Abingdon County Hall Museum’s aim is to present the history of Abingdon and the surrounding locality in the most informative, exciting and accessible way possible. We will continue to develop the museum in line with visitor comments and town activities with the intention to create exhibitions combining importance to the locality, people, educational significance and interest for as broad an audience as possible.
Free Admission
Donations are gratefully received
Please click here for a virtual tour of the museum.
The Museum will be closed during the Christmas Holidays from Sunday 24th December 2023 to Tuesday 2nd January 2024.
We will re-open at 10am on Wednesday 3rd January 2024.
Thank you to everyone who visited, volunteered and supported us in 2023, it has been a great year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Abingdon Museum!
See you in 2024 with new exciting events and exhibitions!
Join Abingdon Museum’s incredible team of volunteers!
We are currently seeking new volunteers at the Museum, to accompany visitors on the Roof Terrace and enjoy the views of Abingdon.
Shifts available are:
Tuesday 10am to 1pm & 1pm to 4pm
Wednesday 10am to 1pm & 1pm to 4pm
and Saturday morning 10am to 1pm.
Volunteers enjoy some great benefits at the museum as well as joining a great team of people that together provide a tremendous service to Abingdon’s community.
If you can offer some time please come in and ask the reception for a form.
This month the Abingdon Silver Group presented Abingdon Museum with a sterling silver plaque bearing their own mark, made with two punches in different sizes.
The Abingdon Silver Group was formed in 1989 as a follow-on from silversmithing evening classes. They are currently based at John Mason School and offer a work environment, specialist tools, advice and tuition to members. In 2021, the Group decided it should have its own mark for members to stamp their work with. The design incorporates the cross and shield from the Abingdon Town Crest, the letters “a s g” for Abingdon Silver Group, and a crescent moon, an alchemical symbol for silver.
The silver plaque is currently on display in the foyer of the Museum, in celebration of the continuing tradition of quality craftsmanship in Abingdon and the strong link between the Group and the Town, expressed in the design of the mark.
From 13 June 2021 we are offering a quiet time at Abingdon Museum, for the last visiting slot on Sundays from 3-3.30 pm. This is a time when there are usually fewer visitors in the museum, and we will make some changes for this time to reduce sensory input. We turn down the sound on video screens and turn off the air conditioning unit to minimise the noise. Staff can turn off the LED lighting if visitors request it.
Find more details and a sensory map of the museum on our website.
The unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 deeply re-framed our way of life. It changed our perceptions,
affected our relationships with the outside world and imposed lockdown on us, forcing us to
‘stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.’
Abingdon Museum recognises the importance of documenting this unique period of our lives and is launching a project aimed at collecting stories that highlight ‘Abingdon in Lockdown’ from the people of Abingdon and the surrounding area. We invite you to share your experience of life in Lockdown, tell us about therapeutic activities that gave you comfort and got you through difficult times.
We would like to hear stories of about people supporting the community, help those with isolation problems. However you cope with staying at home, we would like to know. Submissions may include photographs, diaries, poems, audio recordings, video performances and more.
The material collected will form an oral history archive reflecting how COVID-19 has changed our lives, how Abingdon communities came together to help each other, supporting the NHS, key workers and vulnerable families.
If you would like to get involved in this project, please send your story by attaching photographs, audio recordings, videos and written accounts that convey your feelings about your lockdown experience. Email – abingdon.museum@abingdon.gov.uk writing ‘Abingdon People in Lockdown’ in the subject line.
We look forward to collecting your stories to ensure they are never forgotten.
The specimen was discovered in a local gravel pit at Oday Hill in 1988 and its current display has been possible thanks to the conservation and curatorial staff of the Oxford University Natural History Museum.
The next time you will be able to see the so called ‘Abingdon Ichthyosaur’ you will notice a change in its display.
This week researchers from the University of Portsmouth visited Abingdon Museum to have a look at the Abingdon Ichthyosaur in the Attic Gallery.
A close look at the specimen with measurements and photographs revealed that some of the bones had been misidentified and wrongly placed. Scrutiny of the jaw bones revealed an interesting pathology with several bite marks, tooth marks and evidence of healing. This preliminary study resulted in a change to the layout of the ichthyosaur skeleton, which now better reflects the shape of the animal.
The study is still ongoing but it illustrates that the Abingdon Ichthyosaur is an important local discovery and we are still learning a lot about this specimen.
We will share more information about this research in the upcoming months.
We are pleased to announce the launch of the museum’s Blog!
The first blog post will be published on 8th May 2020, as a contribution of the museum to mark VEDay75.
The new blog section will be updated often and available on the menu bar located on the left side of the Museum Homepage.
Please check the museum events programme for themes and times for each talk day.
BBC historian Gareth Howell returns to recount the harrowing story of the end of the Great War.
What happened during the last year, to what extent did American assistance aid the European efforts, and what was the ultimate outcome of the war?
Buy your ticket now! (Adult £10; Child £5)
call 01235 523703 or go to Abingdon Museum, Market Place, Abingdon OX14 3HG
