Wallingford - Geography, Character and local government, History, Famous residents and associated persons

41º27N 72º49W, pop (2000e) 43 000. Town in New Haven Co, Connecticut, USA; located along the Quinnipiac R, 8 km/5 mi S of Meriden and 21 km/13 mi N of New Haven; first settled, 1670; in 19th-c known for its production of silver, pewter, and Britannia ware; present town charter created a mayor-council form of government in 1962; birthplace of Moses Yale Beach and Clarence Edward Dutton; railway; high technology industries; metal manufacturing; medical supplies; Hall Elton Building (1847), historic railroad station (1871), Paul Mellon Arts Centre.

Wallingford is a small market town and civil parish in the upper Thames Valley in the English county of Oxfordshire (historically in Berkshire until 1974 reorganization).

Geography

Wallingford sits on the western side of the River Thames. The two are linked by Wallingford Bridge, a notable 900 ft long medieval stone bridge across the Thames and adjacent floodlands.

Character and local government

The centre of Wallingford has the feel of a typical old market town, with a large open town-square around the war memorial, the 17th century arcaded town hall and the church of St Mary-le-More, and flanked by numerous shops. Although only a small town, Wallingford has three ancient churches. Other amenities include the Wallingford Museum, the Corn Exchange theatre, the Cholsey and Wallingford steam railway, a number of public parks (one with a castle ruin) and the annual BunkFest folk festival.

Wallingford is run by a town council consisting of sixteen councillors. Wallingford has an informal twinning link with Wallingford, Connecticut, and formal twinning with Luxeuil-les-Bains, France and Bad Wurzach, Germany.

History

Wallingford grew up around a strategically important crossing point on the River Thames. Thereafter, Wallingford became the chief town of Berkshire and the seat of the county's Ealdorman. At that time, the river at Wallingford was the first point at which the river could be forded. The Domesday Book of 1085 lists Wallingford as one of only eighteen towns in the kingdom with a population estimated at over 2,000 people.

Wallingford Castle was built soon afterwards and became a key strategic centre for the Empress Matilda's party during the civil war that had begun after her father's death.

Wallingford had flourished as a trading centre throughout most of the Middle Ages, and Wallingford Priory produced two of the greatest minds of the age, the mathematician Richard of Wallingford and the chronicler John of Wallingford. This was only revived in the 18th century when the legal writer and Wallingford resident, William Blackstone, established two turnpike roads through the town.

Famous residents and associated persons

For residents, constables and prisoners at the castle, see Wallingford Castle. McClure, mystery writer Ann Packer, athlete Moses Roper, former slave Paul Rotha, documentary film maker Gladys Bronwyn Stern, novelist Thomas Tusser, poet John of Wallingford, chronicler Richard of Wallingford, mathematician and clockmaker William of Wallingford, builder of Wallingford Screen at St Albans Cathedral Rex Warner, writer Peter Cathcart Wason, psychologist

Wallingford used to return two Members of Parliament (cut to one in 1832 and none in 1885), and had some well-known MPs (often not resident) including:

William Seymour Blackstone, builder of Howbery Park, Crowmarsh Gifford John Cator, timber merchant Thomas Digges, astronomer Sir Charles Dilke, 1st Baronet, promoter of The Great Exhibition George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, astronomer George Pigot, Baron Pigot, British governor of Madras Robert Pigot Lieutenant General in the American Revolutionary War Edmund Plowden, lawyer who defended religious freedom Francis Sykes, builder of Basildon Park Nathaniel William Wraxall, writer