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Welcome to Alton Hampshire

An independent Alton website that promotes organisations, clubs and businesses in Alton, Hampshire. It also supports the charities The Lullaby Trust (safer sleep for babies) and Alzheimer's Society.
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Other Regional News

BBC News

Gaza surgeon describes drones targeting children
Children lying injured in Gaza were picked out and shot by quadcopters, a senior doctor tells MPs.
Tea company given King's Award for sustainability
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, presents Hampshire tea company with sustainability award.
Two men in serious condition after flat fire
One of the men, in his 80s, was taken to hospital after being rescued from the flat on Tuesday.

UK News

BBC News

Daniel Khalife denies asking Iran for help after prison escape
The former soldier has pleaded guilty to escaping from prison but still faces other charges.
Homebase enters administration with 2,000 jobs at risk
Homebase enters administration, but The Range buys up to 70 stores and the brand.
'She died because of me', Sara Sharif's father tells court
Urfan Sharif accepts “responsibility” for her death but denies he meant to kill her, a court heard.

Alton Weather

BBC Weather - Forecast for Alton, GB

Tonight: Light Rain, Minimum Temperature: 5°C (41°F)
Minimum Temperature: 5°C (41°F), Wind Direction: Northerly, Wind Speed: 6mph, Visibility: Poor, Pressure: 1033mb, Humidity: 97%, UV Risk: 0, Pollution: Low, Sunset: 16:18 GMT
Thursday: Mist, Minimum Temperature: 2°C (35°F) Maximum Temperature: 11°C (51°F)
Maximum Temperature: 11°C (51°F), Minimum Temperature: 2°C (35°F), Wind Direction: North Easterly, Wind Speed: 9mph, Visibility: Poor, Pressure: 1032mb, Humidity: 90%, UV Risk: 2, Pollution: Low, Sunrise: 07:20 GMT, Sunset: 16:16 GMT

A History of Alton Hampshire


By Jane Hurst


If you come to the Curtis Museum on Crown Hill, you can take a walk through the history of Alton - starting with the local geology. Local flint was made into tools by early man who roamed the area while the Bronze and Iron Age people settled here leaving behind pottery and metal work. The Romans established a posting station in nearby Holybourne and other evidence of them has been found in Alton with a villa near Alton’s Public Gardens.

Early Anglo-Saxons buried their dead above the town over a long period and part of their cemetery has been excavated. Grave goods included swords, shields, beads and the magnificent Alton Buckle - which can be seen in the Museum.

With the coming of the Normans in 1066, Alton grew as an important market and administrative centre for the surrounding area. The town had a thriving cloth industry in the medieval period with several clothiers and a fulling mill and, being on a main route between Southampton and London, it had four inns - the White Hart, George, Swan and the Pelican (which changed its name to the Crown at the Dissolution).

The mid-1600s was the time of the English Civil War and, being between Royalist Winchester and Parliamentary Farnham, Alton was the site of two battles in 1643. The second, on 13th December, was the more serious and ended with the Royalists seeking refuge in Alton’s Church of St Lawrence.

The 1700s were a time of regeneration for the town with a paper mill and breweries being established. Local hop growing expanded and travel improved with the formation of Turnpike Trusts. Upstairs, the Museum has displays of items that would have been familiar to Jane Austen when she lived in nearby Chawton in the early 1800s.

The railway from London came to Alton in 1852 and was later extended to Winchester, Basingstoke and Fareham. At the same time, Alton grew along the valley and a second parish church, All Saints’, was built at the western end of the town.

1880 saw the opening of the Alton’s Assembly Rooms, Cottage Hospital and Mechanics’ Institute on Crown Close with the Curtis Museum now filling the latter.

Alton continues to change and grow but its history can still be found if one knows where to look. If you have any queries do contact [email protected].

High Street Alton Hampshire Market Square Alton Hampshire Assembly RoomsAlton Hampshire The Watercress Line Alton Hampshire Alton artwork kindly supplied by Pellart

About AltonHampshire.co.uk


AltonHampshire.co.uk is an independent Alton website that promotes organisations, clubs and businesses in Alton, Hampshire. It also supports the charities The Lullaby Trust (safer sleep for babies) and Alzheimer's Society.

The logos at the top of this page and the business listings above display in a random order each this page loads.

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