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Historic Sites and Monuments

Abingdon Abbey, Abingdon

The great Benedictine abbey of St. Mary's at Abingdon was an Anglo-Saxon foundation of about 670AD. It was founded and rebuilt after 955 by St. Aethelwold and again in the 12th Century by Norman abbots. It became extremely rich but was finally dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538.

The Checker, Abingdon

A mid-13th Century stone building and the name "Checker" or exchequer relates to its probable use for the central accounting and document storage of the abbey.  

The Unicorn Theatre or Checker Hall, Abingdon

A building with a fine 15th Century roof, which appears to have been an open hall. The Elizabethan-style theatre was constructed in 1953 and is in regular use for plays and concerts. For details of events please visit the Unicorn Theatre website.

The Long Gallery, Abingdon

A late 15th or early 16th Century building. It resembles a medieval inn and is therefore thought to have been used as accommodation for guests or clerks.  

The Lower Hall, Abingdon

This was much altered during the three centuries when the Long Gallery and Checker were used as a brewery.

St Nicolas Church, Abingdon

A small church just outside the abbey gateway which was used by the lay servants and tenants of the abbey.

A FREE Abingdon town leaflet is available from Abingdon Visitor Information Point. Telephone: 01235 522711,visit the Abingdon Town Council website or send an e-mail.

Blowing Stone

A large sarsen stone with many holes and blowing into one of these holes is said to produce a foghorn-like sound. The rock originally sat high up on The Ridgeway and was supposedly used by King Alfred to summon his troops into battle.

Dragon Hill

Standing near the White Horse you can see below a strange flat topped hillock. Legend has it that St. George slew the dragon on the summit of the hill. Its blood so poisoned the soil that the grass has never regrown, leaving the bare white patch you can see today.

Faringdon Folly Tower, Faringdon

The 104-foot tower was built by Lord Berners in 1935 and has become a local landmark. It was the last folly to be built in England. It is open to the public 11.00 am - 5.00 pm on the first Sunday in the month from Easter Sunday until October. For further information visit the Faringdon Folly website

Great Coxwell Barn, near Faringdon

Built between 1300 and 1310 the Great Coxwell Barn is a remnant of the Cistercian Grange of Coxwell. William Morris loved this agricultural cathedral, calling it the finest piece of architecture in England. Open dawn to dusk (National Trust owned) Telephone: 01793 762209.

Lord Wantage Monument

A memorial cross and monument to Robert Loyd Lindsay, Lord Wantage. He was one of the founders of the Red Cross and the memorial is located high on the Ridgeway above the town he took his name from when he became Lord Wantage in 1885.

Lord Wantage was the provider of the statue of King Alfred that is located in the Market Square in Wantage. He was also a distinguished soldier and was the first person to be award the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War. The Victoria Cross is Britain's highest award for gallantary.

The monument is off the B4494 from Wantage to Newbury Road.

The Manger

A strangely shaped valley, thought to have been formed by the melting of ice in the last Ice Age. The ripples are known locally as the Giants Steps. Legend has it that the White Horse leaves the hillside one night a year to feed in the valley but is always back in position by day break. The raised terraces along either side of the manger were created by medieval farmers ploughing the slopes.

Uffington Castle, near Uffington

One of a series of Iron Age hill forts along The Ridgeway. This hill fort was built about 2,700 years ago during the Early Iron Age. The hill fort was not permanently occupied, instead it was used occasionally as the site for sacred ceremonies. Between the 17th and 19th Centuries huge fairs and sporting competitions known as the "Pastime" were held here. Up to 30,000 people attended these festivities, and the last great "Pastime" was held in 1857.

Wayland Smithy, near Ashbury

The Wayland Smithy is a Neolithic long barrow approximately 5,000 years old, located on the Ridgeway. In local legend Wayland, the Anglo Saxon smith god, would, unseen, shoe a horse for payment for a silver coin.

White Horse Hill, near Uffington

The Uffington White Horse is the only prehistoric chalk horse remaining in England. Stylised in shape it is also the second largest measuring 110m (360ft) by 38.5m (126ft). Its shape is not just etched into the hillside, but formed by cutting a trench to shape and infilling it with chalk blocks. Open 365 days a year from dawn until dusk Telephone: 01793 762209 (National Trust).

Oxford (Botley) Cemetery

The cemetery has substantial war graves plots from both wars. During the First World War the 3rd Southern General Hospital was housed at Oxford in a number of buildings including the Examination Schools. The cemetery was designated a Royal Air Force regional cemetery during the Second World War. In addition to the Commonwealth war graves, it contains almost 70 war graves of other nationalities.

To see photographs of the cemetery and details of its location please visit the War Cemeteries website.