74-603: The Mid-Hants Railway (MHR) originated when local people promoted a railway line between Alton and a junction near Winchester , connected to the larger London and South Western Railway at each end. It was authorised as the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway in 1861, and changed its name to the Mid-Hants Railway in 1865. It was opened for traffic in 1865. It was a single track 18 miles long, and had some very steep gradients. It had been unable to raise much share capital and it
148-628: A Parliamentary army of around 5,000 men. The Royalist cavalry fled, leaving Sir Richard Bolle (or Boles) and his infantry to fight. Outnumbered, the Royalists were forced into the Church of St Lawrence , where Bolle was killed along with many of his men. Over 700 Royalist soldiers were captured and bullet holes from the battle are still visible in the church today. In 1665, Alton suffered an outbreak of bubonic plague , but soon recovered. On Saturday, 24 August 1867, an eight-year-old girl, Fanny Adams ,
222-534: A 999 year lease from 1 January 1880 for £9,200 yearly. The MHR could within two years require the LSWR to purchase it, or the LSWR could give three months' notice of doing so for £130,000 in cash and £100,000 in 4 per cent LSWR preference stock. The South Western Railway Act 1881 ( 44 & 45 Vict. c. ccix) of 22 August confirmed this, and the LSWR acquired the MHR on those terms on 30 June 1884. The line continued in operation as
296-543: A concession to the promoters over the working agreement, and indicated the possibility that it would take shares in the line. The LSWR also conceded clauses stipulating the arrangements at junctions with the LSWR and use of its stations at Alton and Winchester stations. The Alton, Alresford & Winchester Railway (AAWR), got its authorising act of Parliament, the Alton, Alresford, and Winchester Railway Act 1861 ( 24 & 25 Vict. c. cxi) on 28 June 1861; permitted share capital
370-600: A cost of about £25,000, and the board decided to leave matters as they were. Indecisive management by the board was also exhibited at the first shareholders' general meeting, when the chairman stated that “the line was being staked out by the engineer, or at least he would commence doing so this week.” It was also announced that there had been a disappointing take-up of shares, only £20,000 having been subscribed: obviously construction could not start in earnest. Some limited construction work probably started in late December 1861 or soon after, by Smith & Knight, contractors, under
444-479: A day from Bournemouth to Margate via Alresford, Guildford and Redhill . The fortunes of rural railway lines were not good, as road transport for agricultural produce became more efficient, and the low level of passenger and goods business declined. In July 1930 the passing loops at Ropley and Itchen Abbas were removed as an economy measure. On 1 June 1901 the Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway opened. It joined
518-635: A direct railway from Woking through Aldershot to Farnham (not Fareham) was planned, the directors expected greatly to increase their traffic and to become part of the shortest main route from London to the Isle of Wight , via Stokes Bay . Reflecting the wider scope of its planned network, the AAWR changed its name to become the Mid-Hants Railway Company (MHR) When the matter was considered in Parliament, however
592-659: A large, permanent ceramics collection as well as temporary exhibitions. Holybourne Theatre is on the site of a former Nissen hut that was converted into a theatre by German prisoners-of-war during World War II . Plays have been performed there since 1950, but the official opening was not until 1971. Alton Morris was formed in 1979, and have been Morris dancing both in the United Kingdom and abroad. They often perform at Alton street events. Local choirs include Alton Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, established in 1921, who perform two musical shows and one play each year in
666-616: A minor part of the LSWR system. As the LSWR had been operating the line, there was no outward indication of the change. In 1923 the LSWR was transferred into the larger Southern Railway as part of the process known as the Grouping of the Railways, following the Railways Act 1921 . Prior to 1937, the Mid-Hants passenger service included trains from Waterloo to Southampton. There was one through train
740-453: A new agreement was reached. This was for seven years. from 1 January 1878, giving the MHR the same proportions of gross receipts, but including a mileage proportion of all goods. and mineral traffic passing between stations in the Guildford and Alton areas and the LSWR system west of Winchester. Another agreement of 3 August 1880 cancelled that of 1878 as from 31 December 1879, and gave the LSWR
