About Alresford
'the ford over the river where the alder trees grow'
This site has not only been created for first time visitors to Alresford and the surrounding district, but also for residents, to provide information on local attractions, services, businesses, clubs and societies.
This site is designed to be fully accessible but if anybody has difficulty in this regard we would appreciate a note outlining the problem. Also those visitors who have information on the site please check to make sure the information is up to date. Please
us with any changes. Netscape info.
Shops
Alresford is a special place to shop - Broad Street has a wonderful assortment of shops selling gifts, china, clothes and home accessories where bargains abound. Don't miss Bakehouse Yard, under the arch by Tiffins Tea Shop in West Street. Also
visit the Broad Street Arcade, just past Lawrence Oxley's Book Shop in Broad Street, where you can enjoy hot chocolate
and pastries at The Courtyard Tea Rooms. And don't forget East Street where you will find The Long Barn selling contemporary gifts and accessories.
After many years in Alresford Stiles China Shop closed at the end of January. Liz Davies the owner has retired and she and her wonderful shop will be sadly missed in the Town.
New Alresford Town Trust
There is a vacancy for a trustee to this important, historic, honorary appointment.
If you have the interest of the Town at heart, and the energy to get involved, please send your details to the
Trust Clerk www.towntrust.org.uk
INFORMATION REQUIRED
The History & Literary Society are trying to find out more information on the service personnel named on the war memorial.
Can you help.
POLICE STATION
The Alresford Police Station is now open from 3.00 - 5.00 Monday to Thursday. The Police are interested in your views on when the office should be open. Call in, 'phone 0845 045 45 45 or
e-mail
Bag for Life
The Chamber of Commerce sponsor the eco-friendly 'Bag for Life' for local residents
and visitors that are available in local shops
It's a great way to do your bit for the environment and make your shopping easier! The bags are made from natural hessian
and are stronger and larger than the free plastic carrier bags provided by most stores so they make carrying your purchases
around town much easier. Not only that, many people are unaware that plastic bags end up in landfill sites because they
cannot be recycled. The Alresford bag for life is 100% recyclable, so purchasing one and using it regularly clearly
demonstrates your support for our environment.
The Alresford bags carry an artist's impression of the historic Georgian town, kindly drawn by local resident Mark Tubb,
alongside the statement: 'Plastic: it's not our bag!'
Discover Alresford
The visitor will find information on things to do, together with
maps
and
walks for those who wish
to
discover Alresford.
Old Photographs
A
gallery of
old photographs has been added, courtesy of the Hampshire Record Office. Each
has been individually captioned but if you can add to this information with corrections
and/or additions please
particularly with regard to date, names of the people or the event
If you have any old photographs, particularly of events in the town prior to 1990, that we can scan and add to this collection please
Petanque Pitch
Alresford's
Petanque Pitch is now open on the lower field of Arlebury Park
Parking in Alresford - UPDATE
July Update Work on the new car park at Perins School has now started and is diue for completion in September. The start date was delayed a few weeks to avoid noise interupting students taking exams.
Once the Car Park is operational there will be a stricter enforcement of the parking regulations in the town centre and it has been agreed with Winchester City Council that they will provide coverage by a Civil Enforcement Office (Parking Attendant) five out of every six days each week. This should hopefully make parking easier in the town centre but should this prove not to be the case consideration will be given to introducing Pay & Display in Broad Street & West Street.
This year New Alresford Town Council will once again be organising Hanging Baskets in the Town Centre. Everybody seems to agree that despite the poor weather in 2008 the baskets and Up-the-Poles were spectacular and we will once again be using Choice Plants in Romsey as the supplier of the baskets.
The cost of the baskets remains unchanged at £35.00 and they will be hung this year in time for the Watercress Festival on 17 May. The baskets incorporate a special reservoir system which holds over 2 litres (5 pints) of water within the basket to prevent them drying out in hot weather. The price includes the provision of the basket, hanging and removal in October as well as feeding and watering every other day throughout the season.
