TheWallingford Experience

Transcription

20
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12 ion
it
Wallingford
Experience
Ed
The
Includes history of Wallingford,
places to visit
and shopping guide...
Contents
The Town Information Centre
2
Riverside Moorings
17
Places of Interest in Wallingford
4
A Unique Shopping Experience
18
Wallingford - an Ancient Borough
6
Cholsey & Wallingford Railway
27
Judge Blackstone
11
The Corn Exchange
27
Agatha Christie
12
Nearby Places to Visit
28
Remembering Wilding & Andrew
13
Accommodation
30
Wallingford Museum
14
Website Information & Map
31
Wallingford Rowing Club
15
Weddings in the Town Hall
32
The River Thames
16
Town Information Centre
The Information Centre is operated by the
Town Council covering the local area offering information on who to contact
and where to go for what, directions,
history and what’s on.
Town Information Centre - Undercroft - Town Hall - Market Place
T: 01491 826 972 E: [email protected]
The Wallingford Experience is produced by
Wallingford Town Council
Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents and information contained
in this brochure were correct at time of going to press.
This is a Wallingford publication - Published by: Cllr Dee Cripps - Production by: NP Design & Print Ltd. 01491 824827
WELCOME TO WALLINGFORD
I believe Wallingford has a great
deal to offer the visitor and the
resident. Visit the Town Information
Centre in the Undercroft of the
Town Hall and pick up a leaflet and
follow one of the many maps
around the town. There are lots of
places to see!
Wallingford has a unique heritage,
once boasting one of the most
important and largest castles in
England. The Castle Meadows are steeped in
history and have been awarded the Green
Flag for its natural beauty.
We have strong ties with our neighbours RAF
Benson and have worked very closely with
them throughout the years. They are helping
us with many of this year’s special events
such as The Olympic Torch Relay which
comes through Wallingford in July. A few days
later, to show our appreciation of all the
Armed Forces, they will march through the
town into the Market Place to be greeted by
the Town Council in recognition of our
feelings for them as neighbours, friends and
Freeman of the town. This promises to be a
very colourful, musical and emotional event.
As you walk about our historic town I hope
you get the feeling that Wallingford is a
lived in community, not just a vibrant shopping
area. Many local families have lived-in or close
to its centre for generations and this is
something that we wish to promote and nurture.
We are proud to be individual, special and valued,
and not a town full of cloned high street outlets.
Have a walk around our saxon
Kinecroft, take a book into the
quiet Castle Gardens or sit by the
river and watch the swans or
kingfishers.
While enjoying the river you may
catch a glimpse of Wallingford
Rowing Club out training; many
past and present Olympians have
trained here.
If you are more energetic have a swim in our
heated outdoor pool which is open from May
to September, or play on the new water
feature but mind you don’t get squirted!
Midsomers Murders was partly filmed in
Wallingford and The Corn Exchange has
featured on several occasions. The Sinodun
Players also stage some very good plays and
in January they produce their own
pantomime- always a complete sell-out.
The BunkFest brings many visitors; the whole
town is invaded by people in the strangest of
costumes, doing the oddest dances, but all
having fun.
A dedicated team of volunteers run our local
museum. This year they have produced two
new exhibitions, one of the Diamond Jubilee
and a show case of memorabilia from local
Olympians- not to be missed.
As you can tell I’m very proud of Wallingford
having lived here for the past forty years, and
I would urge you to stay a while and enjoy it
with me.
Throughout the year local organisations put on a variety of events,
to find out more visit out Town Information Centre, or log onto
www.wallingford.co.uk
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Places of Interest
in Wallingford
Wallingford is a small country market town on
the banks of the River Thames about 50 miles
to the west of London. It is well connected by
road and local bus services to Oxford, Reading
and Henley, and the nearby main line railway
station at Cholsey. Wallingford is an ideal place
in which to enjoy a days visit or to take a short
break to explore the surrounding countryside.
The town centre is dominated by the Town
Hall, a timber-framed building constructed near
to the site of the Guild Hall in 1670. It is here
that the Town’s silver-gilt mace (made in 1650
at a cost of £46 18s 3d) is kept, together with
the Town Plate and paintings. The open area
underneath was once used for market stalls. It
now houses the Town Information Centre
which provides information about all of the
local centres of interest and places to stay. The
Charter Market is still held in the Market Place
every Friday, and a Farmers’ Market takes
place on the third Tuesday of each month.
On the east side of the Market Place is the
former Corn Exchange (built in 1856) the roof
of which is supported inside by iron beams
cast by Wilder’s, a local foundry. The Sinodun
Players now own the building and provide a
varied programme of amateur productions,
professional touring companies and up-to-date
films. Agatha Christie, a former president of
the Sinodun Players, lived on the outskirts of
Wallingford for 40 years and is buried nearby
in Cholsey churchyard.
Local history is the theme of Wallingford
Museum which is housed in the medieval, oakbeamed Flint House in the High Street opposite
the Kinecroft. The Wallingford Story is an
exciting ’Sight & Sound’ experience which
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enables you to walk through time from the
Romans and Saxons to the Civil War.
The Regal Centre, a converted cinema near the
Market Place, is now home to many events
including an annual Blues and Beer Festival and
the weekly Country Market (W.I.). Regular
sporting activities also held here include table
tennis, keep fit, short mat bowls and
badminton.
Many of Wallingford’s narrow lanes, and some
of the wider streets, follow the alignment of
the original Saxon roads. Leaflets showing
routes for Walking Tours of the Town are
available from the Town Information Centre
and Wallingford Museum. The routes are
carefully chosen to ensure that visitors get the
most interest from their time here.
In 2001 Wallingford Castle Meadows were
bought by the South Oxfordshire District
Council. The site is managed for informal
The church includes a Morris and Co. design in
one of its windows, and the tomb of Sir William
Blackstone. The church is now home to a
series of concerts during the summer given by
established professional musicians and rising
stars from the Royal School of Music.
Steam buffs must plan to visit the Cholsey and
Wallingford Railway which runs special steam
and theme days from its station in Hithercroft
Road Wallingford to the main line station
at Cholsey.
recreation and, although only a few fragments
of the walls remain, the earthworks and
meadows have undergone a transformation
into a delightful area to walk around and enjoy
the ecological and historical nature of the site.
The Castle Gardens are owned by the Town
Council and provide a colourful haven of peace
and quiet near to the town centre. They have
won numerous awards for their design and
maintenance. The gardens are accessed from
Castle Street at the back of the George Hotel.
