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WALLINGFORD, Description and History from 1868 Gazetteer

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"WALLINGFORD, comprises the parishes of All Hallows, St. Mary-le-More with St. Leonard's, and St. Peter's a post and market town, municipal and parliamentary borough, having exclusive jurisdiction, but locally in the hundred of Moreton, county Berkshire, 15 miles N.W. of Reading, and 13 S.E. of Oxford. It is a station on the Great Western railway.

It is an ancient borough, situated at a ford, on the western bank of the river Thames, and was strongly fortified by the Romans, from which circumstances it derives its name, Guallen in British and Vallum in Latin, each signifying "an old fort." In the Saxon times it continued to be a place of considerable strength, until burnt by the Danes in 1006. In the reign of Edward the Confessor it ranked as a royal prescriptive borough. The honour having become vested in the crown, was given by Richard I. to his brother John. It was subsequently annexed by Act of Parliament to the Duchy of Cornwall, but was granted by Henry VIII., with the castle and manor, to Cardinal Wolsey, who conferred them on his newly-erected college of Christ Church, Oxford. At the commencement of the great rebellion the castle was repaired and garrisoned for the king, and was not surrendered till nearly the close of the war; in 1653 it was dismantled by order of Parliament. All that now remains is a portion of the walls towards the river, mantled with ivy.

The town, which is traversed by the road from Reading to Oxford, consists principally of a spacious market-place and two streets, which are well paved and lighted with gas. It contains a townhall, with market-house beneath, a police-station, mechanics' institute, savings-bank, and the Royal Berks Horticultural Society. The population of the municipal borough in 1861 was 2,793, and of the parliamentary, 7,794. The principal residences are Castle Priory and Castle House. The river Thames is crossed by a stone bridge, constructed, in 1809, of several arches, and about 900 feet in length. Some business is done in malting, but it is not so extensive as formerly.

Wallingford is a borough by prescription, and has received charters from various sovereigns, and, under the Municipal Act, is governed by a mayor, who is returning officer, 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors. It formerly returned two members to parliament, but since the passing of the Reform Act of 1832, only one for an extended district. Petty sessions for the division are held every Friday.

The town formerly contained 13 churches, but now comprises only 4 parishes-All Hallows, St. Mary-le-More with St. Leonard's, and St. Peter's. The living of All Hallows is a sinecure rectory, belonging to Pembroke College, Oxford, the church having been demolished in 1648. The livings of St. Mary and St. Leonard are rectories, in the patronage of the bishop. The church of St. Mary was erected in 1658 out of the materials of the castle. It is surmounted by the figure of a knight on horseback, supposed to represent King Stephen. The church of St. Leonard is old, with Norman traces. The living of St. Peter's is a rectory, value £100. The church, erected in 1769, contains the tomb of Sir William Blackstone. The Independents, Baptists, Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, and Society of Friends have each a chapel. The charities produce about £300 per annum.

There are a grammar, diocesan, and National schools, also infant and Sunday-schools. An almshouse for six widows was founded and endowed by William Angier in 1681. The Poor-law Union of Wallingford comprises 28 parishes or places, 17 of which are in Berks, and 11 in Oxfordshire.

Wallingford formerly conferred the title of viscount on the Earl of Banbury, but it is now merged in the earldom of Abingdon.

On Wittenham Hill, near the town, are remains of an ancient encampment, where many Roman coins have been found. Richard de Wallingford, Abbot of St. Alban's, and John de Wallingford, a monk of that Abbey, were natives. Market-day is on Friday for corn and cattle. Fairs are held on Thursday in Easter week for cattle, and on 29th September for pleasure."

From The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland(1868). Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003