814-410: A rearrangement of its stock. The LSWR opened a new line from Pirbright Junction (near Brookwood ) to Farnham Junction on 2 May 1870. This formed a direct route from London to Alton: up until that time the eastward connection to Alton had only been via Guildford, making a rather roundabout journey from London. The new line put the MHR potentially on a direct line between London and Southampton. However
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#1732868746329888-531: A service to London Waterloo . Alton railway station is the terminus for the Watercress Line , formerly the Mid Hants Railway, a restored steam railway running between Alton and New Alresford , so called because it used to be used to transport fresh watercress to London. The Watercress Line is now a charity largely operated by volunteers, and best known for its events such as Steam Illuminations, War on
962-525: A wide variety of musical and dramatic styles. Alton Community Choir sings unaccompanied Hampshire folk songs as well as some African, gospel , blues and calypso music . A new Alton Arts Festival is due to take place over 10 days in July 2024. The Alton Independent Cinema Project was formed in May ;2011 to help secure the future of independent cinema in the town. Alton Maltings was renovated in 2004–2005 and
1036-773: Is a market town and civil parish in East Hampshire , England, near the source of the northern branch of the River Wey . It had a population of 19,425 at the 2021 census. Alton was recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086 as Aoltone . During the Saxon period Alton was known as Aweltun . The Battle of Alton occurred in the town during the English Civil War . It also has connections with Sweet Fanny Adams and Jane Austen . The Alton Hoard of Iron Age coins and jewellery found in
1110-455: Is approximately 9 °C (48.2 °F ) and shows a seasonal and a diurnal variation. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 0.5 and 2 °C (32.9 and 35.6 °F). June and July are the warmest months in the area with average daily maximum around 21 °C (69.8 °F). There have been a number of breweries in Alton since 1763. Coors Brewing Company (among
1184-437: Is between Farnham 9 miles (14 km) to the northeast and Winchester 16 miles (26 km) to the southwest. London is 52 miles (84 km). Nearby Brockham Hill, situated 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometres) northeast of Alton, rises to 225 metres (738 feet) above sea level . Along with the rest of South East England , Alton has a temperate climate which is generally warmer than the rest of the country. The annual mean temperature
1258-467: Is featured on Kitchin's map of Hampshire (1751) which marks the town as Alton Mt. Sat. 1307 was, in fact, the first year of Edward II's reign but Edmund of Woodstock was not lord of the manor then. According to the Victoria County History (written after Curtis' book):- In 1273 Edward I granted the manor [of Alton Westbrook] to his mother, Queen Eleanor, who died in 1291, when it reverted to
1332-539: Is now the home of Harvest Church and is used by community groups, charities, private users and other organisations throughout the week. The Alton Maltings claims to be the widest wooden spanned building in Hampshire. Alton Library was rebuilt in 2005 to a design by the County Council Architects . The new library contains a lending library, reference library, computer facilities and a cafe. Alton Sports Centre
1406-700: Is on the B3006 Alton to Selborne road, and is occupied by Inter Group Insurance Services (IGIS), a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland . Inter Group employs over 170 people on this site, and specialises in travel insurance . The company has operated in Alton since 1999. It was acquired by Churchill Insurance in 2001, becoming part of RBS Insurance division in 2003 as part of an RBS takeover. However, on 11 November 2008, Inter Group announced its proposal to close its office in Alton in August ;2009 due to "changes in
1480-417: Is open to the public and includes a swimming pool, gym, indoor and outdoor courts. The Curtis Museum was founded in 1856 by Dr William Curtis and houses one of the finest local history collections in Hampshire. The Town Gardens contains a bandstand (built in 1935 for the silver jubilee of King George V ), a children's playground, flower beds, trees and shrubs (4.5 acres (18,000 m )). The bandstand
1554-469: Is via Alton, it also includes Odiham and Hook if going towards Basingstoke ) and 38 to Petersfield (via Chawton , Selborne , Greatham and Liss ). Alton is twinned with: [REDACTED] Media related to Alton, Hampshire at Wikimedia Commons Tichborne Tichborne is a village and civil parish 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Winchester in Hampshire , England. In archaeology in
