Wallingford

1. Wallingford

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 week

5. Acknowledgements • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/175/wallingfordcastle.htm • http://www.wallingford.co.uk/history/