completed in 1239. It is reputed to have looked like Wells Cathedral.

The Abbey was attacked in 1327 by a mob of very angry townspeople. They didn't like the Abbot having control of their market so they smashed up the church and chased the monks into the River Thames where some of them drowned!

During the War of the Roses, the support of the Abbot was sought by both sides. Queen Margaret and Edward IV both visited. As late as 1489, Abbot John Sant was still plotting to overthrow King Henry VII.

King Henry VIII 'dissolved' the Abbey in 1539. The church was pulled down, but the outer gateway, 'hospitium', long gallery and the exchequer building have survived. It was in these famous old and drafty buildings that Wendy and I spent two weeks exhibiting our special 'Christmas range' of silver and gold jewellery! The Abingdon Craft and Design Show has become a popular venue over the past 25 years and the event was well attended.

The town crier of Abingdon, featured above, visited our craft show each day - having walked the streets of Abingdon loudly announcing our presence in an effort to drum up business in these times of recession and 'credit crunch'. He warned us of the female ghost that inhabits the 'long room' of Abingdon Abbey - the very place in which we had erected our trade stand! Strange things happened during those two weeks in Abingdon, strange things we don't understand nor dare to question. Could the ghost have been the sister of Prince Hean?

Perhaps we will never know ....!

Have you seen our:

Silver Daisy Jewellery Collection

White Sapphires
Diamond Wedding Rings