The Old Gaol newsletter

the Old Gaol

T

abingdon-on-thames SCAN TO VISIT THE OLD GAOL WEBSITE

DOORS NOW

unlocked Development news & updates from The Old Gaol, Abingdon-on-Thames

•

reside n now ts movin in! g

Delighted buyers now moving in Town centre regeneration well underway Old Gaol well placed for local independent schools Stunning new pictures of the Old Gaol

•

w w w. t h e o l d g a o l . c o m

ISSUE

No 3

‘

abingdon town centre is on the up and up work is now well underway

Allan Lockhart, Director of

wanted to do

on the much anticipated £4 million scheme to refurbish Abingdon’s Abbey Shopping Centre, with Phase I now being completed.

this for years -

Deteriorating canopies have been removed and new

a real boost

frontages built creating an attractive retail street which

We have

seeks to complement the historic fabric of the town.

for Abingdon

York stone paving, along with high quality seating and

is coming

lighting will also be introduced to upgrade the Bury Street pedestrian area, providing an enhanced link for shoppers into Market Place and the surrounding streets.

NewRiver said, ‘‘We will be consulting the community soon on

new s how apartm launc ent h april 2ing in 013 – Please

c Marketi all the ng Su further d ite for etails

the next phase of these exciting plans to deliver a high quality town centre for the people of Abingdon. We will take steps to publicise this consultation widely as it’s important for us to get feedback from local residents and traders on the future of the town centre before we finalise the plans.’’

Planning permission for the work was granted in 2011 and Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP), acting on behalf of the owners of Abbey Shopping Centre has appointed award-wining contractors McLaren Construction to undertake the refurbishment.

Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: ‘‘The refurbishment is something that we have wanted to carry out for a number of years.

I will be very excited to see the progress and look forward to a real boost for Abingdon in the coming months.’’

refurbishment for coaching inn a historic hotel in Abingdon town centre is also benefitting from renovation.

Following the refurbishment of the Blue Boar in Witney, its sister hotel, The Crown & Thistle in Abingdon-on-

Demolition work on the second phase of the project is

Thames is due to close its doors in June to embark on a

scheduled to start later this year. A high profile food

£1.4 million refurbishment to attract guests for business

chain is showing interest in the Charter redevelopment.

and leisure. The project will take approximately 16 weeks to complete, so it is anticipated that the hotel will reopen in the autumn of this year.

The listed 17th century coaching inn will have 22 en-suite bedrooms, two with four poster beds and two family rooms. The Stocks Bar will be transformed into a wine and cocktail bar and will feature a new gourmet menu.

The Skillets restaurant will have an overhaul and comprise of a restaurant and lounge/café area where people can relax and take refreshments. Function rooms will also be available for hire for both business events and weddings.

Meanwhile Michael Riemenschneider, who used to run the Michelin-starred Abbey restaurant in Penzance and the Juniper in Altrincham has arrived at The Broad

Abbey Shopping Centre is coming back to life thanks to £4m of new money

Face in Bridge Street. For further details, visit www. crownandthistle.com and www.thebroadface.co.uk

view our virtual tour at www.theoldgaol.com or

family draws retired couple to the old gaol after ten years living on the south

Mrs Douglas says, ‘‘When we started

coast with a boat nearby, Mr & Mrs Douglas needed to re-appraise life in retirement.

flat-hunting, Grahame’s family, who live

Grahame had been having health problems; Janet found

By chance, on a visit to Abingdon we

that the garden and the tasks of laying up the boat in

drove down East St Helen St and saw the

autumn and fitting out in spring, were getting too much.

board announcing the apartments at the

With grandchildren in Spain, Germany and England time

Old Gaol. A look at the website convinced

was at a premium and they decided to sell the boat.

us that we had to find out more.

near Oxford, suggested we move nearer to them, so we began looking near Oxford.

Janet and Grahame Douglas

We returned to visit the scheme, and saw what would

development update

be the highest of the 3-bedroom flats. It ticked a lot

Sales at the Old Gaol now exceed 75%.

great rooftop outlook; private residents’ garden on the

of boxes: basement car park; lift to the front door; riverside; shops within walking distance; eating places

A range of 2 bedroom apartments are still available,

just round the corner and regular buses to Oxford. After

with a choice of position facing the private walled

carefully considering it all, we decided over lunch.

gardens or the River Thames. All the apartments are built to the same luxury specification, featuring:

That was over a year ago. We watched the flats being

Secure parking

built, chose the bathroom fittings, tiles, carpets and

• Private residents’ gardens Private residents’ gym • Estate management office Use of river moorings • New restaurant quarter

kitchen and moved in at Christmas 2012. Our daughter’s family have visited and were full of praise for the scheme.

Brochures and further information are available

Do we miss the boat? Well, sometimes. But now we have The Midlands & from the Marketing Suite on (01235) 555222. Birmingham the North moved in, looking out from our cosy flat and enjoying our stunning views has its compensations.’’

A3

4

WITNEY

M40

7

Reading & Henley

2

V

AR

D

D

DR

O

5

Abingdon

R EE

ES

T

OCK ST TO A34

HIGH ST

15

telephone our marketing suite on +44 (0)1235 555222

the Old Gaol A4

EAS T ST

Reading & London

A M

AY W

Y INE

T STERT S

ST

M4 & Newbury

4

DIDCOT

H R T

DIDCOT PARKWAY

FARINGDON ROAD

TH

8

07 A4

Swindon & the West

TO A34 TO A34

A415

7 St Helen & St Katherine - shsk.org.uk { 9 The Manor - manorprep.org {

RADLEY STATION

6

Abingdon

London

OR

4

A3

6 Radley College - radley.org.uk { 8 The European School - esculham.eu {

8

A

A4

BA

Swindon

5 Our Lady’s - olab.org.uk {

4 9

18

40

XF

4 Cothill House - cothill.net {

1

M

42 41

3 A415

0

HEL EN ST

3 Chandlings - chandlings.org.uk {

A4

STR AT TO N

1 Abingdon Prep - abingdon.org.uk { 2 Abingdon School - abingdon.org.uk {

OXFORD STATION

9

{ Preparatory { Secondary { Both

Aylesbury

A3 2

many independent schools.

OXFORD

A42 0

abingdon is home to

RIVER THA MES

on the doorstep of the educational capital

ER RIVAMES TH

www.theoldgaol.com andersondesignoxford.co.uk | 01865 201300

‘

Cranbourne are committed to building environmentally sustainable homes which people aspire to live in, while maintaining the charm of this historic environment. We use green roofs, heat recovery systems and obtain our materials from sustainable sources where possible.

Call the Marketing Suite for details on +44 (0)1235 555222 Visit the Old Gaol website: www.theoldgaol.com