Please email if you would like a basket(s) this year. If required a hanging basket bracket will be fixed for you on your premises.
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Local Development Framework
Update
Following the meetings on 16 January and 16 September the Town Council established a working party to develop the Town Council's response to the Issues and Options paper. The working party made a separate report following the September meeting that has been approved by the Town Council and submitted to Winchester City Council. The essence of the report can be
viewed here.
Full report.
The essential elements of the Alresford report have been incorporated in the Core Strategy Preferred Options document which can be reviewed
here.
Changes in West Street
The improvements planned for the front of the Co-op have received broad approval from residents following their public display in December. Suggestion for minor amendments were received and most of these will be incorporated in the scheme.
The plans for the alterations to improve car parking and pedestrian access to the front of the new Coop can still be viewed here.
These plans have now been integrated into the overall design for the improvement of the south side of West Street from Station Road to Jacklyns Lane. The integrated plan can be viewed
here.
Watercress Festival
Alresford's 6th Watercress Festival was held Sunday 17 May. All the details and pictures.
'MOT' for the Town
In other words a Healthcheck for Alresford that identifies where things such as, affordable housing, pedestrian improvements, parking, roads, youth facilities and open spaces need to be improved. It also looks at the economy of the town and the business viability and is updated on a regular basis to reflect the changing needs. A summary of the most recent document is available
here.
Alresford Pocket Guide
The
Alresford Chamber of Commerce and Winchester City Council's Tourism Service has launched a new 'Pocket Guide' which is available in tourist offices across the South, and in shops and attractions in Alresford and surrounding areas. Containing events, walks and trails, eateries, attractions and retailers, along with useful information and a town map, it is
an indispensable aid for visitors.
Alresford is fast becoming a 'must visit' destination throughout the whole year, adding to the cultural diversity that
Winchester district has to offer.
Press Release
Summer in Alresford
Alresford is a very special place in summer. Enjoy strolling through the town and also enjoy Tea or Iced Coffee at one of the town's Coffee Shops or even take a break for lunch. Make sure you make the reservation at one of our restaurants or pubs for Sunday lunch or just come for dinner anyway. Walk off the excesses around the Millennium Trail alongside the River Alre and see if you can spot a Kingfisher or Green Plover. Also the
Eel House is open to the public on Sunday 19 July.
Visit the Watercress Line with special events every so often.
The National Trust House & Garden at
Hinton Ampner is now open for the season. Tuesday is the day to visit when you can see Conservation in action in the house and enjoy a guided tour of the garden at no extra cost.
Eat in Alresford
Have you booked that special 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.
Why not just come for Lunch or Dinner anyway.
Gardens Open
Hinton Ampner National Trust Garden is open until the end of October and for the first time the House will be open five days a week.
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The British Red Cross is appealing for new gardens to join its Open Gardens scheme to raise money for this worthwhile cause -
details.
Arle River Trail
The highlight of the Arle River Trail is now the newly restored
Eel House Following its near collapse the foundations and walls have been rebuilt and new railings installed which allow a better view of the western side of the building.
The Eel House will be open to the public during Easter. The Arle Valley Trail is an extension of the
Millennium Trail
Favourite Market Town
Alresford came top of the SE regional
list in Country Life's "Favourite Market Town" award and was a runner up to Hexham, the winners, in the final five!
Alresford Design Statement
In consultation with
residents New Alresford
Town Council has over
the last two years been
preparing a
Design
Statement for the
town. A design statement
is a supplementary planning
document that is produced
with the residents and
reflects what they would
like to see considered
in future planning applications.
The public consultation
period for the draft
Design
Statement has now
closed but the final
draft can still be viewed
here. As soon as the
final document is available
it will be published
here.
Alresford Museum
The
Alresford Museum Trust was recently founded to provide a museum for the town and its primary task is to to acquire suitable accommodation.
Meanwhile the intention
is to collect documents
and artifacts which will
illustrate the story
of Alresford so that
a display can be set
up that will be interesting
and educational.
The Trust requires premises and funds to set up the museum.
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