Abingdon Heritage Festival 2019

Abingdon 1919: Coming Home, Moving On

Abingdon Heritage Festival this year will be celebrating and exploring an event that took place 100 years ago in this town; an event that has left an enduring mark because it was filmed. 

It was the end of the First World War, the most devastating self-inflicted humanitarian disaster that had ever been known. From the ceasefire of November 1918, to the signing of the Versailles Treaty in June 1919, demobilisation had at last gathered pace. Women began to leave their wartime employment, to make room for the men to take back their jobs. As Belgian refugees considered whether to return home and permanently wounded ex-servicemen tried out prosthetic limbs and adjusted to a new life of disability, Abingdon staged a Homecoming Parade, a “Carnival of Affection” for the returning troops and a ceremony of remembrance for the “Glorious Dead”.

The events of that day, 4th August 1919, included a parade down Stert Street, the Mayor’s address in the Market Place, another parade to The Square, a march-past and laying of wreaths, flowers and branches at a temporary memorial, and a lunch at the Corn Exchange for all the men.

The film, which is available through the Imperial War Museum, remains in good condition for us to study today, and it rewards such study with so much information. 

The former Superdrug shop in Bury Street will be reopened as an interpretation centre explaining the film, highlighting key points that are worth looking at in detail and delving into the background of what we are seeing. This live exhibition will start a whole week before the main festival weekend, opening on Saturday 14th September and running daily through the following week.

On the weekend of Saturday 21st Abingdon Market Place will be the setting for a small recreation of the Homecoming events of 100 years ago and a chance to enjoy costumes, songs, food and customs from the era. The Homecoming Film itself will be available to view in the Guildhall and the Museum. The Festival also includes Heritage Open Doors properties taking part in the national project to allow the public into interesting heritage buildings, as well as walks and talks on the 1919 theme and also with a general local history twist.