Wallingford was important historically because
of its excellent ford, and today the same
crossing place has one of the finest bridges on
the River Thames. At 300m long it is only 5m
shorter than the old London Bridge. The river
has always brought particular delight whether
looking towards the Chilterns or towards the
town from the Crowmarsh side. One of the
more impressive landmarks is the spire of St
Peter’s Church with its delicate open design.
The really energetic visitor should call in at the
Wallingford Sports Park in the south west
corner of the Town. This site is the centre for
cricket, rugby, tennis, football, hockey, skittles
and squash. Or, if being on or in water is more
in your line, then Wallingford offers an openair heated swimming pool by the bridge and a
top class Rowing Club.
To make your visit even more enjoyable,
Wallingford provides a wide variety of places
to eat and drink and to suit all tastes. We offer
traditional English meals and food from India,
Thailand, China, Italy and all forms of snacks
from pub food to pizzas. For visitors who wish
to stay a little longer the town has a 15th
century hotel in the town centre (where legend
has it that Dick Turpin once stayed) and
another hotel on the banks of the River Thames
at nearby Shillingford. Bed-and-breakfast
accommodation, and caravan and camping
sites are also available.
This is just a sample of all the things that
Wallingford has to offer its visitors. For more
information contact the Town Information
Centre. Tel: 01491 826972 (see inside front
cover for more details)
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Wallingford - an Ancient Borough
Wallingford is a town steeped in history.
From the medieval bridge over the
Thames to the grassy banks of its ancient
fortifications, it proclaims a colourful
past. It’s a town of surprises with the
bustle of the Market Place and the
tranquillity of the quiet back-streets a place to explore.
Earliest Times
It was the river that first attracted settlers
to the area and in the Bronze and Iron
Ages the rich soils encouraged farming
communities. The Romans in turn left
traces of occupation - burials, roads,
coins and pottery, but it was left to the
Anglo-Saxons to build the first town.
A large 6th century pagan cemetery
found in Wallingford indicates the early
presence of the Saxon newcomers but by
the 9th century there was another
invasion threat - this time from the
Vikings. King Alfred, the Saxon king of
Wessex, defeated the enemy but to
defend his kingdom against further Viking
attacks he built many fortified towns or
burhs and here the story of the town
really begins.
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The Town is Born
Wallingford was the biggest of Alfred’s
newly fortified towns - as large as his
capital, Winchester. It was enclosed on
three sides by earthen walls, capped with
a wooden palisade and surrounded by a
wet moat - the remains of which can still
be seen today, mostly clearly in the
Kinecroft, Bullcroft and
castle grounds. The river
and a bridgehead formed
the fourth side of the
town’s defence and the
original 9th century street
layout is still largely
unchanged. St Leonard’s
church has surviving
Anglo-Saxon features, and as you shop in
Waitrose, spare a thought for the long
lost Saxon church of St Martin and its
former worshippers who lie quietly
beneath in a large cemetery! Coins were
struck in Wallingford at a Royal Mint and
Saxon kings held land in the town and
kept soldiers here. By 1066, when the
next invader arrived, Wallingford was the
leading town in Berkshire.
1066 and All That!
In 1066, fresh from winning the Battle of
Hastings, William the Conqueror came to
Wallingford seeking a suitable place to
cross the Thames with his army. Wigod,
the lord of Wallingford, welcomed
William, and for their co-operation the
people of Wallingford were given an extra
hour before curfew - 9pm instead of 8pm.
The curfew bell still tolls just before nine,
declaring the king’s ancient favour. One of
William’s knights married Wigod’s
daughter and, on William’s instructions,
the Normans began in 1067 to build a
massive castle here which was to
dominate the
town’s history
for the next
600 years.
Granting of
the Charter
- 1155
The first phase
of Wallingford
Castle
was
complete by 1071 but it was later
expanded to have three walls and ditches
and to be one of the most impressive and
powerful castles in England. During the
12th century Civil War between Queen
Matilda and her cousin
Stephen, Wallingford
was
the
chief
stronghold of the
Queen in central
England and here the
treaty that concluded
the war was first
agreed in 1153.
In 1155, Henry II held his first Great
Council at Wallingford. He openly
rewarded the town for
supporting
his
mother
Matilda, by granting it a
magnificent
Charter
of
Liberties - one of the oldest in
England. Together with many
special
privileges,
this
Charter
confirmed
Wallingford’s ancient rights
to have its own Guild and
Burgesses and to hold regular
markets, traditions which
continue to this day. The
town’s regalia, including the
17th century silver-gilt mace,
are still used and are
displayed in the Town Hall.
The Medieval Town
By the 13th century, Wallingford had 11
parishes, each with its own church - one
of which was also the Priory, a cell of St
Alban’s Abbey. Besides these there was
the Free Hospital of St John, a College of
Canons of St Nicholas in the castle and
two gate chapels.
By the end of the next century, the
ravages of the Black Death had taken
their toll. At least a third of the
townspeople died and only four
churches were left in use. This, together
with the growth of rival towns and the
building of a new bridge at Abingdon as
an alternative route for traders, had led to
a severe economic decline in the life of
the town.
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Royal Connections
The castle belonged to the King but in the
14th century it became part of the Duchy
of Cornwall, passing to the eldest son of
the monarch. It always witnessed
frequent royal visitors and residents,
including King John and his younger son,
Richard Earl of Cornwall, who greatly
extended it. Edward II gave it to his
favourite, Piers Gaveston, who held a
huge tournament in the castle ward in
1307. Edward II’s wife, Isabella, plotted
here against her husband with Roger
Mortimer, who was involved in Edward’s
subsequent murder. Isabella spent her
later life living in the castle. Her
grandson, Edward the Black Prince, kept
Wallingford as his principal residence.
Constables appointed to look after the
castle included Thomas Chaucer (son of
the poet Geoffrey) and William, Duke of
Suffolk, and his wife Alice, (Geoffrey’s
grand-daughter) who were benefactors of
the 15th century school and almshouses
which are still in use in nearby Ewelme.
Also in the 15th century, Owen Tudor had
the task of protecting the young King
Henry VI who was tutored at Wallingford
Castle. Owen formed a liaison with
Henry’s young widowed mother,
Katherine of Valois, and from this affair
came the great line of the Tudor Kings of
England.
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Change & Decay
By the 16th century the castle was
decaying. There was less need for strong
castles in the more settled times of the
Tudors and Henry VIII shipped timber and
lead from Wallingford down river by
barge to enlarge his castle at Windsor.
