194 HISTORY OF THE 



The Marquis of Tavistock , 



Stewards. 



I 



Hon. M. Ongley, 



W. Brown, Clerk of the Races. 



BERKSHIRE — ABINGDON. 



A market town, situated on a branch of the 

 Thames, and which derives its name from an 

 ancient abbey. This town is supposed, by Bishop 

 Gibson, to be the place called in the Saxon annals 

 Cloveshoo. The streets, which are well paved, termi- 

 nate in a large open space, in the centre of which 

 stands the market house, which is supported on lofty 

 pillars, with a large hall of freestone above, in 

 which the summer assizes for the county are held, 

 the Lent assizes being held at Reading. The town 

 was incorporated by Queen Mary ; it contains 

 two churches and two hospitals, and its chief 

 manufactures are sail cloth, sacking, and malt, 

 large quantities of which latter article are sent to 

 London by water. It is seven miles south of 

 Oxford, forty-seven east of Gloucester, and fifty- 

 five west of London. The races take place in the 

 beginning of September, when the following stakes 

 are run for : 



First Day, (1839). Sweepstakes of 60 sovs. each, 

 h. ft. for the produce of mares covered in 1835. 

 Colts, 8st. 71b. fillies 8st. 31b ; untried stallions or 

 mares allowed 31b. one mile. 



