About Alresford
'The ford over the river where the alder trees grow.'
Alresford is the perfect place for strolling and there is plenty to please the eye.
Alresford (pronounced Allsford) is a beautiful Georgian Town which for many centuries was a prosperous wool town. Old Alresford is mentioned in the Domesday Book but the present town of New Alresford did not come into existence much before 1200 at the time when the Great Weir was being built to create Old Alresford Pond as a fish pond for the Bishop's Palace at Bishop's Sutton and a reservoir for the mills along the Itchen.
The colour-washed Georgian houses you see today rose from the ashes of great fires in the 17th Century but many retain their original 13th century cellars.
Now the home of the Watercress Line steam railway, so called because of its association with watercress farming, in what is now known as the UK's capital of watercress. The town hosts the annual Watercress Festival in May attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Selected as the No 1 Best Place to live in the Countryside by The Sunday Times and Voted Country Life's 'Favourite Market Town' in the south-east its specialist shops selling antiques, gifts, food, clothes for all ages, antiquarian books, pictures, china and crafts are a year round attraction.
Alresford is the perfect place for strolling and there is plenty to please the eye - The Fulling Mill and Eel House along the riverside walk, St. John's Parish Church, the Millennium Trail and Old Alresford Pond, created by Bishop de Lucy, Bishop of Winchester, in the 12th century. Close by is Hinton Ampner House & Garden.
With pubs, hotels, restaurants, tea rooms and a Golf Course, your every need will be satisfied. And don't forget to visit the Watercress Line steam railway that runs from Alresford to Alton through 10 miles of beautiful Hampshire countryside.
Watercress Festival pictures
2018
2017
2016
2015
Annual 2019 Attractions at a glance.
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Autumn in Alresford
Come and find that special gift or just enjoy browsing in the local specialist shops for those special items. Come anyway and enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or an iced drink at one of the town's many coffee shops or even take a break for lunch. Walk off the excesses round the Millennium Trail alongside the River Alre.
Have you booked that Christmas Lunch or Dinner yet - if not book now at one of Alresford's many pubs and
restaurants where you can enjoy anything from Pub Grub to bistro dining and à la carte food.
Come along to Hinton Ampner, National Trust House and Garden, for their special Christmas House event which this year features Aesop's Fables
Ride the Santa Special on the Watercress Line and don't miss the arrival of Father Christmas in Alresford on 11th December.
News & Information
- Report that pothole or street light out.
- Defibrillators in Alresford
- Alresford Forum on-line
- Alresford Pocket Guide
- Alresford Displayed
- Alresford Articles
- Alresford Memories
- Alresford Heritage photos
- Alresford Museum Historic Photo Archive
- 5-day local weather forecast
- Parking
Local News from the Hampshire Chronicle
Help Needed
Easter Days out with Thomas Watercress Line
Watercress Festival
Alresford Music Festival
War on the Watercress Line
Alresford 10k Road Race
Bi-annual Duck Race
Day out with Thomas
The Alresford Show
Fun Fair in Broad Street
Fireworks night at Arlebury Park
Arrival of Father Christmas. Tbc
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organisations and subjects.
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