Wallingford & the Civil War
1642-1651
When a dispute arose between Charles I
and Parliament, Wallingford Castle once
more had a major role to play in a Civil
War. The King, driven out of London, set
up his court in Oxford. Round this
Royalist centre a ring of strongholds was
established to protect the King and
Wallingford Castle was one of them - refortified to meet the challenge of modern
warfare. The Governor,
Colonel Blagge, repaired
the inner castle walls and
demolished the nearby All
Hallows Church to prevent
its use as an enemy gun
emplacement. The king
made several visits to
Wallingford and castle troops
were engaged in many local
skirmishes and battles.
Wallingford
Under Siege
By 1646, events had turned
against the King. He was
forced to leave Oxford, which
surrendered to Parliament in
June. Now only Wallingford
remained,
its
garrison
faithfully holding the town and
castle for the King under the
leadership of Colonel Blagge.
return to their homes.
The
castle
was
then
garrisoned by Parliament and
used as a prison but in 1652
Oliver Cromwell’s Council of
State decided it was too great
a risk to allow it to remain.
They ordered - and paid for its total demolition. The castle
stone was sold and some of it
was used to build a new tower
for St Mary’s church.
After a twelve week siege, the
king was defeated elsewhere,
so honourable surrender
terms were finally agreed.
Colonel Blagge’s men almost
mutinied over lack of pay, but
on July 27th 1646, he led his
gallant garrison out of
Wallingford Castle with full
honours. They were allowed
to march, with their weapons
at the ready, ten miles from
the town before disbanding to
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Wallingford The Later Years
After the demolition of the castle,
Wallingford settled down to its role as an
ordinary market town. Its brewing and
malting industries, together with later
iron-founding, complemented the rural
communities in the surrounding area and
survived until fairly
recently.
Of
the
town’s
numerous
parish
churches there are just
three left today - but
they and the many nonconformist chapels are
worth a visit.
St. Leonard’s
St. Mary’s
St. Peter’s
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St Leonard’s is the
earliest, with late Saxon
work in the walls and
Norman work inside. St
Mary’s was rebuilt in
the 19th century but it
retains the 17th century
tower built from the
castle stone and the
monuments
inside
reflect
the
many
benefactors of the
town. St Peter’s is now
a redundant church but
it is notable for its 18th
century architecture
and spire and as the
burial place of the
famed Sir William
Blackstone who was a
churchwarden, living
most of his later life in
nearby Castle Priory.
He is internationally famed for his law
books, written in Wallingford, which
formed the basis of the Constitution of
the United States. For 21 years, from 1749
to 1770, when he was appointed Justice in
the Court of Common Pleas, he was
Recorder of Wallingford,
presiding over the
Quarter Sessions in
the Town Hall where
there is now a Blue
Plaque in his memory.
The present Roman
Catholic Church in the
Market Place began life as a
Congregational chapel in 1799! The
Baptist Church was founded in 1794 and
the Methodist chapel was built in 1870. A
fine Quaker Meeting House, opened in
1724, is tucked away in Castle Street.
The railway came in 1866 in the form of a
branch line from Cholsey and the ’Bunk',
as it was known, continued until the axe
fell in 1959. Now the Cholsey &
Wallingford Railway Preservation Society
runs the line.
Wallingford continues its long tradition as
a Market Town but today the medieval
stalls have been replaced by a weekly
Friday Market, a monthly Farmers’
Market, and an exciting mixture of
independent businesses, long-established
family shops and a supermarket. It also
seems appropriate that there is a wealth
of antique shops in the town to delight
collectors and browsers with remnants of
the past, whilst the town’s delightful
museum in the High Street brings the
whole Wallingford Story vividly to life.
© Judy & Stuart Dewey 2009
Judge Blackstone & Wallingford
William Blackstone was born in London in
1723, the posthumous son of a silk mercer. He
was orphaned at 12, but through the
generosity of two of his mother’s family,
(Charles and Thomas Bigg, distant kinsmen of
Walter Bigg who founded Wallingford School),
he was educated at Charterhouse, where he
became Head of School. At the age of 15, he
went on to Pembroke College, Oxford to gain
a degree in Civil Law.
In 1741 he entered the Inner Temple in London
and two years later was elected a Fellow of All
Souls College, Oxford where he quickly rose
to become Senior Bursar and acquired a
reputation as a man who got things done.
Meanwhile, he had also been called to the Bar
in London but his inability to speak fluently in
public made him an unsuccessful barrister, so
he left London to become an Oxford
academic. In 1758, after some successful
involvement in University politics, he became
the first Vinerian Professor of Common Law.
He was just 35.
Importantly for Wallingford, he had also taken
over a job from his lawyer uncle, Seymour
Richmond, - that of Recorder of Wallingford an office he held for 21 years, from 1749 to
1770. The Recorder was basically Magistrate
for the Borough which meant that he presided
over the Quarter Sessions held in the Town
Hall. When he was in Wallingford, Blackstone
lived in a house in Thames Street leased for
him by Thomas Bigg. Around 1758, Blackstone
purchased the property which became his
principal home until his death. He
substantially rebuilt the house as an
18th
century
mansion
with
considerably enlarged grounds. It is
now known as Castle Priory.
In 1761 he married Sarah Clitherow
by whom he had nine children. The
following day he was
made King’s Counsel
(KC). Two years later
he was appointed
Solicitor General to
Charlotte, wife of the
future King George III.
Judge Blackstone is
internationally famed
for his books, written
whilst
he
was
a
resident of
Wallingford.
Between 1765 and 1776, he
published four volumes of
lectures called Commentaries on
the Laws of England. It was the first major
attempt to create a reference book on English
civil law and it rapidly became a fundamental
legal textbook, earning him a fortune.
Following the American Declaration of
Independence in 1776, the Commentaries
formed the basis of the new United States
Constitution and legal system and
Blackstone’s is a familiar name to most
Americans.
He gave up his post as Recorder of
Wallingford in 1770 when he was appointed
Justice in the Court of Common Pleas and was
knighted by King George III, but he spent most
of his later life at Castle Priory and was
Churchwarden of St Peter’s. Between 1769
and 1775 he encouraged the re-building of
St Peter’s Church and he donated
money towards the Spire and gave the
Communion Silver.
He suffered ill-health towards the end
of his life and died at the age of 57
on 14 February 1780 - he is buried in
St Peter’s Church where there
is a memorial to him.
