New Alresford
Encyclopedia
New Alresford or simply Alresford is a small town
and civil parish in the City of Winchester
district of Hampshire
, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester
and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton
. In the 2001 census, Alresford had a population of 5,102.
New Alresford is linked to Alton by the Mid Hants Watercress Railway, a steam worked heritage railway
and served by Alresford railway station
.
, Bronze Age
and Iron Age
occupation on numerous sites in the Alresford area, with a Roman
or Romano-British site on nearby Fobdown and to the south-east of the town in Bramdean. There is evidence of a grant to the Church at Winchester
sometime before the 9th century, which became known as the Liberty of Alresford. Alresford was listed in the Domesday Book
but this probably refers to what is now Old Alresford as there is no evidence of a settlement south of the river at this time.
New Alresford was founded in the 12th/13th century, the idea originally being that of Henri de Blois, the Bishop of Winchester
and brother of King Stephen of England. The design of the T-shaped town (originally named Novum Forum) was followed by de Blois' successor Godfrey de Lucy
. Alresford was one of the Bishop's six new towns and was his most profitable plantation—his palace was situated in nearby Bishop Sutton, perhaps less than a mile distant.The medieval stone bridge he built at this time is still in place. This expansion also involved the construction of the Great Weir between New Alresford and Old Alresford
, creating Old Alresford Pond. This remarkable period in the town's history even included the construction of one of the oldest canal systems in England, based on the River Itchen.
New Alresford quickly became established as a prosperous market town, focussed on the wool, leather and the other products from sheep and cattle; in the 14th century Alresford was one of the top five sheep market towns of England. Alresford sent two members to parliament until the population was reduced by the Black Death
. The town quickly picked up the label as a dangerous place to live due to the uncommonly frequent fires which razed it; much of the medieval town was destroyed by a fire in 1689 that destroyed 117 houses in the town as well as the Church and Market House. Much of the town was rebuilt in the 18th century, with many of the Georgian building
s remaining today.
In the spring of 1644, the Battle of Cheriton
took place on Cheriton Down, reaching the outskirts of Alresford. Defeated Royalists set fire to houses in the town as they withdrew.
A turnpike linking London to the Channel ports (now the A31) was built in 1753, passing through the town.
During the late 18th century, Alresford Cricket Club
was one of the strongest sides in England.
A plaque on the wall of a public toilets, close to the railway station, commemorates that occasionally secret military documents, obtained by members of the 'Portland Spy Ring' in the early 1960s, were left here for collection.
and novelist and dramatist Mary Russell Mitford
(1787–1855) who lived at 27 Broad street until the age of ten.
The noted actor-manager Francis Robert Benson
(1866–1939) spent his childhood in nearby Langton House.
The cricket commentator John Arlott
resided in Alresford during the 1950s and 60s.
Alexa Chung
, model and presenter, attended Perins Secondary School, as well as Russell Howard
, comedian.
Formula One racing driver Derek Warwick
is from a local family.
David Lloyd George's great great grandson David Lloyd George
was the UK's prime minister during the first world war.
Kate Walsh, runner up on the 2009 series of The Apprentice and presenter on Live from Studio Five
also resides in Alresford.
Perins School
(1,140) – secondary. This school is a community sports college and secondary school
. The school was granted specialist status for leading the field in the area of sports within Hampshire. This enabled Perins to open and complete a new state of art gym open to the public.
(such as the annual November 5 Fireworks at Arlebury Park), and by the town council.
and, once a year, holds a festival on the third Sunday in May. There is a street market with locally made food on sale and usually cookery demonstrations. From 2006–8, Antony Worrall Thompson
was the celebrity chef. Both north-south and east-west main roads are closed to traffic for the event, with diversions and parking clearly signposted. Entry is Free.
During the Watercress Festival, the town welcomes visitors and opens a number of attractions and places of interest. The Millennium Trail at the north end of Broad Street offers a walk along a River Itchen tributary from Alresford Pond (a wildlife reserve) to The Eel House (a working migratory eel capturing sluice house restored under the umbrella of New Alresford Town Trust by a specially formed company headed by the late David Goodman.
is a joint effort led by the Father Christmas Committee. This takes place in Broad Street near a large Christmas Tree erected annually. A carol service with music provided by Perins Community School's orchestra precedes the arrival. The Alresford Pigs create the secret process by which Father Christmas arrives. He has arrived in World War 2 NAAFI van driven by Wallace and Gromit
and in a Thunderbirds
, helicopter, fire engine, Open-top bus etc. This is followed by Father Christmas giving presents to children in his grotto. The presents are organised by the Father Christmas Committee. Money donated by the crowd at each year's event goes back in to the pot for the next year.
