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Abingdon County Hall Museum
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Abingdon County Hall Museum
The Market Place
Abingdon
OX14 3HG
Oxfordshire
England
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Abingdon County Hall Museum by night. Photo by Fil Gierlinksi, courtesy Abingdon Museum.
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Collection details
Archaeology, Architecture, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Natural Sciences, Social History, Toys and Hobbies, Weapons and War
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Facilities
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[ icon key ]
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No wheelchair access but Museum Guide at Town Council Offices at Information Point
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Contact details
General information (Tel)
:
01235 523703
General information (Fax)
:
01235 536814
E-mail
:
abingdon.museum@abingdon.gov.uk
Abingdon Museum website
:
www.abingdon.gov.uk/tourism/museum_guide.shtml
The Abingdon Museum Friends
:
www.geocities.com/abingdonmuseumfriends/index.html
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Open
Daily 10.30-16.00
Ring to check Bank Holidays
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Closed
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday
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Admission charges
Free Admission
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Description
Abingdon County Hall Museum is located in a Grade 1* listed building in the centre of the town just opposite the Medieval Abbey. This beautiful, perfectly-preserved Restoration building overlooking the Market Place, is considered to be one of the outstanding market buildings in England, with vaulted cellars, undercroft, stair of c. 1700, Sessions Gallery with Minstrel Gallery, and roof open to visitors on Saturday from April to October with views of the Cotswolds, Chilterns and Downs.
Abingdon is considered to be the oldest continually inhabited town in Britain, and exhibitions include collections from the Iron Age oppidum, Roman town, the finest collection of Anglo-Saxon jewellery and personal items from Oxfordshire and outstanding Medieval finds. There are collections and displays relating to all periods of the town's history, which is summarised in a Time Line suitable for families.
In addition to the permanent collections and larger temporary exhibitions several times a year, smaller exhibitions on local themes change every month. The museum has a well-stocked shop for every age-group, and a coffee-bar tables and chairs. Families with pre-school children are welcome and there is a children's activity table with drop-in activities.
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Collections description
A beautiful mirror frame carved by Grinling Gibbons, an embroidered smock shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and badges from Abingdon's own car company, MG, are just some of the objects forming a large and varied museum collection, some of which can be seen in displays which line the stairs (giving a brief introduction to the history of the town) and in the main museum gallery, the Sessions Hall, which was originally a court room in a magnificent 17th Century building, reputed to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Today the Sessions Hall is a spectacular setting for a varied programme of displays and exhibitions, concentrating on local history themes and contemporary crafts. The classically styled display cases that furnish the gallery were specially created by the renowned furniture designer, Erik de Graaff.
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Articles
Things To Do Over Christmas In Museums And Galleries In The South East
Family Friendly Museums in the Thames Valley
Museums and Galleries in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
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Events
An Abingdon Artist: W W Waite 1778-1856 at Abingdon County Hall Museum
Exhibition
Oxfordshire - A Photographic Exhibition by Abingdon Camera Club at Abingdon County Hall Museum
Exhibition
Museums at Night Weekend at Abingdon County Hall Museum
; Exhibition; Performance
May Half Term Family and Children's Activities at Abingdon County Hall Museum
; Workshop (Event)
Archaeology Activities for Families and Children at Abingdon County Hall Museum
Workshop (Event)
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General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Information point provided
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Collections
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
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Disability Access
Large print information and/or interpretation
Parking for disabled available
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Children and Families
Children's play area
Events and resources for children and families
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General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Education facilities available
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Facilities
Facilities for private functions and events
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Refreshments
Shop
Study facilities
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Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
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