In Southern England, in the county of Oxfordshire, is Abingdon. This unassuming city is widely considered by many to be among one of the oldest continuously inhabited lands in all of the United Kingdom. Many cities in England lay claim to this title and, in truth, it is difficult to distinguish what is truly the U.K.'s oldest occupied city but Abingdon certainly does have some arguments that favor it in the running. There are many remains from the Iron Age that have been uncovered in Abingdon and tools have been found that show Abingdon was a thriving village centuries before the Roman Empire took control of it.
No matter how old Abingdon truly is, the city's most fascinating history takes place from the sixth century A.D. on. The famed Abingdon Abbey, for instance, is purported to have been built in the 700s and thousands visit this much adored edifice each year to breathe in some of its grandeur. The Abbey has crumbled some in recent years but it is still stunning to see this ancient spectacle and the incredible Perpendicular gateway is still standing in all its glory. Nearly a thousand years ago, none other than the great William the Conqueror visited the Abbey for Easter and was so impressed with it that he left his heir, the future King Henry, at the Abbey to be educated by the monks.
Sadly, in 1538, the Abbey became dissolute and Abingdon was a city lost amid the drift. It wasn't until the late 1700s that the city once again managed to claim its former glory, but this time around it was the building of canals and railways that allowed Abingdon to regain prominence. The city became an important thoroughfare by land and sea and commerce became the name of the game. These days, however, Abingdon is known more for its manufacturing industry and many big name companies use Abingdon as their home. MG, the esteemed car company, once performed nearly all their operations within Abingdon and many of the largest technological firms in England are located in the city, including Joint European Tours and the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Unfortunately, such a focus on industry and labor has had a toll on Abingdon's reputation for recreation and many people who live in the city complain of the lack of nightlife and general fun in Abingdon. There are little to no cinemas or theaters since the closing of the Regal Cinema in the '80s and many of the upscale shopping boutiques and stores that once dotted the main streets of Abingdon are now closed or have been bought up and replaced by offices and corporations. Further proof of the sense of ennui of Abingdon is made evident in the popular citywide tradition of throwing bread buns off the roof of the Abingdon Museum during popular events. All the same, the city is full of beauty and splendor at every turn and, despite the shortage of popular pubs, it is hard to imagine actually being bored in a city as wondrous and culturally rich as Abingdon.
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