Familiar old face to make town return (From Herald Series)

Iconic Abingdon pub sign to return to its familiar place

3:44pm Friday 25th February 2011 in Abingdon

A familiar old face is set to return to the streets of Abingdon after an absence of nine years.

Pub landlord Dushan Salwathura has had the old sign for The Broad Face, in Bridge Street, restored — and it will be unveiled next Friday.

Mr Salwathura bought the sign after it was discovered in a garage.

The pub dates back as far as 1734, but the sign is believed to belong to the mid-20th century.

Mr Salwathura, who has been at the Greene King pub for 18 months, said: “It is part of the pub’s character and heritage.

“It is an iconic sign and it is a traditional sign. It is important to the pub and to the town.”

Customer Steve King said: “It is great to see an old part of Abingdon reinstated.”

And fellow pub-goer Ian Pugh, 43, said: “The history around the sign is fantastic. It will bring back the heritage of the pub.”