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#17328687463291628-566: The Alton Buckle which is on display in the Curtis Museum and considered to be the finest piece of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship found in Hampshire. The buckle, found in the grave of a warrior, has a silver-gilt body set with garnets and glass. The River Wey has a source in the town, and the name Alton comes from an Anglo-Saxon word "aewielltun" meaning "farmstead at the source of the river" . In 1001 Danish forces invaded England and during
1702-581: The First Battle of Alton the forces of Wessex came together and fought against them. About 81 Englishmen were killed, including Ethelwerd the King's high-steward, Leofric of Whitchurch, Leofwin the King's high-steward, Wulfhere a bishop's thane, and Godwin of Worthy, Bishop Elfsy's son. The Danes were the victors although Danish casualties were higher and fleeing Englishmen took refuge in Winchester . Aoltone , in
1776-518: The Grammar School ), and Amery Hill School . There is an independent Catholic day school, Alton School (formerly Alton Convent School), which educates boys and girls from 6 months to 18 years old. Sixth-form education is provided by Alton College , which has gained outstanding inspection reports from Ofsted . Alton station is on the National Rail network at the end of the Alton line with
1850-760: The Local Government Act 1972 , Alton had fallen under the aegis of the (now defunct) Alton Urban District Council. The Act resulted in the dissolution of this body, and the establishment (on 1 April 1974) of the current Alton Town Council. The responsibilities of the Alton Urban District Council were divided between the new Alton Town Council, the Hampshire County Council and the newly formed East Hampshire District Council . The Council meets at Alton Town Hall , in Market Square. Alton
1924-562: The River Itchen and Watercress Line railway. The Church of England parish church of Saint Andrew has an 11th-century Saxo - Norman chancel that combines characteristically Saxon double-splayed windows with Norman flat buttresses and has reached Grade I listed status. The nave and two- bay arcades are Early English Gothic . The north aisle is now railed off to form the Tichborne Chapel, with monuments to members of
1998-623: The 'Odingeton Hundred — Hantescire' is recorded as having the most valuable market in the Domesday Book . The Treaty of Alton was signed in 1101 between William the Conqueror 's eldest son Robert II of Normandy and his brother Henry I of England . Henry had seized the throne while his elder brother was away on the first crusade . Robert returned to claim the throne, landing in Portsmouth . The brothers met in Alton and agreed terms which formed
2072-447: The 19 miles between Alton and Winchester in one hour, but from 1 August 1866 the fastest journey was 47min. Journeys from Southampton to London using the line via Guildford were now possible, but slow; a typical journey time was 3 hours 26 minutes compared with 2 hours 18 minutes via Basingstoke. There were already clear signs of tension between the LSWR and the MHR company; this was illustrated when MHR directors asked for free passes over
2146-501: The Charter Rolls, 14 Edward II, no.15). The grant was for a 9-day fair – the vigil [eve] and feast of Whitsuntide and seven days after. The two main manors in Alton – Alton Eastbrook and Alton Westbrook – had a fair each. That of Alton Eastbrook has no extant charter, and may never have had one. It was originally held on St Lawrence's Day and so its origin was, presumably, the patronal festival. The religious aspect would have ceased when
2220-618: The Creative Arts in Farnham. It is home to Treloar's, an independent educational establishment founded in 1907 by Sir William Purdie Treloar, Lord Mayor of London , to provide education for young people with physical disabilities. Treloar's now runs Treloar School and College, a provision of education for pupils aged from 2–25 with physical and learning difficulties in Holybourne . The state secondary schools in Alton are Eggar's School (formerly
2294-493: The Crown and was granted in 1299 as dower to his second wife, Margaret of France. On the death of Queen Margaret in 1317, it again came to the Crown, and Edward II gave it in 1319 to his brother Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent. As can be seen, Queen Margaret held the manor until 1317 and so the fair could not have been granted to Edmund of Woodstock in 1307. The correct date for the grant seems to be 22 November 1320 (according to
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2368-425: The LSWR at Alton and Winchester, made this impractical. A long lease to the LSWR was agreed in 1880 and the business was sold to the LSWR in 1884. Electric trains from London were able to reach Alton in 1937, and passenger trains were only shuttle services from Alton, but the introduction of diesel trains on a frequent timetable in 1957 improved the meagre passenger business. Nevertheless the passenger and goods use of
