Berkshire History for Kids: The Abingdon Riot (Oxfordshire)

Death & Destruction at Abingdon Abbey

The townsfolk of Abingdon were jealous of the Abbot at the Abbey. They didn't like him being in charge of their market.

In 1327, a group of them tried to burn down the Abbey gates. There was a fight and the monks killed two of townsfolk.

The people of Abingdon were very angry. They asked their friends in nearby Oxford to come and help them.

A large mob arrived from Oxford in the middle of the night. The people from both towns burnt down the Abbey gates.

They ran riot within the monastery walls. They attacked the monks in the Abbey Church. One got his arm chopped off!

The Abbot and several monks fled into the River Thames. Some of them drowned trying to escape.

The rioters stole anything of value and burnt all the Abbey's ancient books and manuscripts.

Their leader was a man named Edmund De La Beche from Aldworth. He was the Archdeacon of Berkshire and was supposed to be a religious man!

The Abbot's deputy met the rioters in the woods and agreed that they could do what they liked with their market.

The Abbot complained to the King though. He sent a lot of soldiers and many rioters ran away.

Some of them were caught though. They were hanged at Wallingford Castle.