The New Alresford Town Trust was constituted in 1890 and is a direct descendant of the medieval local government system begun by King Edward I in 1302, when he made a grant of pavage
(the right to collect tolls for the paving of streets) to a bailiff and "good men" in the town.
Today the Trust maintains the Avenue and the Old Fire Station in Broad Street as well as running a minibus for elderly and disabled residents. In addition to receiving various grants and donations, the Trust owns ancient rights which allow it to collect income from markets and events in Broad Street including the regular Thursday Market.
(officially the Mid-Hants Railway). This heritage railway line runs steam and diesel trains, and gains its name from the fact that it used to be the line that took watercress
up to London
. The other end of the heritage line is Alton
, which is also the end of the current Alton-London Waterloo line, making it possible (if expensive) to take the train from Alresford to London: steam to Alton, and then modern train into London.
was founded in New Alresford in 1997.
The brewery produces a range of cask ales and a selection of beers which until early 2006 were bottle conditioned by Gales Brewery
.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and civil parish in the City of Winchester
City of Winchester
Winchester is a local government district in Hampshire, England, with city status. It covers an area of central Hampshire including the city of Winchester itself, and neighbouring towns and villages including New Alresford, Colden Common and Bishops Waltham....
district of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
. In the 2001 census, Alresford had a population of 5,102.
New Alresford is linked to Alton by the Mid Hants Watercress Railway, a steam worked heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
and served by Alresford railway station
Alresford (Hampshire) railway station
Alresford station is a railway station in New Alresford, Hampshire, UK.-History:Constructed in 1865 for the new Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway Company which later became the first incarnation of the Mid-Hants Railway, the station later joined the London and South Western Railway. It was...
.
History
There is evidence of NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
, Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
occupation on numerous sites in the Alresford area, with a Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
or Romano-British site on nearby Fobdown and to the south-east of the town in Bramdean. There is evidence of a grant to the Church at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
sometime before the 9th century, which became known as the Liberty of Alresford. Alresford was listed in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
but this probably refers to what is now Old Alresford as there is no evidence of a settlement south of the river at this time.
New Alresford was founded in the 12th/13th century, the idea originally being that of Henri de Blois, the Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
and brother of King Stephen of England. The design of the T-shaped town (originally named Novum Forum) was followed by de Blois' successor Godfrey de Lucy
Godfrey de Lucy
-Life:De Luci was the second son of Richard de Luci and his wife Rohese. He had an elder brother Geoffrey, and three sisters, Maud, Alice and Avelina....
. Alresford was one of the Bishop's six new towns and was his most profitable plantation—his palace was situated in nearby Bishop Sutton, perhaps less than a mile distant.The medieval stone bridge he built at this time is still in place. This expansion also involved the construction of the Great Weir between New Alresford and Old Alresford
Old Alresford
Old Alresford is a village and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It is situated some 1 km north of the town of New Alresford, 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester, and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton....
, creating Old Alresford Pond. This remarkable period in the town's history even included the construction of one of the oldest canal systems in England, based on the River Itchen.
New Alresford quickly became established as a prosperous market town, focussed on the wool, leather and the other products from sheep and cattle; in the 14th century Alresford was one of the top five sheep market towns of England. Alresford sent two members to parliament until the population was reduced by the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
. The town quickly picked up the label as a dangerous place to live due to the uncommonly frequent fires which razed it; much of the medieval town was destroyed by a fire in 1689 that destroyed 117 houses in the town as well as the Church and Market House. Much of the town was rebuilt in the 18th century, with many of the Georgian building
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
s remaining today.
In the spring of 1644, the Battle of Cheriton
Battle of Cheriton
The Battle of Cheriton was an important Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War. It took place on 29 March 1644 and resulted in the defeat of a Royalist army, which threw King Charles I onto the defensive for the remainder of the year.-Campaign:...
took place on Cheriton Down, reaching the outskirts of Alresford. Defeated Royalists set fire to houses in the town as they withdrew.
A turnpike linking London to the Channel ports (now the A31) was built in 1753, passing through the town.
During the late 18th century, Alresford Cricket Club
Alresford Cricket Club
Alresford Cricket Club was one of the strongest cricket teams in England during the late 18th century . It represented the adjacent small towns of New Alresford and Old Alresford in Hampshire...
was one of the strongest sides in England.