2442-401: The LSWR between London and Alton, Winchester and Southampton. The LSWR told them that as a matter of right they were not entitled to travel free on the line now that it was leased. In January 1866 the MHR complained repeatedly that the LSWR was not operating the railway to achieve best results. Average receipts for the operation of the line averaged about £7,000 for the first three years, giving
2516-524: The LSWR. The situation naturally became well known in financial circles, and in August 1862 a Mr Arthur Hankey wrote to the board offering to finance the construction personally subject to certain financial considerations. Hankey was going to loan the money against Lloyds bonds. The board was uncertain whether it had the power to accept this financing arrangement, but it was persuaded after taking legal advice. Hankey's financial considerations would obviously involve
2590-578: The Line and Day Out With Thomas featuring Thomas the Tank Engine . The origins of the Watercress Line date back to 1861, the year in which Parliament granted consent for what was then known as the 'Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway'. Four years later the Mid Hants Railway opened, and the train service continued until the line was closed in 1973. Then in 1977 the line was partially re-opened, in 1983 it
2664-514: The MHR an annual profit of about £3,675. On 31 January 1867 a bill in Chancery was filed against the company, in respect of unpaid interest owed, and on 4 July 1867 a receiver was appointed. While the situation lasted the MHR share of receipts had to be handed direct to the receiver. The MHR was released from receivership when it filed a scheme of arrangement-with its creditors, confirmed in April 1869, making
2738-457: The MHR line. The original working agreement had been for ten years and MHR dissatisfaction was such that the directors decided not to renew it. They were going to seek running powers between Guildford and Winchester, and were preparing to work their line with their own rolling stock. The LSWR promised another agreement on improved terms, and negotiations began: the LSWR continued to work the line meanwhile, and matters dragged on 15 August 1878, when
2812-477: The MHR naively imagined that the LSWR ought to transfer through traffic between London and Southampton away from the main line over the MHR, an operationally difficult single line with steep gradients. The friction between the MHR and the LSWR led to a Parliamentary Commission hearing. The MHR listed a series of complaints and demands for facilities off its own route, while the LSWR indicated a number of technical matters that had needed to be attended to so as to improve
2886-402: The MHR route, and the Hampshire units took over. An hourly regular interval service operated seven days a week, and the journey time between Alton and Southampton Terminus was reduced from 75 minutes to 55. Good connections were made at Alton with London trains. Passenger numbers increased markedly: carryings were 50% up (from a very low base). At the same time goods business declined steeply. In
2960-490: The MHR was able to pay dividends of 4%, when the LSWR could take 45%. The LSWR built a new through station at Alton; the old terminus station buildings were converted to house the stationmaster. The single line between Alton and Winchester Junction opened to the public on 2 October 1865, with one goods and four passenger trains each way on weekdays only; some of the passenger trains were LSWR Guildford to Alton trains extended to Southampton. While earthworks settled, trains covered
3034-437: The Mid-Hants Railway by a junction called Butts Junction , a mile west of Alton. The line from Butts junction through Alton had been doubled in readiness, but Butts Junction handled three converging single lines. The line was temporarily closed in 1916 to release materials for the war effort, resuming in 1924. It finally closed to passengers in 1932 and when goods traffic ceased in 1936 the line closed completely. Undeterred by
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3108-474: The Treaty of Alton. Part of the main street through Alton is called Normandy Street, probably reflecting this event. The first recorded market in Alton was in 1232, although the market at Neatham first recorded in the Domesday Book may also have been in the town. Blome wrote in 1673 of a 'market on Saturdays, which is very great for provisions, where also are sold good store of living cattle'. The Saturday market
3182-403: The act, held on 6 July 1861, the directors expressed concern about the severe 1 in 60 gradients on the authorised line, and they asked Errington to survey an alternative route. He did so, and suggested an alternative route that limited the gradients to 1 in 75, but at the expense of an 800 yard tunnel. It was noted that an altered line of route would require a fresh authorising act of Parliament, at
