Robert D’Oiley started building Wallingford Castle in 1067.
The motte or mound, can be seen in the background of this photo, taken from Wallingford Bridge.

This is not as straightforward a question as it first appears, there are various answers to the question, I have opted for 19, you might have a different view.

1914

The Town Hall

Wallingford is the burial place of Judge William Blackstone, author of Commentaries on the Laws of England. This was used by the founding fathers of the United States of America when drawing up that country’s constitution.

By 1740 Wallingford had its own brewery, established in Goldsmiths’ Lane by Edward Wells.

He and his successors (all Edwards) soon dominated the Wallingford area with their beer.

They were good employers, with houses in the High Street for their managers and others for the ‘draymen’ who delivered the beer barrels in horse-drawn drays.

The brewer himself had a grand house on the High Street (now Wallingford House).

Wallingford’s oldest market is the Charter Market dating back to the 12th Century, awarded to Wallingford by Henry II for supporting his mother Empress Matilda in her war against King Stephen.

This mark is an old Ordnance Survey benchmark, once used by surveyors to determine height above sea level.
Surveyors now use more high tech systems to measure heights.

In the dark days of January 1835, Wallingford first experienced the joys of gas-light.

The Oxford Chronicle reported on Jan 10th: "The lamps were lighted for the first time on Monday evening, when a public dinner was provided at The Lamb cooked by Gas.

"It is intended to erect an Obelisk in the Market Place on which two or three large lamps will be placed.

"These, together with the public lamps and private burners, will have the effect of adding much to the beauty of this pretty little place."