Wallingford is a historic market town and civil parish located to the south of Oxford on the River Thames in England. Historically situated in the area of Berkshire, it was moved to Oxfordshire for the functions of management in 1974. Wallingford is situated 12 miles (19 km) north of Reading, 13 miles (21 kilometres) south of Oxford as well as 11 miles (18 km) north west of Henley-on-Thames. The community's population was 11,600 in the 2011 census. The town has played a crucial function in English history beginning with the abandonment of Stigand to William the Conqueror in 1066, which led to his taking the throne and also the development of Wallingford Castle. The castle and also the town took pleasure in imperial status and prospered for much of the Middle Ages. The Treaty of Wallingford, which ended a civil war referred to as The Anarchy in between King Stephen and also Empress Matilda, was signed there. The town then went into a period of decrease after the arrival of the Black Death and falling out of favour with the Tudor monarchs before being contacted once again throughout the English Civil War. Wallingford held up as the last remaining Royalist stronghold in Berkshire before surrendering after a 16-week siege. Fearing that Wallingford Castle could be used in a future uprising, Oliver Cromwell ordered its destruction. Ever since Wallingford has become a market community as well as centre of neighborhood business. At the centre of the town is a big free market square with the battle memorial as well as 17th century arcaded town hall to the south, the Corn Exchange theatre to the eastern as well as various search the sides. Off the square there are alleyways as well as roads with even more stores and also a number of historical inns. Although it was a small town, Wallingford as soon as had 14 churches; now, there are 3 ancient churches within the Parish of St Mary-le-More and St Leonard, a modern-day Roman Catholic church, a Quaker Meeting House dating from 1724 and Baptist, Methodist and also neighborhood churches.