East Hagbourne in southern Oxfordshire is a good example of an unspoiled village, though its residents are possibly looking over their shoulders at the encroaching town sprawl of Didcot just to the north. The village has a decent pub, an old church, a tiny shop, two memorial crosses and a host of charming vernacular houses. […]
Abingdon is a town with a history – and quite a few old buildings to prove it. Personally, when it comes to sketching architecture, I like my buildings a bit askew, wonky, even. So when I came across a good piece of medieval overhang by the Market Square in Abingdon, it seemed a good opportunity […]
Blewbury is one of a series of villages along the scarp of the South Oxfordshire Downs. it is about 10 – 15miles south of Oxford and a good spot for a drive out and some country sketching. So, on a lovely May day I got to sit for a while and do a few sketches. […]
The old Bliss Tweed Mill at Chipping Norton is quite a landmark but one that you tend to just pass by on the way to somewhere else. So on a sunny Sunday afternoon I decided to make the trip out and actually try to sketch this impressive building. The Bliss Mill was originally built in […]
Sometimes I visit Abingdon on a weekend as it makes a change from the bustle of Oxford, even if they do seem to have the same snarly traffic problems when busy. One of the reasons I like Abingdon is that it has some history and that is partly reflected in its buildings. It has a […]