The name is of Old English origin, and means "wall settlement",[1] probably referring to the enclosure around the site of the manor house at the southern end of the village.

The parish extended to the River Swilgate in the west, and to the main road running east from Tewkesbury (now the A46) in the north.

[3] In 1935, the area north of Tirle Brook was transferred to Tewkesbury parish,[2] and was later developed as part of the district of Newtown.

In the 1990s a large area in the western part of the parish was developed as the Wheatpieces estate.

[4] Despite now being in separate parishes both the old village and the estate retain their postal addresses as "Walton Cardiff, Tewkesbury".