'The ford over the river where the alder trees grow'
The ford, from which Alresford takes its name,
ran from the bottom of The Dean along the bed of
the river and emerged in front of the fulling mill
to join with the road from Abbotstone to Old
Alresford once the main Winchester to London road.
The level of the river was once lower than it is today and it was easy for horses and carts to proceed along the river bottom for the hundred yards or so and on to the opposite bank.