© 2007 Judy & Stuart Dewey
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Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie, ‘The Queen of Crime’, is one
of Wallingford’s best kept secrets. She and her
husband, the eminent archaeologist Sir Max
Mallowan, lived at Winterbrook House on the
outskirts of Wallingford from 1934 until her
death in 1976. She and Sir Max owned other
houses in Devon and London, but Wallingford
was ‘home’ according to her grandson
Mathew Pritchard. Here she found the peace
to write many of her later novels. Wallingford
is mentioned in Cards on the Table (1936) and
descriptions of ‘Market Basing’ in Dumb
Witness (1937) are thought to refer to
Wallingford.
She took care to avoid any local publicity but
she agreed to become President of The
Sinodun Players drama group in 1951 and
thoroughly enjoyed attending performances,
especially pantomimes, of which she was very
fond. A series of letters testify to her
involvement and form part of a special
exhibition about her at Wallingford Museum.
She died in the week that the Sinodun Players
announced their intention to convert the Corn
Exchange to a theatre.
Her husband Sir Max Mallowan, writing
shortly after Agatha’s death, commented:
‘What was truly valuable in Wallingford was
her privacy and freedom from social
involvement for in this way she was able to
devote her time to creative work which gave
pleasure to millions.’
Winterbrook House lies just within the Parish
of Cholsey and Agatha was a regular
worshipper at Cholsey Church. She is buried
with Sir Max in the north-west corner of
Cholsey churchyard – a place of pilgrimage for
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visitors from all over the world who have
enjoyed her eighty novels and short story
collections and her plays. More than two
billion copies of her books have been sold
worldwide in more than forty-five languages.
The murder theme in Wallingford is also
known worldwide through the Midsomer
Murders television series where the town has
featured as ‘Causton’, home of Inspector
Barnaby, in several episodes. The first was
Death of a Hollow Man, set in the ‘Causton
Theatre’ (Wallingford Corn Exchange).
Several of the Sinodun Players appear
regularly as supporting artistes.
© 2011 Judy & Stuart Dewey
Remembering Wilding & Andrew
On the 9th September 1944, the 426
(Thunderbird) Squadron, 4 Group, Bomber
Command, of the Royal Canadian Air Force
left Linton-on-Ouse, York. They were to make
a sortie to Le Havre but the weather made it
impossible to bomb with accuracy and the
attack was called off.
One Halifax VII bomber, NP68I was hit by flak.
To land safely back in Linton several bombs
were ditched in the English Channel, leaving
ten 500lb bombs on board. The plane was
engulfed in smoke and flames. The pilot, John
Wilding, gave the order to abandon the
aircraft. MacKay, the rear gunner, advised that
the turret was unserviceable. Wilding told him
not to panic, to do the best he could to get out
saying “I’ll try to hold it”.
MacKay using his feet pushed until the door
gave way. An explosion followed and he rolled
out through a sheet of flames and landed with
an injured left leg.
The wireless operator, Thorb (Tommy)
Thompson bailed out, as did the navigator,
Ed O’Meara. The bomb aimer, Len Irving, was
the last to leave by the front hatch.
During its last few moments the aircraft
was guided between Wallingford and
Benson. It was seen to turn over on its
back and spin in.
The plane came down at Newnham
Murren, Crowmarsh, about 500 yards
from the eastern boundary of Wallingford.
Three tons of bombs still aboard, the
aircraft exploded, the blast shaking the
town’s buildings and shattering windows.
John Wilding’s body was found a few hundred
yards away from the crater where the
aircraft hit.
Pilot: Flying Officer J.A.Wilding, DFC RCAF
(killed) aged 23 from New York.
Crew: Sgt J.F.Andrew, RAF Voluntary Reserve,
(killed) aged 22 from Wales.
John Andrew’s body was found about twentyfive yards away from John Wilding with his
parachute harness attached, his parachute
pack lying unopened
beside his body.
Flying
Officer
J.A.Wilding, although
from New York City,
emigrated with his
family from Bolton in
Lancashire. He was
on his 20th sortie. He
is buried in the
Brookwood Military
Cemetery in Woking,
Surrey. For his actions
with the Squadron he
was awarded the
DFC and an MiD
posthumously.
Sergeant J.F.Andrew,
is buried in Kerry
Cemetery, Powys. He
was credited with
15 sorties.
On the 21st May 1960 a
cairn and plaque in memory
of the two airmen who were
killed was unveiled. It
stands at the junction of
Wilding and Andrew roads
which are named after
them.
A service of Thanksgiving
and Remembrance has been
a statutory part of the Town events and every
9th September the Canadian flag flies over the
town hall.
Flying Officer E.N.O’Meara RCAF.
Flight Sgt R.M.Irving RCAF.
Flight Sgt R.T.Thompson RCAF.
Flight Sgt G.W.McCreary RCAF.
Flight Sgt P.W.MacKay RCAF (injured).
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Welcome to Wallingford Museum
Wallingford Museum is a
colourful and delightfully
intimate local history
museum, housed on two
floors in the medieval
oak-beamed Flint House
opposite the Saxon
ramparts in the Kinecroft and next to the Public
Library. There is ample car-parking behind the
nearby Waitrose.
Run entirely by volunteers, the Museum
opened in 1981 and expanded in 2005. If you
can, allow 11/2 hours for your visit - but if you
keep your season ticket you can always come
back again!
The permanent displays tell The Wallingford
Story – from before the existence of the town
through the Saxon burh and royal medieval
stronghold to the modern day. At the heart of
this is our free audio-tour – no captions to read
but instead an unfolding maze brought to life by
commentary, music and sound effects. A scale
model of Wallingford Castle reveals its
enormous size and there's a special exhibit
about Wallingford Priory - a cell of St Alban's
Abbey where the famous medieval clockmaker,
Richard of Wallingford, was adopted by
the monks.
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Elsewhere, in the Victorian Courtyard there is
a walk-in shop, a pub, a workshop and a
Workhouse peep-show. The Transport Gallery
tells the story of river, road and railway, with
historic photographs, models of Wallingford
Bridge, Thames weirs and Wallingford Station.
Special features on local celebrities include
Judge Blackstone, author of the famous
Commentaries on the Laws of England which
influenced the Constitution and laws of the
USA; Dame Agatha Christie, 'Queen of
Crime', who lived in the town for forty years;
and a group of Victorian Artists, the Leslie &
Hayllar families and their neighbour Claude
Rowbotham.
Each year sees new special exhibitions and the
museum is always family friendly with activities
such as 'Touchy Feely' drawers and digging in
sandpits for real archaeological finds.
