Original: The district was formed on 1 April 1974 , under the Local Government Act 1972 , from the Municipal Borough of Abingdon , Wantage Urban District , Abingdon Rural District , Faringdon Rural District and part of the Wantage Rural District of Berkshire .
Simplified: Following local usage the vale covers all the ground between the Cotswolds ( on the north ) and the White Horse Hills .