Wallingford

Why did people settle in Wallingford?

• Wallingford provided a good place to cross the river

• Some crossed the river in boats

• Now it has a long river bridge – it is only slightly shorter than London Bridge

• Wallingford became a busy town

What can buildings or sites tell us about the past?

• William the Conqueror crossed the Thames at Wallingford on his way to Londonfollowing the Battle of Hastings

• William built Wallingford Castle

• The town was surrounded by walls – some can still be seen today

• The royal family used to stay there and go hunting in the woods

• The castle was demolished by the order of Oliver Cromwell in 1646

• There is a secret tunnel from the castle to the main street in case the king needed to escape!

• The castle used to mint its own coins

What can buildings or sites tell us about the past?• Corn Exchange: built in 1856

• Several corn merchants joined together and raised the money needed to build it

• Converted into a cinema and theatre

• Wallingford received its charter over 800 years ago

• The Town Hall was built in the 1600s• The Town Council meet there• It is in the Market Place• Today there are two markets each

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Acknowledgements

• http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/175/wallingfordcastle.htm

• http://www.wallingford.co.uk/history/