Social distancing in Abingdon Market Place

A look at the social distancing markers in Abingdon's Market Place.

I've been documenting the Covid-19 social distancing signs I've seen during the coronavirus pandemic on my blog at the Ham & Egger Files as well as my Instagram.

The ones in Abingdon's Market Place are nice and clear. They also include the town crest which I think is a nice touch.

The Market Place is famous as the location for Bun Throwing and the starting point for the Michaelmas Fair. Both events normally see thousands of people pack in or pass through to be a part of the occasions.

The last time I was in the Market Place it was being used as a Christmas tree drop off and chipping point. This time I saw the star being put on the top of the tree.

My first Bun Throwing

There was a Bun Throwing in Abingon on this day in 1981.

The team at Abingdon Museum posted about the Bun Throwing that took place in Abingdon to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on this day in 1981.

It was the first Bun Throwing I attended. Although at less than a year old I can't imagine I knew what was going on, nor caught any buns! I probably did scoff some my mum and dad had caught though.

The last bun throwing held in the town to date was in 2018 to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761.

There have been 15 Bun Throwing events in my lifetime.

Currant buns from the Bun Throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion 

The curious tradition sees the mayor and other dignitaries climb to the top of the old County Hall to throw hundreds or thousands of currant buns down to the townsfolk gathered in the market place below.

Abingdon County Hall Museum has a collection of buns preserved from bun throwings dating back many years.

Foxes Afloat - Bun Throwing in Abingdon

The team from the Foxes Afloat narrowboat vlog recently stopped off in my home town of Abingdon where they looked at the tradition of Bun Throwing.

Picture Postcard Magic - Abingdon-on-Thames

Check out my latest guest post on the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age. It's about my home town of Abingdon.

Bun throwing activities at Abingdon Museum

Details of museum fun and games during lockdown.

Buns on display at Abingdon County Hall Museum

My parents let me know that Abingdon County Hall Museum has a number of indoor activities to pass the time and keep you entertained during lockdown.

Among the lockdown fun and games are a bun throwing jigsaw puzzle and a bun throwing quiz.

The quiz is nicely tricky.

Throwing buns

We revisited the museum the last time I was back home. It's always nice to pop in and see the exhibits and have a look out from the roof when it's open.

The last bun throwing held in Abingdon-on-Thames was in November 2018 to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761.

I wonder when it will be possible to hold another bun throwing?

As a mass gathering and celebration event it's something that won't be taking place for quite some time.

It'd be nice to think a bun throwing could be held to mark the safe end of the coronavirus pandemic.

No Umbrellas

One of the fun things about the mass scramble of a bun throwing event is seeing the different tactics people employ in an effort to catch or retrieve a bun.

As a traditionalist I opt for the open handed catch. However, quite a few people use the upturned umbrella approach. Something that was outlawed at the last event!

A new rule

The last Abingdon bun throwing took place in November 2018 to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War. The weather wasn't too great at all and the umbrellas people brought along were actually used to keep the rain off them rather than to catch buns in.

I've never gone in for the umbrella catching tactic as I've seen more buns bounce, slip and slide out of upturned brollies than stay in

Social distancing from a Bun Throwing sign in 2018. Yellow and black warning signs have become commonplace in 2020

VE Day Bun Throwing in Abingdon

Two of the town's bun throwing events have marked VE Day.

In 1946 there was a Victory Day bun throwing where 2,500 buns were thrown.

In 1995 there was a bun throwing held to mark the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Some of those currant buns had a special 'V for victory' marking on them. The excellent Abingdon Blog has a post about 1995's event.

The last bun throwing held in the town to date was in 2018 to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War.

That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761. The last bun throwing held before the 2018 event was to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday in 2016.

At the present time it's hard to know when the town will be once again able to hold a bun throwing.

A look back at the World Bun Throwing Championships in Abingdon

A look back at the World Bun Throwing Championships held in Abingdon in 2012.

It's been eight years since the inaugural World Bun Throwing Championships were held in Abingdon.

The event set out to find the town's best bun throwers who were then selected to join the town's mayor and other dignitaries atop the old county hall for that year's bun throwing event.

Throwing a currant bun at the World Bun Throwing Championships at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club on the 14th April 2012

The 2012 bun throwing was held to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and saw 6,000 currant buns rain down on the thousands of people in the market place.

Abingdon Bun Throwing by Alastair Fear / Abingdon Blog

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The last bun throwing held in Abingdon-on-Thames was in November 2018 to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Bun throwing in Abingdon-on-Thames, November 2018

That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761. The last bun throwing held before the 2018 event was to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday in 2016.

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I wonder when it will be possible to hold another bun throwing event?

As a mass gathering and celebration event it'd be nice to think a bun throwing could be held to mark the safe ending of the coronavirus pandemic once a vaccine is created, distributed and working.

The first bun throwing in Abingdon marked the Coronation of King George III in 1761.

A visit to Abingdon's County Hall Museum

On Saturday we were back in my home town and visited the County Hall Museum.

If you visit the museum make sure to also check out the Mouse Hole Cafe below it for more exhibits

The Market Place was being used as a Christmas tree drop off and chipping point on Saturday

It's always nice to have a look around, see what's new and also have a look at the Bun Throwing exhibits.

Information on the town's unique custom of Bun Throwing

Buns from the Bun Throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion 

As it's winter the rooftop isn't open to visitors, however you can still climb the stairs and get a fairly good view of the town and the surrounding area from inside.

A look down at the Market Place

A view of the rooftop looking towards St Nicolas Church

A view looking south of Abingdon

Abingdon-on-Thames has a brewing heritage and was for many years the home to Morland Brewery.

A Morland Brewery Plaque and Sign

You can still see old Morland Brewery plaques on pubs and lost pubs around the town and further afield.

A Morland Brewery Plaque at the Old Anchor Inn beside the River Thames

Can you see the Morland Plaque on this lost pub building at St Aldate's in Oxford

A closer look at the plaque in Oxford

One of the exhibits caught my eye as I hadn't heard of Bun Thrower ale before!

One of the recent exhibits was about the Michaelmas fair that stretches from the Market Place to the end of Ock Street. I haven't been to the annual street fair since 1999 as I moved from Abingdon in the year 2000, but it was nice to see the old photos showing scenes from years gone by. Hopefully I'll get back for the event this year.

Check out the Abingdon County Hall Museum website for more information and opening times.

The old County Hall and Market Place lit up for the festive season on Friday evening