Abingdon Museum has a special bun throwing exhibition this month.
Abingdon Museum has created a special exhibition titled "Buns at the Museum - a history of throwing buns" as part of the upcoming Heritage Open Days at the museum between the 11th and 19th September.
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 tradition of bun throwing 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bun Throwing held in Abingdon to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.
The crowd rejoicing
We had a great time in my home town of Abingdon-on-Thames for the 34th Bun Throwing celebration.
The tradition draws a huge crowd to the market place
At 7pm the first of 4,500 currant buns was thrown by the Mayor of Abingdon from atop the old County Hall to the thousands of people gathered in the town's market place.
People often worry that they won't catch a bun if they're at the back of the crowd - well here's proof that some of the bun throwers have quite an arm on them! This landed on top of the sign at Costa Coffee!
I've attended each Bun Throwing in Abingdon in my lifetime, a total of 14 since 1981. The first event was held to celebrate the coronation of King George III in 1761.
Our haul of buns - well, that of Christopher, Chris Senior and Jon
My dad showing his pride at nabbing five rejoicing buns
Christopher managed to catch a couple of currant buns too and was well happy with his achievement
Emily didn't catch any buns either. But did get one hit her quite hard in the head! However, we did catch this nice video of the action - we were in quite a prime position.
Timeline:
To date there have been 34 Abingdon Bun Throwings
1761 Coronation of King George III
1810 Golden Jubilee of King George III
1821 Coronation of King George IV
1831 Coronation of King William IV
1837 Coronation of Queen Victoria
1856 Declaration of Peace at the end of the Crimean War
1863 Marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra
1887 Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1897 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1902 Coronation of King Edward VII
1911 Coronation of King George V
1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V
1937 Coronation of King George VI
1946 VE Day
1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
1956 Visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Abingdon
1966 Abingdon International Week
1974 End of the Borough of Abingdon
1977 Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
1980 Queen Mother’s 80th Birthday
1981 Marriage of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer
1986 Marriage of the Duke of York to Sarah Ferguson
1987 40th Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II
1990 Queen Mother’s 90th Birthday
1995 50th Anniversary of VE Day
1997 50th Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II
2000 Millennium
2000 Queen Mother’s 100th Birthday
2002 Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
2006 450th Anniversary of Abingdon Charter/Queen Elizabeth II’s Official Birthday
2006 450th Anniversary of Abingdon Charter/Visit by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal
2011 Marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton
2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee
2016 Queen's 90th Birthday
There have also been three non-official Bun Throwing events in the town 2012 World Bun Throwing Championships to find the town's best bun thrower 2014 Bun Throwing at Abingdon Fire Station to celebrate its 50th anniversary 2016 World Bun Throwing Championships to find the town's best bun thrower
Abingdon County Hall Museum kindly provided details of the Recorded Bun Throwings to 1997. Further details on events to 2006 can be found on the blog here.
Here's a video with action from the Bun Throwing event to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's 90th birthday.
Held on Saturday 11th June 2016, the first of 4,500 currant buns was thrown by the Mayor of Abingdon at 7pm.
The 2016 bun throw was the 34th since the tradition of Bun Throwing in Abingdon-on-Thames began in 1761. The first event was held to celebrate the coronation of King George III.
I have attended each Bun Throwing in Abingdon in my lifetime, a total of 14 since 1981.
Bun Throwing Championships to find town's best thrower to be held in May.
Ahead of the Royal Bun Throwing to celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday, Abingdon-on-Thames will be hosting the second-ever World Bun Throwing Championships to find the town's best bun thrower.
Prospective throwers can chance their arm in the Bun Throwing contest on Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May.
The winner will take their place alongside the town's Mayor and other dignitaries when they stand atop the County Hall Museum on Saturday 11th June as they throw 6,000 buns to the crowds below.
The 2016 bun throwing in June will be the 34th since the tradition began in 1761.
On special occasions since then townsfolk have gathered in the marketplace in front of the old county hall in attempt to catch a special hot cross bun. The first event was held to celebrate the coronation of King George III.
I have attended each Bun Throwing in Abingdon in my lifetime, a total of thirteen since 1981. I'm looking forward to returning to Abingdon for the next event.
On special occasions since 1761 townsfolk have gathered in the marketplace in front of the old county hall in attempt to catch a special hot cross bun. The first event was held to celebrate the coronation of King George III.
The 2016 bun throwing will be the 34th since the tradition began.
I have attended each Bun Throwing in Abingdon in my lifetime, a total of thirteen since 1981. I'm looking forward to returning to Abingdon for the next event.
In the market place in front of Abingdon's former County Hall
On a recent visit to my old home town of Abingdon-on-Thames I was very pleased to see that the roof of the County Hall Museum is now open to visitors.
Up on the roof
I remember going up on the roof when I was younger, but access wasn't regularly available as it is now.
Looking north. Among the images on the display board is a crowd scene from the 2011 Bun Throwing. It was great to be able to pick us out in the crowd too
It's great to be able to stand on the rooftop, and look down from the spot where the Mayor and dignities gather at Bun Throwing events to throw the currant buns to the townsfolk below.
The County Hall was built by Christopher Kempster between 1678 & 1683. Renovation and repairs of the building were completed in 2012.
Part of the renovation work at the museum has seen a new coffee shop open in the basement of the hall - Buns in the Basement. It's the sister cafe to Throwing Buns, a tearoom next to the county hall.
A miniature version of the county hall - and some buns - next to the stairway down to Buns in the Basement
This was the first time I've been into the depths of the building and it was interesting to see a big working water pump in the basement, along with some history on the town's water supply.
The rear of the county hall. The basement is now home to a coffee shop called Buns in the Basement
.JPG "In the market place in front of Abingdon County Hall")
.JPG "On the roof of Abingdon County Hall Museum")
.JPG "Looking north. Among the images on the display board is a crowd scene from the 2011 Bun Throwing. It was great to be able to pick us out in the crowd too")
.JPG "The rear of the county hall. The basement is now home to a coffee shop called Buns in the Basement")
.JPG "One of the special Bun Throwing displays in Abingdon County Hall Museum")