A plaque on the wall of a public toilets, close to the railway station, commemorates that occasionally secret military documents, obtained by members of the 'Portland Spy Ring' in the early 1960s, were left here for collection.
Famous people
Alresford was the birthplace of artist Graham OvendenGraham Ovenden
Graham Ovenden is an English painter, fine art photographer, writer and architect. His estranged wife is the artist Annie Ovenden. Their daughter, Emily, is a writer and is a singer with the Mediaeval Baebes...
and novelist and dramatist Mary Russell Mitford
Mary Russell Mitford
Mary Russell Mitford , was an English author and dramatist. She was born at Alresford, Hampshire. Her place in English literature is as the author of Our Village...
(1787–1855) who lived at 27 Broad street until the age of ten.
The noted actor-manager Francis Robert Benson
Francis Robert Benson
Sir Francis Robert Benson , commonly known as Frank Benson or F. R. Benson, was a British actor-manager...
(1866–1939) spent his childhood in nearby Langton House.
The cricket commentator John Arlott
John Arlott
Leslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
resided in Alresford during the 1950s and 60s.
Alexa Chung
Alexa Chung
Alexa Chung is an English television presenter, model and contributing editor at British Vogue.She currently hosts Gonzo with Alexa Chung for MTV UK, and is scheduled to host Thrift America for PBS in 2011...
, model and presenter, attended Perins Secondary School, as well as Russell Howard
Russell Howard
Russell Joseph Howard is an English comedian best known for his TV show Russell Howard's Good News and his appearances on the topical panel TV show Mock The Week...
, comedian.
Formula One racing driver Derek Warwick
Derek Warwick
Derek Stanley Arthur Warwick is a British former racing driver from England. He raced for many years in Formula One, but never won a Grand Prix. During the early 1980s he was thought more likely to achieve World Championship success than his contemporary Nigel Mansell, but a series of wrong...
is from a local family.
David Lloyd George's great great grandson David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
was the UK's prime minister during the first world war.
Kate Walsh, runner up on the 2009 series of The Apprentice and presenter on Live from Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
Live From Studio Five was an early evening, British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. The show was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness...
also resides in Alresford.
Education
There are six primary and one secondary school in the Alresford area with a total of 140 staff and over 2,000 pupils – (pupil numbers as of 2004 in brackets)Perins School
Perins School
Perins School is a community Sports College and secondary school in New Alresford, Hampshire, England...
(1,140) – secondary. This school is a community sports college and secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
. The school was granted specialist status for leading the field in the area of sports within Hampshire. This enabled Perins to open and complete a new state of art gym open to the public.
Events
Alresford holds a number of community events throughout the year. Several are organised by or with New Alresford Town Council (NATC). All events which are held in the main streets within the original town (Broad Street, East Street, West Street) require the permission of the New Alresford Town Trust (NATT – a registered charity which preserves the town's traditional rights of access, to fairs and to street markets, preserves old documents and buildings, and runs a community minibus). A fee for street usage is usually payable by organisers, which helps in the Trust's other works, including running the local minibus which serves the elderly and disabled. A number of events are organised by The Alresford Pigs Association, which raises money in the local area for those in need, and by the local RotaryRotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
(such as the annual November 5 Fireworks at Arlebury Park), and by the town council.
The Watercress Festival
The town is famed for its production of watercressWatercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
and, once a year, holds a festival on the third Sunday in May. There is a street market with locally made food on sale and usually cookery demonstrations. From 2006–8, Antony Worrall Thompson
Antony Worrall Thompson
Henry Antony Cardew Worrall Thompson is a British celebrity chef, television presenter and radio broadcaster.-Biography:...
was the celebrity chef. Both north-south and east-west main roads are closed to traffic for the event, with diversions and parking clearly signposted. Entry is Free.
During the Watercress Festival, the town welcomes visitors and opens a number of attractions and places of interest. The Millennium Trail at the north end of Broad Street offers a walk along a River Itchen tributary from Alresford Pond (a wildlife reserve) to The Eel House (a working migratory eel capturing sluice house restored under the umbrella of New Alresford Town Trust by a specially formed company headed by the late David Goodman.