3256-570: The coast. A line had been designed with the professional help of J E Errington. When the bill was under consideration in Parliament, the LSWR opposed it, and declined to negotiate an arrangement to operate the line when it was built. However there was reason to be concerned that rejection of the AAWR would encourage it to align with the Petersfield Railway, which was then seeking an extension to Southampton . The LSWR did not want to encourage an incursion into its established territory, so it made
3330-518: The company made a ten year working agreement with the LSWR on 17 February 1865. The line had to be "at least as substantial and complete in all respects as the Portsmouth Railway (Godalming to Havant)" of the LSWR, and if traffic justified it, the MHR was to double the line. The LSWR was to stock, staff and work the line, but the MHR would appoint the secretary and office staff except booking clerks. The LSWR would receive 42.5% of gross receipts until
3404-494: The company paying more for their line, but the alternative was to abandon the project. Hankey entered into a contract with the company on 3 February 1863 and engaged Smith and Knight as contractors for the construction. Notwithstanding the poor take-up of shares, the AAWR published plans early in 1864 for another line, from Ropley to Fareham . The original main line, now under construction, was directed to Winchester and Southampton, but this new proposal pointed towards Portsmouth. As
3478-629: The country was no longer Roman Catholic. This fair seems to have been held on Crown Close (which is in the manor of Alton Eastbrook) in the early 19th century. When this land was built upon, the fair moved and was held where ever the Westbrook fair was – the Market Place, various meadows and the Butts. The date of the Eastbrook fair was changed to Michaelmas in the mid-18th century as it came during harvest time and
3552-539: The end of train operation on the line. A heritage operator, the Mid-Hants Railway Limited, was formed to preserve and operate the Alton to Alresford section. It opened from Alresford to Ropley on 30 April 1977, reached Medstead & Four Marks on 28 May 1983 and finally ran through to Alton, enabling cross-platform passenger interchange from British Rail trains there, on 25 May 1985. The line climbed at 1 in 100 from Alton station, to Butts Junction, which itself
3626-503: The engineer, J. H. Tolme. Some landowners agreed to take payment for their land in shares rather than cash. The original intention to build a line as cheaply as possible had to be modified when the LSWR’s requirements (as prospective operator) were taken into account. Bridges had to be built sufficient for widening to a double line later, and the track had to be made to the LSWR's main line standards. These stipulations generated bad feeling against
3700-475: The farmers were not satisfied. Some accounts for this fair in the early 18th century do survive and show that there was a cheese fair as well the usual mix of travelling and local people with stalls and stands – people selling lace, gloves, books, gingerbread, bodices, sugar plums, toys, soap and knives, to name but a few. By the late 19th century, this fair was said to be mainly for horses, sheep and, occasionally, hops. Alton still has an annual fair, but it now takes
3774-545: The form of a carnival . Eggar's School was founded in 1640 by John Eggar of Moungomeries as the Free Grammar School . It later became known as Eggar's Grammar School. It occupied a site in Anstey Road until it moved to a new site in Holybourne in 1969. A battle was fought in Alton during the English Civil War . A small Royalist force was quartered in the town when on 13 December 1643 they were surprised by
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#17328687463293848-445: The intended route were held back by lack of railway access, and that the cost of their necessities of life had greatly increased. A single line would be constructed as economically as possible, and with gradients suitable to the improvements in the present powers of traction. In addition, it was claimed, the line would connect the major Army depot at Aldershot with military establishments at Winchester, Dorchester , Netley Hospital and
3922-445: The line was unsustainable and the line closed in 1973. A heritage operator, the Watercress Line , works trains on the line between Alton and Alresford . In 1852 Alton was connected to the emerging railway network when it became the terminus of an LSWR branch line from Guildford . In the following years it became evident that communities that were not connected to a railway experienced a major disadvantage compared to those that were:
