1604

Griffin Payne, mayor of Wallingford Borough and parliamentary representative, is called to the bar for making an offensive speech. It is ruled that henceforward no mayor can be elected to the House to represent any city, borough or town.

1616

Sir Thomas Bennett of the London Company of Mercers and a native of the parish of Clapcot sets up a fund to distribute ?20 a year to fifteen elderly poor who were regular church attenders. There is a memorial to his father in the graveyard of All Hallows' Church, Castle Street. Thomas Howard is appointed governor of Wallingford Castle,

Charles I

1626

Charles I?s soldiers are billeted at Wallingford. 5 men are pressed into service of Charles I, though one escaped. A gibbet is built in the marketplace to discourage rowdy behaviour.

1634

1634 Daniel Letsham, rector of St Peter?s is accused of burying an excommunicated woman (Mrs Austin) who was visiting a recusant (Michael Paine) at St Nicholas?s College when she died.

1636

An assessment of ship-money tax requires only ?20 from Wallingford, compared to ?220 from Reading, indicating the relative decline of the town.

1642

Following Charles raising his standard in Nottingham against the Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarians in the summer, Royalist forces (Colonel Blagge?s foot regiment and Lord Digby?s horse regiment) are garrisoned at Wallingford in the winter.

1643

In March there are a thousand of the King?s forces at Wallingford ? they have built up the castle and constructed a drawbridge over the Thames by removing four of the arches of the old bridge. Prince Rupert himself is said to have inserted the western gate in the Kinecroft Ramparts. In April the King visits Wallingford just before his forces unsuccessfully attack Reading. He returns in October. June 18th sees the Battle of Chalgrove Field nearby ? John Hampden, parliamentarian and his forces fight Prince Rupert's forces, and many Roundhead men are lost ? Hampden is injured and dies later.

Oliver Cromwell

1644

9th November - King Charles gets to Wallingford despite greater numbers of Parliamentarian troops, when the army refuses to chase despite Cromwell?s orders, according to diarist Thomas Juxon. Also in November, Parliamentarian Commissioners come to Wallingford, seeking the King, who is in Oxford. They describe Blagge of being "full of insolence and incivility." Parliamentarian Colonel Baxter attacks Wallingford, but is defeated.

1645

The Parliamentarian Colonel Barkstead and his men attack Wallingford. Royalist Captain Barker and his men challenge the Parliamentarian forces. Colonel Barkstead retaliates, capturing Royalists, and Barker is killed. Thomas Blagge and his men attack Parliamentarian Thomas Crawford and his men ? Blagge fights man to man with Crawford and is injured. Barkstead is nearly captured by men from Wallingford. William Bassett MP is captured and imprisoned for 5 months at Wallingford Castle. During 1645, troops from Wallingford are transferred to supporting Prince Rupert, reducing Wallingford?s direct involvement in skirmishes.

1646

Following successes of the New Model Army in 1645, Royalist strongholds surrender during the summer. Around 4^th May, Captain Gibbons of Henley attacks via Crowmarsh. Wallingford Castle the only remaining Royalist stronghold in England - it withstands a siege for 12 weeks, but surrenders after negotiation on 27th July to Sir Thomas Fairfax. Only 5 soldiers are killed during the seige. Adjutant-General Arthur Evelyn is made Governor of the Castle and Garison of Wallingford.

Sir Thomas Fairfax

1648

The castle is in use as a munitions store for the New Model Army. Sir Richard Browne is imprisoned at Wallingford Castle on charges of conspiring with the Scots. Judge Jenkins is also committed as a prisoner to Wallingford.

1650

Wallingford's current mace is made, at a cost of ?46,18s,3d. Cromwell esablished a corporation of a mayor, a chamberlain, six aldermen and two elected bailiffs. A weekly lecture was to be preached from March to October. Sir John Clotworthy, accused of betraying the Parliamentarians, is imprisoned at Wallingford.

Wallingford's mace

1652

November 18^th - Cromwell orders the destruction of the castle.

1653

The tower of St Mary-Le-More is built (probably using stones from the castle) by Will Loader, a former mayor who has been deposed for supporting Charles I.

Will Loader's mark on the tower of St Mary-Le-More

1659

A free school is established by an endowment from Walter Bigg of the Merchant Taylors.

Wallingford Town Hall

1670

The Town Hall is built. This is also the year that Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, is established by Puritans from New Haven.

1671

Wardens are set on Wallingford Bridge to keep Crowmarsh and Newnham people out, because of the plague.

Angier Almshouses

1672

Edward Stennett, a religious dissenter, is granted a licence to conduct meetings on the site of Wallingford Castle.

1675

Fire destroys many buildings in Wallingford.

1681

Almshouses are established by a bequest from local ironmonger John Angier in memory of his brother William Angier and his sister Mary in Reading Road.

1687

James II dismisses 10 members of Wallingford Corporation, replacing them with his own apointees, under a charter of 1683 which gave the king this power. This power is later revoked.