Alresford Show
This is one of the most important agricultural shows in England which takes place on the first Saturday in September. Animals are shown, flowers and vegetables are judged, there is horsejumping and other entertainment. The Alresford Pigs organise the car parking and entry points. Alresford Rugby Club steward parking. Entry is chargeable.Alresford fair
A one-day street fair takes place on the 11 October (Old Michaelmas Day) or the first Thursday thereafter. This surprisingly large traditional English funfair, run by Wall & Son, arrives on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning and sets up in Broad Street. The fair lasts from 3pm – 11pm and has to be gone by dawn on Friday. The main north-south road of Alresford (Broad Street) is closed to traffic. Pedestrian entry is Free.Bonfire night
Organised by the local Rotary Club and usually held on 5 November. Traditionally the firework display is preceded by a torchlit procession starting in Broad Street making its way along West Street and up Pound Hill into Arlebury Park, the venue for the firework display. The display is always well attended with proceeds donated to local, national and international causes. Each year a 'Guy' is burned following tradition, with the Guys made by local schoolchildren.Arrival of Father Christmas
The arrival of Father ChristmasFather Christmas
Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including France , Spain , Brazil , Portugal , Italy , Armenia , India...
is a joint effort led by the Father Christmas Committee. This takes place in Broad Street near a large Christmas Tree erected annually. A carol service with music provided by Perins Community School's orchestra precedes the arrival. The Alresford Pigs create the secret process by which Father Christmas arrives. He has arrived in World War 2 NAAFI van driven by Wallace and Gromit
Wallace and Gromit
Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in a series consisting of four British animated short films and a feature-length film by Nick Park of Aardman Animations...
and in a Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds (TV series)
Thunderbirds is a British mid-1960s science fiction television show devised by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and made by AP Films using a form of marionette puppetry dubbed "Supermarionation"...
, helicopter, fire engine, Open-top bus etc. This is followed by Father Christmas giving presents to children in his grotto. The presents are organised by the Father Christmas Committee. Money donated by the crowd at each year's event goes back in to the pot for the next year.
The Duck Race
The Duck Race is organised by the Alresford Pigs every two years during the summer (it was last held on June 14, 2009). It brings the community out to watch several (decoy)duck races, each race and duck is sponsored by a local family or business. This is the most notable fundraising event organised by The Alresford Pigs.Charity
One charity fundraising group in Alresford is The Alresford Pigs Association. As well as organising a number of events, they also erect and light over 100 Christmas trees on buildings in the three main streets receiving income from the businesses and house occupiers for this service. Over their 30 years of existence they have raised more than £250,000. This is in addition to the work of other local associations including the Rotary Club of Alresford and Women's Institute.The New Alresford Town Trust was constituted in 1890 and is a direct descendant of the medieval local government system begun by King Edward I in 1302, when he made a grant of pavage
Pavage
Pavage was a medieval toll for the maintenance or improvement of a road or street in England. The king by letters patent granted the right to collect it to an individual, or the corporation of a town, or to the "bailiffs and good men" of a neighbouring village....
(the right to collect tolls for the paving of streets) to a bailiff and "good men" in the town.
Today the Trust maintains the Avenue and the Old Fire Station in Broad Street as well as running a minibus for elderly and disabled residents. In addition to receiving various grants and donations, the Trust owns ancient rights which allow it to collect income from markets and events in Broad Street including the regular Thursday Market.
Rail transport
Alresford is at the southern end of the Watercress LineWatercress Line
The Watercress Line is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway, a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line gained its popular name in the days that it was used to transport locally grown watercress to...
(officially the Mid-Hants Railway). This heritage railway line runs steam and diesel trains, and gains its name from the fact that it used to be the line that took watercress
Watercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
up to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The other end of the heritage line is Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
, which is also the end of the current Alton-London Waterloo line, making it possible (if expensive) to take the train from Alresford to London: steam to Alton, and then modern train into London.
Itchen Valley brewery
The Itchen Valley breweryBrewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
was founded in New Alresford in 1997.
The brewery produces a range of cask ales and a selection of beers which until early 2006 were bottle conditioned by Gales Brewery
Gales Brewery
Established in 1847 Gales Brewery was an old brewery situated in Horndean, on the edge of Waterlooville, near Portsmouth in Hampshire, England. It made the nutty HSB and the newer Gales Bitter...
.
External links
- Alresford Music Festival
- Alresford Pigs Association
- Alresford Rotary Club
- Alresford Watercress Festival
- Southern Life on Alresford
- Perins School website
- OFSTED inspection report
- BBC report on Perins School
- Alresford schools
- The town's web site
- New Alresford Town Council
- New Alresford Town Trust
- St John's Church website