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Local Information for Faringdon

Faringdon is a town in the Thames Valley in southern England, United Kingdom. It is located between the River Thames and the Ridgeway.

The name Faringdon means fern covered hill. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Wessex. There was a castle built by Alfred the Great located in Faringdon.

In the Domesday book, Faringdon is recorded as a manor and a mill. The town was given a royal charter by King John in 1216. The weekly market is still held today.

During the English Civil War, Sir Robert Pye was kept prisoner in his own home: the Faringdon House. The smaller current house was built in around 1730. The spire of All Saints' church was partly destroyed by a cannon-ball that went astray.

The Town Hall dates from the 17th century. It remains the centre of the town and its focal point.

On February 2, 2004, Faringdon was granted Fairtrade Town status.

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