Wallingford
Wallingford is a historic market town and also civil parish located to the south of Oxford on the River Thames in England. Historically situated in the area of Berkshire, it was moved to Oxfordshire for the purposes of administration in 1974. Wallingford is positioned 12 miles (19 km) north of Reading, 13 miles (21 kilometres) south of Oxford as well as 11 miles (18 kilometres) north west of Henley-on-Thames. The town's population was 11,600 in the 2011 census. The town has actually played an essential function in English history starting with the surrender of Stigand to William the Conqueror in 1066, which caused his taking the throne and also the creation of Wallingford Castle. The castle and also the community appreciated royal status and also thrived for much of the Middle Ages. The Treaty of Wallingford, which finished a civil war called The Anarchy between King Stephen as well as Empress Matilda, was signed there. The town then went into a period of decrease after the arrival of the Black Death and falling out of favour with the Tudor monarchs before being called on once again throughout the English Civil War. Wallingford held up as the last remaining Royalist stronghold in Berkshire before giving up after a 16-week siege. Fearing that Wallingford Castle could be made use of in a future uprising, Oliver Cromwell bought its devastation. Ever since Wallingford has actually come to be a market community as well as centre of local commerce. At the centre of the community is a big free market square with the war memorial as well as 17th century arcaded town hall to the south, the Corn Exchange theatre to the east as well as countless look around the sides. Off the square there are alleyways and roads with even more stores as well as a variety of historical inns. Although it was a town, Wallingford when had 14 churches; currently, there are 3 ancient churches within the Church of St Mary-le-More and St Leonard, a contemporary Roman Catholic church, a Quaker Meeting House dating from 1724 and also Baptist, Methodist as well as area churches.