Wallingford Museum is open every year from
March to November, 2.00-5.00pm every
weekday except Monday, 10.30am-5.00pm on
Saturdays and 2.00-5.00pm on Sundays (JuneAug) & Bank Hols. Accompanied children are
free and adult tickets give unlimited admission
all season. For details of prices, group & school
visits (inc. out of hours) and guided walks - see
www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk
Wallingford Rowing Club
Wallingford has always been well known
and famous for the river, indeed taking its
name from the crossing it provided to
people and animals. A whole host of
people are still actively using the river,
especially the town’s oarsmen and
women. The Rowing Club is situated in an
old part of the town by the river on the
longest stretch of water on the “Upper
Thames”. This six and a half mile stretch
between the locks of Benson and Cleeve
gives plenty of uninterrupted water for its
members to train on.
Great Britain’s
youngest male
Olympian; Ken
Lester, a cox in
the 1960 Rome
Olympics was
born in the
same year as
the Rowing Club
was founded. He is still living in
Wallingford and continues to enjoy using
the Club’s facilities.
In the club’s relatively young history (over
60 years) crews from Wallingford have
become feared and respected by other
boat clubs all over the country. They have
had success on several occasions at
Henley Royal Regatta and many of the
members have represented Great Britain
at the World Championships and Olympic
Games.
New members and visitors, both active
and social are always welcome.
For further information visit
www.wallingfordrc.co.uk
15
The River Thames
A sight not to be missed is Royal Swan Upping,
an annual ceremonial voyage along the River
Thames in which a census of the swan
population is taken. It takes place during the
third week in July of each year.
Welcome to the River Thames which flows
through South Oxfordshire for approximately
48 miles, the longest stretch of the river in any
one county.
One of the many ways to explore the Thames
is by boat and organised boat trips run in the
summer months from the Riverside Park.
Our Riverside Park has recently undergone
refurbishment with easy access and plentiful
parking. It’s the perfect venue for you to enjoy
a picnic, the outdoor heated swimming pool
and the paddling pool.
Nearby Benson has rowing boats, canoes and
motorboats for hire by the hour.
Alternatively, for the more energetic, you
could walk the Thames Path. Our stretch of the
Thames at Wallingford is one of the most
beautiful in the country.
If its camping or caravanning you’re after, here
are two superb sites within easy walking
distance of the river and town.
Riverside Park
The Street, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford
Oxfordshire OX10 8EB
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 835232
16
Bridge Villa Caravan & Camping
The Street, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford
Oxfordshire OX10 8HB
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 836860
Riverside Moorings
Find out more about the town at the Museum
located in the High Street and the Town
Information Centre in the Market Place, while
you are there why not visit the Corn Exchange
which is featured as Causton in the TV
drama Midsomer Murders, then relax in
one of the many coffee shops, pubs
and restaurants.
For visitors to the town arriving by way of the
river, there are excellent moorings located just
north of, and very close to, the ancient
Wallingford Bridge. To tie up here brings one
close to the centre of historic Wallingford
having travelled through the beautiful South
Oxfordshire countryside, the setting for Jerome
K. Jerome’s story, ‘ Three Men In a Boat ’ and
the stretch of river used by the Oxford Boat
Race crew for training.
What better spot to stay awhile with excellent
moorings on both sides of the river with on-site
facilities which include waste, recycling
facilities and a stand pipe for the collection of
water. The shower block is situated within the
campsite and the swimming pool area.
Welcome to Wallingford moorings and the
gateway to a wonderful experience.
Resting here beside the ancient bridge one can
absorb some of Wallingford’s history. All this
and only a few minutes walk from the centre of
town for some shopping, with many small
independent shops to explore including The
Lamb Antiques Arcade.
17
Welcome to Wallingford - a Unique Shopping Experience...
Clothing, Interior Design shop, Travel Agents,
Bookshop, Tea & Coffee shop with its own
blends, and of course Pettits, South
Oxfordshire’s leading Department Store.
Wallingford today offers a wonderful mix of
old and new. We have it all; unspoilt riverside
with a towpath beside the meadows, heated
open air swimming pool, landscaped acres of
the Kinecroft & Bullcroft Park, prize winning
Castle Gardens, an ancient town centre with
c17th Town Hall and narrow Saxon streets
which house many excellent and varied shops.
We start our visit in the High Street with its
Antique shops and Goldsmiths. The Lamb
Arcade, once an old coaching inn, is now a
unique shopping experience, at the crossroads
Waitrose have a quality superstore. Walk a
little further and you will find a Health &
Fitness Centre and a shop specialising in
Violins, Violas and Cellos.
Apart from the Town Hall and Corn Exchange
in the Market Place you can find a Chemists,
Stationers and Ladies Fashion Shops.
St Mary’s Street is full of surprises with Art &
Craft materials, Antiquarian and Second-hand
bookshops, Sportswear, Bridal Centre, Shoe
Repairers, Toy Shop, Christian Book Shop,
Cycle Centre, Beauty Salon plus Hats and
Accessories for every occasion. Leading on to
St Leonard’s Square where a Patchwork and
Quilting Centre can be found.
Wander down St Martin’s Street where there
is a jeweller with New, Second-hand and
Antique Jewels, Ladies Fashion Accessories &
18
You will find the area surrounding St Mary’s
Arcade has been sympathetically restored as
a delightful shopping area with a picturesque
courtyard, Beauty Salon, Craft Shop and
trendy Photographers all of which can be
found here.
Seek out St Peter’s Place where they have a
specialist Lighting and Accessories shop,
Unisex Hairdressers, Curtain Design Centre, a
Sales & Hire Centre,
Castle Street is home to an Office Supplies
shop and a Thai Restaurant situated in the
historical cellars of the Lamb Arcade.
If our specialist shops are not enough to tempt
you, then we can help you with everything
from Accountants to planning your wedding in
the Town Hall. If it’s Markets you’re interested
in we have plenty including the weekly Friday
Charter Market, Country Market and on the
3rd Tuesday of every month we have an
extensive Farmers Market on the market
place and Local Producers Market in the
Regal Centre.
We have it all - Culture, History, the River
Thames and Shops with friendly staff. There
are also plenty of inviting Pubs, Restaurants
and Cafes for you to relax in and enjoy.
We look forward to sharing all of this with you!
