Wallingford Town Council had to carry out repairs to the medieval castle walls which circle the eponymous gardens after storm damage was caused in 2025.

The castle was established as a motte-and-bailey fort in the 11th century, and grew to the height of its power and significance in the two centuries that followed.

The repaired walls on Castle Lane (Image: Wallingford Town Council)

READ MORE: Thames Water announces hosepipe ban starting this week

It is now a scheduled monument, and as a result the project required ‘a number of consents’ before work could begin, including from Historic England.

As part of the consent process, the organisation required an archaeological watching brief to monitor the excavation work, which saw four small test pits excavated alongside the wall.

Four small test pits were excavated alongside the wall during the work (Image: Wallingford Town Council)

A ‘small amount’ of medieval and post-medieval material was discovered, including pottery, tile and clay pipe fragments.

READ MORE: Man jailed for ‘sickening’ sexual assault of three girls in Cotswolds

The most ‘unexpected’ discovery was a small brick-lined culvert running beneath the wall which possibly served as an earlier drainage system for the town.

The town council said the project faced additional delays as an insurance claim relating to the storm damage was unsuccessful, and funding had to be found from elsewhere.

A spokesperson for the council said: “While projects like this can sometimes take longer than we’d all like, we’re pleased to have the wall repaired, preserving both an important part of the town’s history and ensuring Castle Lane can continue to be used safely for years to come.”

Following the exit of Keir Starmer, the new leader headed to Number 10 on Monday, July 20, announcing a raft of changes to his top team in a cabinet reshuffle.

On Tuesday (July 21), he made policy announcements saying he will be heading a “cost-of-living Government” – taking VAT off household electricity bills from October 1.

Politicians charged with representing the people of Oxfordshire, on Westminster’s benches both behind and in opposition to Burnham, have shared statements on how they think he is doing so far.

East Oxford MP Anneliese Dodds (Labour) said: “Andy’s been very clear that our politics need a circuit breaker because political power has become too centralised and economic power has been privatised, with people in communities up and down the country wanting change.”

She added that he has “taken immediate action to support people who are struggling, following his announcement of No 10 North which marks a big change in how government works”.

File image of Anneliese Dodds MP (Image: Lucy North/PA Wire)

Ms Dodds said: “He’s right that politics has to do better to serve the British people, and I’m pleased he’s already showing how it can, just hours into his premiership.”

The East Oxford MP had stood down from her development minister post in the Starmer administration over cuts to aid spending.

While cabinet posts have been announced, more ministerial appointments are set to be announced in coming days.

Whether Ms Dodds, or fellow Labour MP for Banbury, Sean Woodcock, are offered or accept a post is yet to be confirmed.

Mr Woodcock had previously described Keir Starmer’s departure as a mistake and he held the post of a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office in the last week of the Starmer Government.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP, Layla Moran (Lib Dem) is chair of a committee which scrutinises the Government on health and social care.

She said: “I stand ready to work cross-party with Andy Burnham and the Government to make social care reform a reality and look forward to discussing these issues with the new Secretary of State at an early stage.”

Layla Moran MP (Image: File)

She has been “pleased” about new Health Secretary Yvette Cooper’s statement on the urgency of maternity services and social care improvements, describing their importance for Oxfordshire and the country.

Ms Moran said: “You cannot achieve reform of the NHS while side-lining social care.”

Witney’s MP Charlie Maynard (Lib Dem) was less pleased about the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

On social media, he said: “I thought John Healey made a good defence secretary and I respect the fact that he resigned when the Treasury would not fund the country’s stated defence goals.

“However, Healey has never worked in business, or at least per his Wikipedia page, even in the private sector, ever.”

Charlie Maynard MP beside Windrsuh (Image: Contributed)

The Conservatives do not have an MP in Oxfordshire.

County Conservative leader Liam Walker said: “Regardless of political differences, we all want to see the Prime Minister succeed because when the Government succeeds, our country succeeds.

“After a difficult few years, the priority now must be getting Britain back on its feet.”

He hopes to see a focus on “economic growth, creating opportunities for businesses to invest, and getting unemployment under control”

Councillor Liam Walker (Image: Liam Walker)

Mr Walker added “it is vital” for Government to work closely with local councils amid local government reorganisation.

Hannah Campaigne, from Wantage, won the Royal Society of Biology’s (RSB) Photographer of the Year competition.

The winning image features a hummingbird hovering beside fuchsia flowers and was captured in San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica.

Ms Campaigne said: “I was so excited when I found out that I had been shortlisted for the RSB’s prestigious Photographer of the Year competition and am absolutely over the moon to have won, especially after seeing the other stunning images.

“I have always loved wildlife photography for its fleeting and special moments so when I took a trip to Costa Rica with my family, I knew that there could be some very exciting wildlife shots to capture.

“A huge thanks to RSB for shortlisting me and for the public support in the vote.”

This year’s competition theme was ‘colours of nature.’

Ms Campaigne described the contrast in her image as a highlight, noting the ‘vibrant colours of the fuchsia’ against the ‘deep iridescence of the hummingbird’.

She will receive £1,000 in prize money and will collect her award at the Royal Society of Biology’s Awards Ceremony during Biology Week in October at the House of Commons in London.

The competition was open exclusively to RSB members aged 19 and over.