Wallingford Characters

Wallingford History Gateway

Characters MPs

A list of some of the key people who played a part in Wallingford's history, with links to further information.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Ælfhelm (fl. 996)

In 996 Ælfhelm, a citizen of Wallingford saw a vision of Æthelwold (c904–984, abbot of Abingdon and bishop of Winchester) that instructed him to visit his tomb to be cured of blindness. This was taken as evidence to support the case for Æthelwold's canonisation.

Abraham of Wallingford (13th C )

Abraham of Wallingford or Abraham of Berkhamstead was a rich Jew and financier who owned property in both towns, and was a close acquaintance of Richard of Cornwall. Simon de Montfort accused him of financial misdeeds. In 1254 he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. According to Matthew Paris, he had kept a picture of the Virgin and Child in his toilet in a place that meant it would be desecrated, and when his wife Floria cleaned the picture, he suffocated her. Richard intervened on his behalf despite the fact that the community of Jews offered to pay to keep him in prison. Richard was given ownership of the Jews in 1255, and Abraham was described as his personal Jew.

King Alfred the Great (849-899)

Born in Wantage, Alfred became king in 871. He is credited with the plan for a series of burh defensive towns as protection against the Viking invaders, including Wallingford, which were built in the late 9th century. The earthen defensive walls which remain were part of the plan.
http://www.btinternet.com/~timeref/hpr1050.htm
http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/alfred.html
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/KingAlfred/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alfred_king.shtml

Alfred the Great

Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486-1502)

Arthur Tudor was the eldest son of Henry VII of England, and was granted the Honour of Wallingford, including the castle in 1490. He married the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon in 1501, but he died of a fever the following year, allowing his brother Henry, later King Henry VIII, to become castellan.

Arthur, Prince of Wales

Sir John Aubrey (1739–1826)
Sir John Aubrey was born on 4 June 1739 at Boarstall, Buckinghamshire. He first entered parliament as MP for Wallingford in 1768. His maiden speech defended radical John Wilkes and he later argued for curtailing parliamentary privilege. After election for Aylesbury, he was returned for Wallingford in 1780, and supported Edmund Burke's attack on sinecures.

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Ælfhelm (fl. 996) In 996 Ælfhelm, a citizen of Wallingford saw a vision of Æthelwold (c904–984, abbot of Abingdon and bishop of Winchester) that instructed him to visit his tomb to be cured of blindness. This was taken as evidence to support the case for Æthelwold's canonisation.
Abraham of Wallingford (13th C ) Abraham of Wallingford or Abraham of Berkhamstead was a rich Jew and financier who owned property in both towns, and was a close acquaintance of Richard of Cornwall. Simon de Montfort accused him of financial misdeeds. In 1254 he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. According to Matthew Paris, he had kept a picture of the Virgin and Child in his toilet in a place that meant it would be desecrated, and when his wife Floria cleaned the picture, he suffocated her. Richard intervened on his behalf despite the fact that the community of Jews offered to pay to keep him in prison. Richard was given ownership of the Jews in 1255, and Abraham was described as his personal Jew.
King Alfred the Great (849-899) Born in Wantage, Alfred became king in 871. He is credited with the plan for a series of burh defensive towns as protection against the Viking invaders, including Wallingford, which were built in the late 9th century. The earthen defensive walls which remain were part of the plan. http://www.btinternet.com/~timeref/hpr1050.htm http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/alfred.html http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/KingAlfred/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alfred_king.shtml	Alfred the Great
Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486-1502) Arthur Tudor was the eldest son of Henry VII of England, and was granted the Honour of Wallingford, including the castle in 1490. He married the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon in 1501, but he died of a fever the following year, allowing his brother Henry, later King Henry VIII, to become castellan.	Arthur, Prince of Wales
Sir John Aubrey (1739–1826) Sir John Aubrey was born on 4 June 1739 at Boarstall, Buckinghamshire. He first entered parliament as MP for Wallingford in 1768. His maiden speech defended radical John Wilkes and he later argued for curtailing parliamentary privilege. After election for Aylesbury, he was returned for Wallingford in 1780, and supported Edmund Burke's attack on sinecures.