HIGH STREET
Left hand side from bridge
HIGH STREET
Right hand side from bridge
Wallingford Tandoori
4 High Street
01491 836249
Summers Davies Antiques
Calleva House 6 High Street
01491 836284
Mike Ottery Antiques
16 High Street
01491 836429
Castle Osteopathic & Natural Health Clinic
23 High Street
01491 838363
Spirit Hair Salon
23-24 High Street
01491 834155
Forresters Hair Salon
25 High Street
01491 837523
O’Donnell Antiques
26 High Street
01491 839332
Brooker & Breeze - Goldsmiths
27 High Street
01491 835050
San Sicario - Italian Restaurant
28 High Street
01491 834078
The Gallery
30 High Street
01491 828202
The Boat House - Bar & Grill
103 High Street
01491 834100
The Gate House - Public House
High Street
01491 824406
Classic Cleaners - Laundry & Dry Cleaners
91 High Street
01491 837112
Avanti Italian Restaurant
85 High Street
01491 835500
The George Hotel
High Street
01491 836665
19
HIGH STREET
Right hand side from bridge
Wallingford Squash Club & Sports Shop
86 High Street
01491 835072
Thomas Merrifield - Estate Agents
72 High Street
01491 833833
NatWest Bank
High Street
0845 6041604
Stan James Racing - Bookmakers
68 High Street
The Lamb Arcade - Lifestyle Centre,
featuring; Antiques, Vintage, Retro Relics,
and Modern Classics
83 High Street
01491 835166
Oxfam - Charity Shop
81 High Street
01491 834179
Mary Handy
Hair & Beauty Salon
80 High Street
01491 598323
Delhi Brasserie - Indian Restaurant
66 High Street
01491 824597 or 01491 826666
Smarts Fish & Chips - Takeaway
64 - 65 High Street
01491 824411
Wallingford Museum
Flint House
High Street
01491 835065
Welcome - Chinese Take Away
79 High Street
01491 839112
Anokhi Cuisine - Bangladeshi and
Indian Restaurant
76 High Street
01491 838077
Waters Violins
75 High Street
01491 825616
Style Acre Charity Shop
74 High Street
01491 824627
Thames Valet - Dry Cleaners & Launderers
73 High Street
01491 834077
20
Wallingford Library
High Street
01491 837395
The Cross Keys - Public House
48 High Street
01491 826377
MARKET PLACE
Branching Out - Florist
13 Market Place
01491 833366
Mistral - Ladies Fashion
14 Market Place
01491 832797
Cancer Research - Charity Shop
17 Market Place
01491 837475
KP Stationers
18 Market Place
01491 837979
Julian Graves - Niche Health Foods
1 Market Place
01491 839564
Barclays Bank
2 Market Place
0845 7555555
Costa Coffee
3 Market Place
01491 837990
Lloyds Bank
4 Market Place
0845 0723333
Post Office
Rear of Feathers Yard
01491 837979
Lloyds Pharmacy
20 - 21 Market Place
01491 836206
Coral Bookmakers
23 Market Place
0800 242232
Helen & Douglas House - Charity Shop
24 Market Place
01491 833589
Corn Exchange - Theatre & Cinema
Market Place
01491 825000
Greggs Bakers
6 Market Place
01491 836267
Boots The Chemist
7 - 8 Market Place
01491 839061
First Edition - Ladies Fashion & Shoes
9 Market Place
01491 837195
Wallingford Town Information Centre
Undercroft, Town Hall, Market Place
01491 826972
21
ST MARY’S STREET
Left hand side from High Street
Artmatters - Art & Craft Materials
1 St Mary’s Street
01491 826686
HomeBase Management - Letting Agents
16(B) St Mary’s Street
01491 824470
The Dolphin - Public House
01491 837377
Just Trading of Wallingford Ltd
01491 824778
Clarks - Shoe Retailers
01491 836112
The Bridelicious Boutique
01491 826699
Allen & Harris - Estate Agents
01491 835135
Champion & Co Ltd - Ironmongers
01491 836271
House of Cards - Greetings Cards etc
01491 826750
Toby English - Antiquarian and Second
Hand Bookshop
01491 836389
Chancellors - Estate Agents
01491 837567
Pizza Express
01491 833431
Shoes in Twos
01491 826620
Nationwide Building Society
01491 881800
22
Sportswise
01491 834585
Elaine Mathews - Dressmaker
07880 973252
Feet First - Shoe Repairs & Travel Goods
01491 825224
Thames Hair Salon - Barbers
01491 837124
Buskers Gift Centre
01491 839771
Kev’s Toy Shop
01491 825136
The Fountain Christian Bookshop
21b St Mary’s Street
01491 839511
Julies - Ladies Hairdressers
01491 836030
Beauty Corner
01491 836626
Beijing Diner - Chinese Restaurant
01491 826908
The Partridge - Country Pub & Eating
01491 825005
ST MARY’S STREET
Right hand side from High Street
Rags in Bags - Ladies Wear
53a St Mary’s Street
01491 838819
Classic Beauty - Beauty Salon
01491 832432
Indigo Rye - Hairdressers
01491 834141
Patricia Hayselden & Partners - Opticians
01491 835466
Full Circle - Travel Agents
01491 834827
Mary Brookes - Ladies Fashion
01491 838110
Bloc Brazilian - Coffee Shop
07812 101604
A Step Ahead - Hair Studio
01491 832323
Mr Simms - Olde Sweet Shop
56a St Mary’s Street
Oxfam - Charity Shop
53b St Mary’s Street
01491 835831
Pettits of Wallingford - Department Store
46 - 50 St Mary’s Street
01491 835253
The Gallery Coffee Shop
First Floor
Pettits of Wallingford
46 - 50 St Mary’s Street
01491 835253
Cutler Architects
01491 838130
JP Knight - Property Agents
01491 834349
The Coachmakers Arms Tavern
01491 832231
Louise Claire Millinery
01491 826244
23
ST MARTINS STREET
Right hand side from High Street
The Old Post Office Restaurant
St Martin’s Street
01491 839348
Wallingford Bookshop
10c St Martin’s Street
01491 834383
Rides on Air - Cycle Shop
11 St Martin’s Street
01491 836289
Triangle Travel
01491 825155
Waitrose
01491 832030
Sue Ryder - Charity Shop
01491 825714
Taylors Estate Agents
01491 836651
U.S.A Takeaway
01491 835777
Blockbusters Video
01491 825398
Salvador’s Deli
5a St Martin’s Street
01491 825708
Lesters - Estate Agents
01491 824000
Wallingford Tea &
Coffee Shop
01491 836263
Robert Stanley Opticians
01491 837033
The Flower Studio - Florist
01491 825365
Care Dry Cleaners
10b St Martin’s Street
01491 837318
24
ST MARTINS STREET
Left hand side from High Street
MGJ Jewellers Ltd
01491 834336
Bijoux Gallerie Ltd - Gifts and Jewellery
01491 835485
Occasions Unlimited - Cards & Gifts
1b St Martin’s Street
Sibos - Mens Hairdressers
01491 838505
Bloomers - Sandwich Bar & Restaurant
01491 825465
Masterfloors
01491 833701
Down To Earth - Local Produce
01491 837711
Gary Smith Butchers & Fishmongers
01491 833553
Swaggers - Fashion Accessories & Clothing
01491 824022
ST MARY’S ARCADE
ST LEONARD’S SQUARE
Poppycraft - Craftwork Materials
1 St Mary’s Arcade
01491 833344
Pizza Cafe
01491 826222
Hornsby Dunmore Gift Emporium
01491 825742
More Than Images
5-7 St Mary’s Arcade
0800 5427852
Village Fabrics - Patchwork &
Quilting Supplies
4-5 St Leonard’s Square
01491 204100
Look In - Hairdressing for Men
St Leonard’s Square
07710 479003
The Green Tree - Public House
St Leonard’s Square
01491 835355
25
CASTLE STREET
Boots Opticians
Incorporating Dollond & Aitchison
I Castle Street
01491 833200
Hong Kong House - Chinese Take Away
2 Castle Street
01491 835453
Higgs - Printing & Office Supplies
3 Castle Street
01491 837205
In-House Estate Agents
4 Castle Street
01491 839999
The Thai Corner
Lamb Arcade
Castle Street
01491 825050
ST PETERS PLACE
Clean Machine - Sales & Hire Centre
1-2 St Peters Place
01491 825600
A.G. Curtain Design
3 St Peters Place
01491 834238
First Cut - Ladies Hairdresser
4 St Peters Place
01491 833225
26
Illumin-Nation Ltd - Lighting & Accessories
5 St Peters Place
01491 833505
Cholsey & Wallingford Railway
The Cholsey and Wallingford
Railway has been preserving
Wallingford’s railway heritage since 1981.
