The Guildhall Historic Rooms

Mediaeval and Baroque splendour for all to enjoy

The Guildhall was the civic heart of Abingdon-on-Thames in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a complex set of buildings built in stages. At its heart is the mediaeval L‑shaped Hospital of St John which dates from 1100 and which was built by Abingdon Abbey at its historic entrance. The original building now comprises the Old Magistrates’ Court and Roysse Room.

The buildings have been extended and altered over the years and over these years the various rooms of the Guildhall complex have been home to a hospital, almshouses, town gaol, Abingdon (Roysse’s) School (1563), Borough of Abingdon Police station (1836), Fire station, Drill Hall, Court of Assizes and Petty sessions court (1772 – 2000). The Guildhall complex of rooms have been restored to their former glory and are now available for event hire.

You can book a room in the Guildhall using the form here or contact enquiries@abingdon gov.uk.

Guildhall address: Roysse Court, Bridge Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3HU

Roysse Room

Maximum capacity of 90

Ground floor, level access from the street

Size: 15.24m x 4.70m with a step area of 1.80m deep

Council Chamber

Maximum capacity of 100

Located on the first floor with access only possible via stairs

Size: 16.15m x 6.10m

Old Magistrates’ Court – NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR HIRE

Maximum capacity of 60

Ground floor, up some steps, accessible lift available

Size: 8.9m x 6.2m

Abbey Room

Maximum capacity of 40

Located on the second floor with access only possible via stairs

Size: 9.75m x 4.42m

Bear Room

Maximum capacity of 18

Located on the first floor with access only possible via stairs

Size: 6.70m x 5.48m

Hire charges

	Roysse Room, Council Chamber	Abbey Room, Bear Room
Commercial session rate*	£40.00	£25.00
Commercial hourly rate	£13.50	£8.00
Not for profit groups session rate*	£34.00	£20.00
Not for profit groups hourly rate	£11.50	£6.70

* Sessions being a minimum of three hours. Sessions extending beyond this three hour period are charged hourly.

Other charges

Out of hours unlocking charge: (Please note if both unlocking and locking charges apply the charge is £30)	£15	Please note the ‘Out of hours charge’ is charged to weekday bookings before 9:00am and after 17:00pm and ALL Weekend bookings.
Out of hours locking charge: (Please note if both unlocking and locking charges apply the charge is £30)	£15
Equipment storage	£5 per week

All prices are shown excluding VAT.

St Helen’s Wharf & Gardens

Tranquility where there used to be trade

St Helens Wharf is a beautiful spot overlooking the Thames and it was the other main source of wealth and importance for the town in its early days. The merchants of the St Helens quarter owned many of the attractive town houses which line East St Helen Street today. The area including the wharf once thronged with boats loading and unloading and was the focal point for those who relied on trade rather than the monastery for their livelihoods.

Today it is a delightful location for watching boats go by, feeding the ducks, geese and swans or enjoying a pint at the old Anchor public house which was moved from the water’s edge to a spot across the road when the whole wharf area was remodelled. The magnificent sweep of the right-angled bend in the River Thames which occurs at this point makes it a vantage point for looking both up and down stream, and the Margaret Brown Gardens just beyond the wharf offer seats and a tranquil place to enjoy the view.

To find out more about the ancient buildings in this part of the town, visit our history section.

St Helen’s Church & Almshouses

A broad aspect and a charitable legacy

St Helen’s Church spire is a familiar sight from the river and beneath it is an interesting church of unusual shape, the result of the successive generations of townsfolk keen to give their church some status by adding another nave and then another until the floorplan became as wide as it is long. The panorama of stained glass windows is lovely but of less importance than the very rare ceiling paintings. In 1327 this was the rallying point when town traders, aided by Oxford students, staged a riot which saw the monastery burned and blood spilled in the Abbey itself. You can find out more about St Helen’s Church and the churchyard here.

The energy of the townsfolk was just as often directed towards positive actions to keep their town thriving and the less fortunate cared for. The St Helen’s Almshouses are located in the churchyard and are remarkably still lived in today, managed by a 500 year old society, Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, which continues to run the buildings for their original charitable purpose. The wooden carving and wall paintings on the building known as Long Alley are original.

On East St Helen Street there are gardens open for quiet reflection at St Ethelwold House. Interpretation panels in the heritage area tell more of the town’s fascinating past.

St Nicolas’ Church

‘The Little Church by the Gate’

One part of the Abbey complex which remains to this day is St Nicolas’ Church, once known as ‘The Little Church by the Gate’. The church was built for the lay servants of the abbey to use for their prayers and services and probably served as a contact point between townsfolk and the monastery. The church is in full use today as a parish church and the bells ring out across the market place from the square tower each Sunday. St Nicolas’ is well worth a visit. The interior includes a distinctive memorial to the Blacknall family including a puzzling cryptic verse that seems to ignore one of the daughters depicted on the tomb. The church hosts regular events and details can be found here.

For more detailed historical information about the church, visit the history section of our website.

Abbey Buildings

When King Henry VIII’s men dismantled the Abbey which had made the town of Abingdon famous, they left behind some medieval buildings near the river which were eventually saved by the Friends of Abingdon. Today the Abbey Buildings are a fascinating glimpse into the business life of the monastery and even include a small theatre created at the time of the coronation of our present Queen.

There are three separate parts to the Abbey Buildings; for more detailed historical information click on these links to go to the historical section of this website.

The Long Gallery at the Abbey Buildings

The Chequer at the Abbey Buildings

The Unicorn Theatre at the Abbey Buildings

The Abbey Buildings are managed by the Friends of Abingdon Abbey Buildings Trust and details about events and opening times can be found here. The buildings are available to hire for weddings, private parties etc or for performances in the Unicorn Theatre.

Tulips and other bright spring flowers in the park

Abbey Gardens & Abbey Meadow

An accessible stroll for all ages

The Abbey Gardens are a charming stroll with flat, easy paths and wide gates. Amongst the ornamental flower displays can be found a statue of Queen Victoria and some deceptive ‘ruins’ which have fooled many a visitor into thinking they have seen the remains of Abingdon Abbey. In fact, Trendell’s Folly was created in the 19th century when this was a private garden. Nonetheless, the stones are probably ancient in their own right and are thought to have come from St Helen’s Church, whose spire overlooks over the town and river.

To understand how spectacular the medieval abbey would have been, trace out the stones in the grass which mark the lines of the foundations uncovered when archaeologists investigated this site. Continue your stroll through Abbey Meadow, feeding the ducks on the Millstream as you go, and keep on to the rushing waters of the Abingdon Lock and Weir.

To turn this into a more energetic circular walk of about 2.5 miles, follow the Lost Abbey Trail boards to find out more about what went on when the monks ran the huge commercial enterprise which was Abingdon Abbey. Start the trail at Abbey Close car park, OX14 3JE.

The County Hall Museum

Ancient artefacts, vibrant history, interactive displays and rooftop views

The County Hall Museum stands proudly in the town centre, overlooking the Market Place and is the most iconic landmark in Abingdon. The museum is free and has a host of things to see to help you understand the history of the town. You can see the ancient remains from iron age settlements in the area, view relics of the mediaeval past, see Victorian water pumps or one of the last MG cars made in the town. If the weather is good, you can even go up to the rooftop for a panoramic view over Abingdon and across the Vale of White Horse.

You can find out more about the museum here.