Feature

Taking a Fresh Look at Alresford’s History

Brian Tippett introduces Alresford Through Time, his new history of Alresford

Alresford Cover_Layout 1 05/04/2022 9:59pm Page 4

New Alresford is 800 years old. There are reminders of its long history all around the town – ranging from the great medieval Pond to the Victorian fire station in Broad Street (now housing a museum) to a plaque on the house close by which served as the American army’s local HQ during the Second World War. Brief histories and pocket guides record the key events in the town’s history and a host of specialist articles discuss specific topics. What seems to have been lacking is a comprehensive overview which takes a fresh look at what is already known and brings the bare facts to life. With this in mind the Alresford Historical and Literary Society commissioned the new full-length history of Alresford now available from the society and local booksellers. As its title, Alresford Through Time, suggests the book traces Alresford’s history through the centuries from its foundation by Bishop de Lucy up to the present day. There proved to be much that deserved reconsideration. The great Pond pre-dates almost everything in Alresford and a cherished notion is that it was created as part of an elaborate canal system linking Alresford with Winchester with boats plying regularly between the two towns. Strange then that the remarkably detailed documentary records of the period contain not even the smallest hint of such activity. Wasn’t it intended primarily as a fish pond for the once important but now almost forgotten bishop’s palace at Bishop’s Sutton — an essential food-source for many medieval monasteries and palaces? And how was it that Henry Perin, an obscure country doctor,

This handsomely illustrated book creation in about 1200 to the pre the town, the creation of the great explores the eight centuries of Alresford’s history from its sent day. It provides fresh insights into the foundation of Pond, the Battle of Cheriton, the devastating fire of 1689, amassed the wealth to fund the billeting of hundreds the hazards of of F two rench prisoners in the town, the ‘Swing’ riots world wars, the development of the Watercre the town’s growing tourist appeal. of ss 1830, the Line and railway, the creation of a new school?

The book recalls local figures as diverse as Dr Henry Perin, founder of the School, Peter Heylyn, the Royalist Rector ejected from his parish, Mary Russell Mitford, John Arlott and the Tichborne Claimant. It gives an impression of what everyday life was like in each period and how the town has changed through the centuries as a market town, a highway town, an administrative hub, a local shopping centre and as an increasingly desirable place of residence. Alresford was originally built to a plan and has been reshaped by modern planning policies, growing in size to a population of over 5,000. With a host of fascinating and colourful pictures, including archive photos of the town and images of celebrated events such as the Watercress Festival and the Watercress Line’s ‘Light Train’ , this is a rich source of information about Alresford a n e w h i s t o r a l r e s f o r It turns out that he was a major manufacturer for the Royal Navy, who enlarged and an ideal browsing book. y e d i d t his business by marrying t e d h r the widow of another b y b r i a n t i p p e t t o u g h t i m e supplier and became a major property owner and mayor in Portsmouth. For many years the Methodist and the Congregational churches played a vital part in the religious and social life of what, one might assume, was a very peaceable community. It comes a surprise therefore to discover that when they first arrived in Alresford their preachers were pursued by a mob and brickbats were thrown through the windows of the chapel in Pound Hill. All towns like to remember celebrated visitors. It is said that Oliver Cromwell stayed at the Swan but it is strange that the passage of two kings through the town has been entirely forgotten. Crowds gathered when Charles I passed through Alresford as he was escorted from Winchester to Windsor and thence to his trial and execution, and Alresford’s cricketers ran alongside George III’s and Queen Charlotte’s coach when, cheered by townsfolk, they travelled through Alresford to review troops in Winchester. A veil of secrecy covered the Prime Minister’s movements in the Second World War but in his diary one of the American GIs stationed in Alresford in 1944 gave an eye-witness account of Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower being driven down the Avenue in an open-back car. In its general appearance Alresford seems to remain unchanged by the passage of time. But what is brought home most powerfully when one traces the town’s development through the centuries is that change is of the very essence of Alresford’s history. The flocks of sheep that once made Alresford’s streets impassable during the sheep fairs have long gone and Alresford is no longer the selfsufficient rural centre that it was when the district council, the magistrates’ court and the district workhouse were located here. Superstores in neighbouring towns have taken their toll upon the retail trade but vibrant new shops have sprung up as, with the everincreasing success of the Watercress Line and a greatly increased population, Alresford has drawn in more and more visitors while retaining its reputation as a particularly pleasant place to live.

A A H H L L S S

Alresford Pond c.1830, by G F Sargent

alresford through time a new history edited by brian tippett