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History of Wallingford
Castle in the Royal County of Berkshire
by David Nash Ford
WALLINGFORD
CASTLE
Home of the Black Prince
Robert D'Oyley of
Liseux built Wallingford Castle, a motte and
bailey affair, between 1167 & 1171. He spent
much of his time acquiring land, mostly at the
expense of the church. The monks of Abingdon were eventually forced to
conspire against him and pray for his repentance.
He fell ill and was warned in a dream to mend his
ways. Afterwards, he began endowing many churches
and monasteries, including Wallingford Priory.
D'Oyley's daughter married Brien FitzCount, the
unwavering follower of the Empress Matilda in her struggle with her
cousin, Stephen, for the English throne.
He was one of only two landed lords to
immediately join her cause. In 1141, Matilda had
to make a daring escape from the besieged Oxford
Castle. She slipped out at night and abseiled
down the castle walls with only three loyal
knights. Dressed in white, they made their way
through the snow covered countryside, crossed the
frozen Thames on foot at Abingdon, then by horse
to Wallingford and safety. People who saw them in
the night thought they were ghosts! Later, when
Matilda's son, the Henry II-to-be, arrived in the
town, the two sides negotiated and signed the
peaceful Treaty of Wallingford (1153) by which it
was decided Henry would succeed to the throne
after King Stephen's death.
The castle later
expanded and gained high stone walls, and also
town walls atop the Saxon banks. Prince Richard,
Earl of Cornwall & Holy Roman Emperor held
the castle for much of the reign of his brother,
Henry III. He spent a fortune on lavish
entertainment and building works, making
Wallingford his favourite home. Then, when he
almost drowned at sea, he swore to spent all his
money on the church. He is quoted as having said,
"Would that it had pleased God that I had
expended all that I have laid out in the Castle
of Wallingford in as wise and salutary a
manner". In 1335, the castle was granted to
the Black Prince, and it was his principal
residence, when he was in the country that is.
His wife, Joan the Fair Maid of Kent, died of a
broken heart at Wallingford, when her son, Richard II, condemned his
half-brother, John Holland, to death for the
accidental murder of a court favourite. In the
end the unfortunate Holland was given a reprieve,
but it was too late for poor Joan. Her will was
written at Wallingford and she may have been
buried in the Priory, though other sources say
her body was taken to Stamford (Lincs). The hated
Piers Gaveston, favourite of Edward II, was made Lord Wallingford
in 1307 and given the castle for services
rendered. He is noted for holding a magnificent
tournament here which all the nobles of the land
were obliged to attend. Fair Katherine, Queen of Henry V, retired to Wallingford
after her husband's death. Her son, Henry VI, was educated here, and it
was at the castle that the Queen was seduced by
his squire, Owen Tudor. Owain's father was a
cousin of Owain Glyndwr (Prince of Wales) and his
paternal grandmother was 4x great grandaughter of
Gryffydd ap Lord Rhys, the last King of
Deheubarth (South Wales). Together they became
the grandparents of King Henry Tudor.
The castle ruins
stand today within a lovely walled park, created
by the Borough Council, off Castle Street. There
is little in stone to see except the remains of
the tower of St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church
which stood within the castle walls. Climb the
motte and you can see the footings of some more
walls with two small sections in the fields to
the north. The whole is very well laid out and
you get a fine view of the town.
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