3996-514: The manor since the 12th century. Tichborne House was built shortly after 1803 while a longstanding baronetcy (indicating the use of 'Sir') was held by the family. There was a notorious 19th-century legal case of the Tichborne Claimant , in which an English imposter, Arthur Orton , then living in Australia , claimed to be missing Tichborne family member Sir Roger Tichborne . Almost all of
4070-457: The manorial family Inside the chapel is a tomb with full-sized horizontal images of Sir Benjamin Tichborne (d.1621) and his wife Amphillis. It is rare in being dedicated as a Roman Catholic chapel within a pre-Reformation Anglican Parish Church. The west tower was added in 1703 and is built of blue and red brick. It has a ring of six bells cast between 1737 and 1887. Tichborne holds
4144-546: The new line was cut back to run only from Ropley to Meonstoke . The name change and permission to build this stub were passed in the Mid Hants Act 1864 ( 27 & 28 Vict. c. ccxcviii) of 29 July, effective from 1 January 1865, with extra capital powers of £25,000. The Meonstoke line was never built and no capital was ever raised for it; it was formally abandoned by Board of Trade warrant of 29 October 1869. Expecting soon to open its original line between Alton and Winchester,
4218-464: The other buildings are clustered near each other and are listed buildings . They include an Old Rectory, which may indicate chancel repair liability , the Chapel of St Margaret and Tichborne Park House. Near Cheriton is the only Grade II* listed building, Sevington Farmhouse. 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Alresford are a northern small street of cottages, Lady Croft Cottages and Seward's Bridge over
4292-492: The period 1963 to 1967, the process of electrification of the main Bournemouth line was under way, and frequently main line trains were diverted over the MHR. The decline in ordinary use of the line continued, and moves were made to close it. After a considerable series of hearings and appeals, it was announced that last day of operation would be 4 February 1973. Closure of the line on 5 February 1973 by British Rail did not mean
4366-519: The poor outcome of the Mid-Hants line, the LSWR promoted the Meon Valley Railway, which was to run between Alton and a junction at Fareham, giving access to Gosport and Stokes Bay, a pier for steamers to the Isle of Wight. It was opened in 1903. It too joined the Mid-Hants line at Butts Junction. Passenger train operation ended in 1955, and the goods train connection to a residual stub of the line at Alton
4440-478: The retail and service sectors in the centre of the town, and over a hundred businesses in the four industrial areas of Mill Lane, Newman Lane, Caker Stream and Omega Park, ranging from light industrial to computer software production. Clarcor , TNT N.V. and Poseidon Diving Systems all have businesses in Alton's Industrial Site, Mill Lane. One of Alton's largest commercial employers is the financial services sector. Lumbry Park, which used to be known as Lumbry Farm,
4514-569: The south of the parish within the South Downs National Park is a bell barrow, bowl barrow and regular aggregate field system immediately east of Ganderdown Farm, a Scheduled Ancient Monument indicating Bronze Age inhabitation. In AD 909 Edward the Elder granted the manor of Tichborne to Denewulf , Bishop of Winchester . However, Tichborne is not recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The Roman Catholic Tichborne family has held
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#17328687463294588-413: The ten largest brewers in the world) had a brewery in Alton for fifty years, which produced Carling , Grolsch and Worthington . It closed in 2015 because it lost work from Heineken . Alton was significant in the 18th century for the manufacture of paper and of dress materials including ribbed druggets , shallons, silks and serges , bombazine and figured barragons . Alton has businesses in
4662-439: The transport costs of heavy commodities being brought in were very high, and locally manufactured goods and agricultural products suffered corresponding costs. People living in the villages between Alton and Winchester now sought a railway connection to Winchester. However the area was thinly populated and lacked industry; moreover the terrain was challenging and any line would necessitate a daunting climb to Medstead , to get out of
4736-512: The travel insurance market", leading to the loss of 104 full-time staff and around 16 part-time. Alton has a range of chain stores and independent shops including greengrocers, butchers and a hardware shop. There are five main supermarkets that serve the town. Jane Austen Regency Week is a celebration of the time the author Jane Austen spent in Alton and Chawton and is held in June each year. The Allen Gallery serves as Alton's art gallery. It houses