Visitors are always welcome to look around on
non-running days. There is usually somebody
at the station on most weekends.
The ex-GWR branch line runs for nearly 3
miles through the countryside and terminates
at the village of Cholsey. From here
passengers may board trains to Reading,
Oxford and beyond.
The railway is a non profit making charitable
trust which is staffed entirely by volunteers.
If you could become a volunteering member
and help out at the railway please come along
- you will receive a warm welcome.
The railway society has 5 residential heritage
diesel locomotives and various visiting steam
engines; all of our passenger carrying rolling
stock is over 50 years old.
The railway is open for passengers on
approximately 35 days per year between
Easter and Christmas. Special events are
run at Easter, Halloween, Christmas and
at BunkFest.
The Corn Exchange
The Corn Exchange
Theatre, Cinema & Bar
Films, Theatre, Comedy, Music and a
warm welcome at Wallingford’s
independent cinema and theatre.
Bar open Friday and Saturday morning
and pre-show in the evening.
Box office open for callers and phone
bookings 10:00 - 13:00 Friday and
Saturday and 19:00 - 20:00 every
evening.
01491 825000
CornExchange.org.uk
Facebook.com/CornExchangeWallingford
27
Nearby Places to Visit
Whether you are visiting the
Town for a day or planning a
longer break to enjoy the
surrounding area, there are
opportunities to make the best of
your visit whatever your age
or interests.
The Island Farm Donkey
Sanctuary in the nearby village
of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell is an
independent charity dedicated to
the welfare of mistreated and
neglected donkeys. Visitors are
welcomed throughout the year
but it is recommended that you
telephone first to make sure that
the staff are available to show
you around.
Earth Trust Estate owns and
manages the Wittenham Clumps,
Little Wittenham Nature Reserve,
a conservation farm, arboretum
and runs an exciting education
programme. The Trust runs a
varied programme of events
throughout the year including
guided
walks,
lambing
weekends, craft workshops,
farm visits and The Clumps Club
for children. Project Timescape
is Earth Trust’s new visitor and
education centre based near the
Wittenham
Clumps.
Visitors can become a scientist
for the day and perform
experiments, handle skeleton
bones and discover how their
actions today will change the
landscape in the future.
A little further afield is the
Pendon Museum in the village of
Long Wittenham with its railway
28
of a previous age in miniature or
the Great Western Society’s
Didcot Railway Centre with its
“steam days”, specialist museum
and tea shop.
Crowmarsh Gifford stands across
the
River
Thames
from
Wallingford where access to the
Riverside Park is from the eastern
end of the bridge.
The church was
originally built in
1122 as the chapel
of a leper colony
that was looked
after by monks
from Wallingford
Priory.
For those who
enjoy
walking,
Wallingford is one
stop along the
Thames Path which runs for 185
miles from its source to the sea;
for example, Benson Lock is a
pleasant summer’s day walk away.
Many places along the path are
served by regular buses from
Wallingford which enable you to
plan as long or short a walk as
time permits. You may wish to
travel to Moulsford and walk on
the Wessex Downs, or go on to
Goring with its stunning views
from the Berkshire side and visit the variety of
village shops and teashops. It is said that the
river bank between Streatley and Pangbourne
provided the inspiration for Kenneth Graham’s
Wind in the Willows.
The local buses also cross the Ridgeway
National Trail which follows much of the 85
miles long Ridgeway from its start at Avebury.
On the same road is Basildon Park which is
owned by the National Trust. The 18th century
mansion was used to accommodate soldiers
during both world wars and was rescued and
restored by the late Lord and Lady Iliffe.
Dorchester stands just off
the road between Wallingford
and Oxford and close to the
confluence of the rivers Thames
and Thame. In Saxon times it
was the seat of a bishopric
that stretched north as far as
Lincolnshire. The church of the
great abbey, which dates from
the
late
12th
century,
still remains.
The attractive village of Ewelme,
some 3 miles from Wallingford,
has medieval origins that are still
visible in the school. The
almshouses and the 15th century
church were restored by
Geoffrey Chaucer’s granddaughter Alice. The ancient
watercress beds at Ewelme
have recently been restored and
teas are offered in the school
on most Sundays in the
summer season.
Maharajah of Benares in India to his friend Mr
E A Reade of Ipsden. The cast iron cover and
elephant on the well head were cast by
Wilder’s in Wallingford.
Hadden Hill Golf Club is a club that welcomes
visitors to play the full-length 18-hole course
(6,563 yard) and use the floodlit driving
range, putting green and par 3 course.
The golf course is laid out over gently
undulating parkland with wonderful views on
the back nine over the downs. The greens are
of an exceptionally high standard and the
whole course is extremely well drained and
playable throughout the whole year. Hadden
Hill is located between Wallingford and
Didcot.
