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Wallingford

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"WALLINGFORD is a market town, and ancient borough, both corporate and parliamentary, in the hundred of Moreton ; 45 miles W. by N. from London, and 13 S. by E. from Oxford--situated on the banks of the Thames, about 3 miles from the Wallingford-road station on the Great Western Railway... The name, "Wallingford," is said to be derived from Gaullen, or the Roman Vallum, both signifying a place surrounded by a wall or fortification--from which, with its ford over the Thames, is deduced its appellation... The malt trade once flourished here most prosperously ; for a number of years, however, it has been on the decline, yet there still remain some respectable establishments in that business.  Wallingford comprises the parishes of St. Mary the More, St. Peter, St. Leonard, and All Hallows; the three first-mentioned only have churches... There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, Weslyan and Primitive Methodists, and Calvinists. The land round Wallingford is in a high state of cultivation, very fertile, and, though rather flat, the general appearance of the country is cheerful and agreeable... The borough of Wallingford contained, in 1831, 2,467 inhabitants ; and at the last census (1841) 2,824."
[From Pigot & Co's Directory of Berkshire, 1844]

Other descriptions can be found from other periods in various trade directories covering Berkshire from the early 19th century onwards, from Berkshire FHSThe National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868), transcribed by Colin Hinson and from A Vision of Britain Through Time.

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Wallingford Parishes

Wallingford comprises the parishes of St. Mary the More, St. Peter, St. Leonard, and Allhallows;

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Archives & Libraries

In addition to those listed on the Berkshire home page, see the Research Wiki from Family Search (the Church of Latter-day Saints (Genealogical Society of Utah))

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Church History

Further information about some of the churches can be found below:

  • Churches from Wallingford History Gateway
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    Description & Travel

    You can see pictures of Wallingford which are provided by:

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    Gazetteers

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    Historical Geography

    • Wallingford was in the hundred of Moreton
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    History

    • Wallingford Municipal Charities - The records 1628-1978 are held by the BRO (ref. D/QWA)
    • Public House Families of Wallingford 1785 - 1920 by Christina Eke and Lynne Thorpe.  Provides brief details of 41 pubs: the buildings, their history and the families who worked there.
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        Maps

        You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SU609894 (Lat/Lon: 51.600158, -1.122124), Wallingford which are provided by:

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        Poor Houses, Poor Law

        • Wallingford was in the Wallingford Union.  For more information, see Poorhouses.
        • Records of Wallingford Poor Law Union are held at BRO and include Guardians' minute books (1835-1930); 1854-1932); Births (1909-45); Deaths (1909-42); Cottage Homes relief lists (1901-24).