4810-404: The valley of the River Wey and cross the watershed into the valley of the River Itchen . The LSWR made it clear that it was not interested in co-operating with a local scheme. Nevertheless a projected line was submitted to the 1861 session of Parliament; it was to be called the Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway. In March 1861 the promoters issued a prospectus acknowledging that villages on
4884-489: The vicinity of the town in 1996 is now in the British Museum . There is evidence of a Roman posting station at Neatham near Alton, probably called Vindomis, and a ford across the River Wey on the line of a Roman road that ran from Chichester to Silchester . An Anglo-Saxon settlement was established in the area and a 7th-century cemetery was discovered during building excavations. It contained grave goods including
4958-516: Was closed down in 1968. The closure of the Basingstoke line meant that there were only two routes converging on Alton, and in 1935 Butts Junction signal box was abolished. The former double track from there to Alton became two single tracks: the Mid-Hants line and the Meon Valley line continued into Alton independently. On 4 July 1937 electric trains started operating to Alton (and to Portsmouth Direct). A frequent train service between Alton and London
5032-874: Was extended further, and in 1985 it was re-opened as far as Alton to connect with the mainline London service. Alton was previously the site of a railway junction at Butts Junction . As well as the Mid-Hants Railway, from 1903 to 1955 the Meon Valley Railway ran from Alton down the Meon Valley to join the Eastleigh to Fareham line at Fareham . The Basingstoke & Alton Light Railway ran north to Basingstoke . Buses in Alton are operated by Stagecoach South . These buses include, 64 to Winchester (via Four Marks , Ropley , Bishop’s Sutton , New Alresford and Science Centre ), 65 to Guildford (via Bentley and Farnham ), 13 to Basingstoke or Whitehill (this route
5106-459: Was heavily indebted from the outset, incurring heavy interest outlays. The MHR was dependent on the LSWR to operate its line, but there was constant antagonism between the two companies, as the MHR felt that the LSWR ought to do more to bring traffic to the line; this included the wish that the LSWR would divert main line expresses over the MHR. The MHR talked of operating the line itself, but its massive indebtedness, and its operational dependency on
5180-474: Was level, then stiffening to 1 in 60. The climb is five miles to Boyneswood summit, 652 feet above sea level. The line then falls at 1 in 60 for just over 2 miles, then almost continuously 1 in 80 to Winchester Road, a mile west of Alresford station. The fall was 437 feet in a little under 7 miles. From that point to Winchester includes some 1 in 100 gradients, but these are not consistent. Alton, Hampshire Alton ( / ˈ ɔː l t ən / AWL -tən )
5254-624: Was murdered in Alton. Her assailant, Frederick Baker, a local solicitor's clerk, was one of the last criminals to be executed in Winchester. Fanny Adams' grave can still be seen in Alton cemetery. The brutal murder, so the story goes, coincided with the introduction of tinned meat in the Royal Navy , and the sailors who did not like the new food said the tins contained the remains of "Sweet Fanny Adams" or "Sweet F.A." The expression "sweet fanny adams" has an old-fashioned slang meaning of nothing. Prior to
5328-585: Was operating, and the MHR was now a non-electrified extension. There was no operational convenience in running through trains from east of Alton on to the MHR, and so a shuttle passenger service operated by push and pull trains worked between Alton and Winchester. After nationalisation of the railways in 1948, a programme of introduction of diesel traction was implemented, and local trains on the Hampshire group of services began to be operated by diesel-electric multiple units that came to be known as Hampshire units. After 3 November 1957 steam passenger operation ceased on
5402-459: Was replaced in 2013 to commemorate Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. Anstey Park, is a large open space with playing fields and a small children's playground (32 acres (130,000 m )); the park is home to the town's rugby club. Alton lies approximately midway between the University of Winchester and the University of Surrey at Guildford but its nearest University campus is the University for
5476-413: Was set at £150,000, and the LSWR could take up to £25,000 in shares if it wished. The AAWR line authorised was 18 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles in length, from the LSWR near Alton station, through Medstead and Ropley , passing near Alresford church, and onwards via Tichborne and Itchen Abbas to a junction with the LSWR about two miles north of Winchester station. At a board meeting immediately after getting
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