Cosener's House facts for kids

The lawn and main building.

The Cosener's House is a special building located in Abingdon, a town in England. It sits right next to the beautiful River Thames. The house is separated from the main town by a small stream that used to belong to the old Abingdon Abbey. It's a place where people come together for important meetings and can even stay overnight.

What is The Cosener's House?

Today, The Cosener's House works as a conference centre. This means it's a place where groups of people, often from different companies or organizations, can meet. They use it for workshops, presentations, and discussions. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) manages the house. The STFC is a big organization that supports science research in the UK. For example, a yearly meeting about computer networks often happens here in July.

Where Does the Name Come From?

The name "Cosener" might sound a bit unusual! It comes from an old French word, Cuisinier. This word means "cook" or "kitchener." In the past, when Abingdon Abbey was active, the "Cuisinier" was the person in charge of all the food for the Abbey. So, the house is named after this important role.

A Building with History

The Cosener's House is known as a "Grade II listed" building. This means it's officially recognized as a building of special historical or architectural importance. Because it's listed, it has extra protection. This helps make sure its unique features and history are kept safe for many years to come.

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