Alresford

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Alresford is situated on the A31, between Winchester and Alton. It is 15 minutes from Alton and 15 minutes from Winchester.

Alresford is a beautiful Georgian Town. Mentioned in the Domesday Book , Alresford was for many centuries a prosperous wool town. The colour-washed Georgian houses you see today rose from the ashes of great fires in the 17th Century.

Alresford is the perfect place for strolling and there is plenty to please the eye: The Fulling Mill, St.John's Parish Church and Old Alresford Pond created by Bishop de Lucy, Bishop of Winchester, in the 12th Century.

Visit the specialist shops selling antiques, gifts, food, clothes for all ages, antiquarian books, pictures, china and crafts. With pubs, hotels, restaurants and tea rooms, your every need will be satisfied. Do not forget to visit The Watercress Line steam railway that runs from Alresford to Alton through 10 miles of beautiful Hampshire countryside.

MILLENNIUM TRAIL

Created in the Millennium Year, the trail uses a series of existing paths round the town to provide a pleasant and informative walk of about one mile. Details of what can be seen during the walk are contained in a separate leaflet, Alresford Millennium Trail, which is available from the Station Information Office, the Library and many of the shops in the town. During the course of the walk you will pass a number of boards which tell you about the town's long history and some of the people who have helped to create it's unique character. Both the leaflet and the boards have a map to help you find your way.

Every attempt had been made to make the walk suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs, A description of the walk in Braille is also available at the Station and the Library in Broad Street.

The trail begins in the Station Yard where long term parking is available. Having collected a leaflet from the Station Information Office, the first board is to the right of its main entrance. After a short walk down Station Road bear right in to the churchyard, walk past the church's west door, passing two doors and emerge onto West Street next to Barclays Bank.

Turn left here will take you west along one of the town's principal streets before climbing the slope past the Fire Station, Turn right into Arlebury Recreation Ground. At this point the walk becomes more rural. At the bottom of the recreation ground again turn right and follow the path that runs close to the River Alre for some distance. As you pass the bottom of The Dean and the Fulling Mill, there will be certainly be some wildlife sightings.

Finally the path runs out onto Ladywell Lane leading to Mill Hill and the last board sited at the bottom of Broad Street. Walk up this magnificent Georgian street and you will end the walk as you began by passing through the churchyard. Perhaps you might also spare a moment to look into East Street or Ram Alley, as it used to be called, here you will find more shops and Georgian houses.

WHERE TO VISIT

The Watercress Line.

Hampshire's only preserved steam railway. Powerful locomotives run through beautiful countryside from Alresford to Alton. Telephone 0962 733810.

Historic Broad Street.

One of the county's most beautiful streets. It is tree-lined and has colour washed Georgian buildings and interesting shops and hostelries, all based on Bishop de Lucy's medieval town plan.

Old Alresford Pond.

Created in the 12th Century as part of a plan to dam the River Arle. Today it is home to otters and wildfowl.

Fulling Mill & Riverside Walk.

The riverside walk is a delight and straddling the River Arle, you will find the thatched timber-framed Fulling Meal, built in the 13th Century. (Walk can be muddy in wet weather.)

St.John's Parish Church.

The church was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and may be older. This Grade2* listed building has a 17th Century tower and was rebuilt after the last great fire and again in Victorian times. The French's soldiers graves date back to the Napoleonic Wars.

Places to visit nearby.

Jane Austen's House, Chawton, Near Alton.

The house where she lived and wrote most of her novels. 01420 83262

Hinton Ampner House, Bramdean.

National Trust House and Gardens. Open summer months only. 01962 771305

Northington Grange, Northington.

Early 19th Century neo-classical mansion. Exterior viewing only, home to Grange Park Opera in high summer.

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