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On Saturday 15th July, we hosted our first celebration of the Curfew Bell event. Despite the forecast, the weather held out and the community enjoyed an afternoon and evening of music, poetry, a Mummer’s Play, dancing, an exhibition in the Town Hall and a special song from the choir about this history.
Wallingford was granted an extra hour before curfew in 1069 by William the Conqueror for allowing his army to cross the Thames in 1066. If you listen closely in the marketplace you’ll be able to hear the curfew bell, which rings around 9pm every evening to this day. Wallingford was only one of a few towns to have this privilege, with the rest of the country’s curfew at 8pm.
We’re hoping this event will be an annual date in the diary and for more people to know about this history. For the event to happen again, we’re looking for sponsorship for next year and volunteers to help out on the day. If you’re interested in sponsoring or volunteering, please email tourism@wallingfordtowncouncil.gov.uk.