South Oxfordshire is supporting Sustrans, the
national cycle trail. Part of the route between
Reading and Oxford passes through
Wallingford and on to Didcot.
For those seeking the more rural activities, the
Judge’s Ride is a local circular route for the
enthusiastic horse-rider.
A few miles away, set in the
Chilterns at Stoke Row, is the
Maharajah’s Well which was
built in 1864 as a gift from the
29
Accommodation in and around Wallingford
Hotels:
The George Hotel
(Hotel 3 Star)
High Street,
Wallingford,
Oxfordshire,
OX10 OBS
Telephone:
+44 (0) 1491 836665
The Springs Hotel & Golf Club (Hotel 3 Star)
Wallingford Road, North Stoke, Wallingford,
Oxfordshire, OX10 6BE
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 836687
The Shillingford Bridge Hotel
Shillingford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 858567
The White Hart Nettlebed (Hotel 3 Star)
Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, RG9 5DD
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 641245
Marsh House (Bed and Breakfast 4 Star)
Court Drive, Shillingford, Wallingford,
Oxfordshire, OX10 7ER
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 858496
Fords Farm - Silver Award (Bed and Breakfast 4 Star)
Ewelme, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 6HU
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 839272
Alouette (Bed and Breakfast 4 Star)
2 Caldicott Close, Shillingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 7HF
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 858600
The Grange (Bed and Breakfast 3 Star)
The Grange, Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire, OX13 40H
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 407808
Hill Farm (Bed and Breakfast 3 Star)
Newington, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 7AL
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 891173
Stag Hall (Bed and Breakfast 3 diamond)
Stoke Row Road, Kingwood, Oxfordshire, RG9 5NX
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 680338
The White Hart Hotel (Hotel 3 Star)
26 High Street, Dorchester on Thames,
Oxfordshire, OX10 7HN
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 340074
North Moreton House (Bed and Breakfast 5 diamond)
North Moreton, Oxfordshire, OX11 9AT
Telephone: +44 (0) 1235 813283
The George Hotel (Hotel 3 Star)
High Street, Dorchester on Thames,
Oxfordshire, OX10 7HH
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 340404
Stapletons Chantry (Bed and Breakfast 4 diamond)
Long Wittenham Road, North Moreton,
Oxfordshire, OX11 9AX
Telephone: +44 (0) 1235 818900
Bed & Breakfasts:
Little Gables B & B (Bed and Breakfast 4 Star)
166 Crowmarsh Hill, Wallingford,
Oxfordshire, OX10 8BG
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 837834
Mays Farm (Bed and Breakfast 4 diamond)
Ewelme, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 6QF
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 641294
Wittas Ham Cottage (Bed and Breakfast 4 diamond)
High Street, Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire, OX14 4QH
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 407686
Huntington House (Bed and Breakfast 3 Star)
18 Wood Street, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 0AX
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 839201
Brookside (Bed and Breakfast 4 diamond)
Brook Street, Benson, Wallingford,
Oxfordshire OX10 6LJ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 838289
Oxford Holiday Cottage (Self Catering 4 Star)
Haddow Close, Sires Hill, Little Wittenham,
Oxfordshire, OX11 9BG
Telephone: +44 (0) 1235 512519
Perch and Pike (Inn 4 Star)
The Street, South Stoke, Oxfordshire, RG8 0JS
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 872415
The Kingsfisher Inn (Bed and Breakfast 4 diamond)
27 Henley Road, Shillingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 7EL
Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 858595
Fyfield Manor - (Bed and Breakfast 4 Star)
Benson, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 6HA
Telephone: +44 (0) 1491 835184
30
Wallingford Town Council cannot accept responsibility for the quality of the above accommodation.
Website information & Map
Cholsey and Wallingford Railway Preservation Society,
24 hour information: 01491 835067 - www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com
Corn Exchange Cinema & Theatre: 01491 825000 - www.cornexchange.org.uk
Didcot Railway Centre: 01235 817200 - www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
Dorchester Abbey: www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk
Ewelme Cress Beds: 01491 872795/835173 - www.chilternsociety.org.uk
Hadden Hill Golf Club: 01235 510410 - www.haddenhillgolf.co.uk
Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary: 01491 833938 - www.donkeyrescue.org.uk
Earth Trust: 01865 407792 - www.northmoortrust.co.uk
Nuffield Place: 01491 641224 - www.nuffield-place.com
Pendon Museum: 01865 407365 - www.pendonmuseum.com
Ridgeway National Trail & The Thames Path: 01865 810224 - www.nationaltrail.co.uk
Wallingford Museum: 01491 835065 - www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk
Wallingford Rowing Club: www.wallingford.rowing.org.uk
Wallingford Sports Park: 01491 835044 - www.southoxon.gov.uk
CAMP
SITE
RIVERSIDE
PARK
ST. PETERS
CAMP
SITE
ST.
MARYS
How to get here by public transport:
ST. LEONARDS
T: 01491 837 988
E: [email protected]
W: www.thames-travel.co.uk
National Traveline: 0870 608 2608
31
The Centre of Attraction
Weddings at Wallingford Town Hall
Your wedding day is one of the most important
days in your life and Wallingford Town Hall
provides the ideal setting to make it a day
to remember.
Situated in the centre of the town, and within
easy reach of the main car parks, it is a timberframe building that was constructed in 1670. The
two public rooms are on the first floor and the
main room has good views over the Market
Place. Access is via an external stone staircase;
however, a stairlift is available on an internal
staircase for people with mobility difficulties.
The main room gives an all-pervading sense of
the history of the town. On the walls are boards
listing all mayors since 1231 and portraits of
major town benefactors look down upon the
ceremony. This room can comfortably
accommodate up to 60 guests.
For more intimate ceremonies the smaller
Committee Room has the perfect ambience for
up to 20 guests. This room has more portraits,
and also has a display cabinet containing the
Town Plate including the mace that is dated
1650 and is said to have been copied for the
mace of the House of Commons.
The décor of both rooms has been carefully
designed to be in keeping with the period of the
building and to provide a suitable backdrop for
the all-important photographs.
Receptions, Special Occasions,
Conferences & Exhibitions
Are you looking for that distinctive location for
a reception or dinner party, conference,
exhibition or other special occasion?
The Town Hall could be the ideal venue...
For further information, fees and booking options please contact:
Wallingford Town Council, 9 St. Martin’s St., Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 0AL
Tel: 01491 835373
Web: www.wallingford.co.uk
With thanks to Dee Cripps, Kevin Harvey, Mark Phillips and Christian Sinkinson for the use of various photographs in this brochure.

TheWallingford Experience

Transcription

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