Jill Eyers talks about the Malthouse stone

Prehistoric: Remember that chalk that was laid down 65 million years ago?

Clunch

Well here it is now, in the stonework of the Malthouse. It's a grey/creamy colour and the Victorians named it Clunch. At the bottom of the building you'll see some red-brown bricks that are made from very good quality clay that was laid on top of the chalk hills many years ago and have since been turned into the well-known Nettlebed bricks.


Dominic Lamb talks about the meadow by the river

Conservation: Look across to the river just down from the Malthouse and you'll see some meadow land that forms one of many local conservation projects. It was originally a hay meadow rich in wildlife so now work has to be done to restore it to its former state.

River and meadows

Tree planting and trimming is taking place, and woven willow is playing a vital part in protecting the river bank from further erosion.

An otter holt has just been built to attract this endangered species back to where they lived in the past.

Judy Dewey talks about the Malthouse industry of the town

Anglo Saxons: Standing in front of the Malthouse, you are now outside the Saxon fortifications. You can tell this by looking at the houses built on top of the banks. They have one storey more at the back than at the front.

Malcolm Airs talks about the Wilder Weathervane

Industries: Lower Wharf would have been a bustling industrial area particularly in the 19th century. One of your neighbours back then would have been the Wilder family, who ran two iron foundries. They may even have been your employers, so stand opposite St Leonard's Lane, look to your left and you'll see where you may have worked. Now look to your right and you'll see the foundry office, on top of which is an unusual weathervane.

Weathervane on top of the Foundry Office

It's shaped as a man with a plough and is certainly appropriate for manufacturers of agricultural machinery. The Malt House on Lower Wharf is another possible place where you may have worked. Malting was a big part of industry in Wallingford and there were as many as 17 of them back in the 18th century. The river was of course vital for this industry attracting many barges which ferried goods, including iron ore and barley, to and from London. There would have been a large timber yard here and a great deal of agricultural equipment. Malting was an important industry in the town from the medieval period down to the twentieth century. The last Malthouse ceased production only 3 years ago but many of the buildings still survive in other uses - such as the boathouse for the town rowing club which still retains its characteristic ventilation cowl.