Abingdon Hotels - Smooth Hound Hotel Directory

Abingdon is located in Oxfordshire on the River Thames. The town was known as Berkshire until the late 19th century, at which time it became part of Oxfordshire and was eventually renamed Abingdon. Today the town is busy and offers an excellent choice of restaurants, shops and pubs. There are also many attractions in Abingdon as well as in the surrounding area that make it well worth a visit. Abingdon is located just a short distance from Oxford. Visitors will find ample accommodations both in Abingdon as well as in the surrounding area, including Oxford.

Abingdon is one of the oldest towns in the whole of the United Kingdom and historical records indicate that the town of Abingdon was first established as a settlement sometime in the Iron Age which predates the Roman occupation of Britain! It is also important to note the significant impact that the Romans had on the town and whilst it is was a rather small rural community before the Roman centurions arrived, Abingdon quickly became a major commercial town.

Religion played a crucial role in the town of Abingdon, and so Abingdon Abbey which played a key role in the maintenance and administration of the town charters the development and influence religion has had on the town. One thing that is for certain about the Abbey is that there is a woeful lack of reliable information as to the founding date and reasons as to why it was established. One argument (and one that is surprisingly well-defended even among academics!) is that Abingdon Abbey was originally established by St. Abban who was a hermit who wandered the land and who wanted to give the Britons a place of worship after the Romans left.

Whilst the creation and foundation of the Abbey maybe dubious what is known for certain is that the monks were ruthlessly exterminated at the hands of the Vikings who had no hesitation to murder holy men for profit. The Abbey was stripped of its finery and the relics and other valuables duly pillaged and with the Abbey so violated the Vikings then proceeded to burn it to the ground.