cus0183-0331 alresford millennium trail FINAL:Layout 1 11/08/2010 10:36 Page 1 § Useful Information The Alre Valley Trail, this circular walk loops off the Millennium Trail and rejoins it here. End of Millennium Trail You have now crossed the parish ® You have now reached Drove Lane. Please take extra care Millennium Trail continued The Alre Valley Trail (optional diversion) c 22 boundary and are in Old Alresford. As on the first section where, as you turn left, visibility is limited. ALRESFORD Pound Hill Within a three-mile radius of St John's, you climb up the slope you reach an About 200 metres down Drove Lane you re-cross the river and on the parish church, there are some area called New England. The two At the end of The Avenue you will walk your right are the water meadows g , referred to on the board at 60 miles of paths and tracks. Many of cottages on your left are known as New down Pound Hill 22, the site of a 'pound' the beginning of the trail. This is a good place to spot water birds these are hundreds of years old. England Cottages, built in 1700 d . for stray animals. It was also the especially during migration periods in Spring and Autumn. The Alre Valley Trail gives you an Records show that in 1891 they were location of the Hurdle House where The river here was used in the Second World War by tanks opportunity to see at closer hand d occupied by agricultural labourers from 23 hurdles for the sheep markets were practicing river crossings. It is also one of the possible sites of the some of the lovely countryside that the Arlebury Estate. stored. As you cross the top of The Travelling to Alresford ‘ford over the river where the alder tree grow’ from which surrounds Alresford. Also, for the ® Dean, immediately on your left is the Alresford lies just off the A31 between Winchester (7 miles) Please keep to the footpath at this Alresford takes its name. more adventurous, the trail leads to original Perins School building 23. and Alton (12 miles). point as it skirts a private parking area. more opportunities for longer walks if If using SatNav key in New Alresford or SO24 9JG. Follow the g ® A further 350 metres brings you to Founded in 1697, it remained here until you so wish. As you walk beyond the cottages you will brown and white tourist signs to the Watercress Line. The Winchester Road, formerly a turnpike 1932 when it was moved to its present e see a footpath in the field on your right. If Millennium Trail begins in the Station Yard where parking is road, where you turn left, back 24 site at the beginning of The Avenue. ® you want a birds-eye view of Alresford available. Buses run at least hourly from Alton & Winchester. Following on from overleaf you begin this trail by the towards the town. and the upper Alre Valley e , climb this In the remaining walk up West Street gate at the bottom of Arlebury Park recreation ground. Further information path. Cross the road and continue 100 At the junction are the lodge and gates, you will notice a number of small lanes Follow the footpath going west along the bank of the River. associated with Alresford's brewing Winchester Tourist Information Centre, metres up the next field before you look which were once the main entrance to Guildhall, High Street, As you walk along the river bank you will cross a number of back over the town. If you continue on h Arlebury Park House. trade. At one time the town is reputed Winchester, SO23 9GH. small streams flowing under the footpath. They are now used to this route you will join a series of paths to have had over two dozen pubs. Two The remainder of the trail is along the 24 take water to the adjacent fish farm, but in earlier times one of and tracks that allow extensive walks in 25 old coaching inns, The Bell , and The Tel 01962 840 500 footpath on The Avenue, g ifted to the 25 them, called Ram Stream, led water to an intake chamber from the countryside to the north. (Retrace Swan , remain. Fax 01962 850 348 town by the Bishop of Winchester for which a ram pump kept Arlebury House supplied. your steps back to the trail). ® Email [email protected] recreational purposes in 1869. In spring- At the pedestrian crossing the trail Web www.visitwinchester.co.uk ends, perhaps a good time for a cup At the end of this stretch you will reach the Eel House. On your left you will get glimpses of the time the many beds of daffodils h , See also www.alresford.org f i of tea or a bite to eat before ‘The ford over the river where the alder trees grow’. ® Use the footbridge to cross over the river and continue 18th century Arlebury Park House once originally planted by the Rotary Club, f returning to your car or the station. Facilities & accessibility down the other bank. the ‘big house’ of New Alresford ; line the way and in summer the two Alresford (pronounced Allsford) is a beautiful Georgian town, today it comprises private apartments. lines of 114 mature limes give Toilets in Station Road. Pay and Display parking in Station i one of Hampshire’s finest. Famous for for its watercress, The Eel House You will also have a panoramic view of Yard and Perin’s School, accessible from Jacklyns Lane, is free pleasant shade. Part way along you will Alresford is specialist shops, old-fashioned inns, and the Watercress Line on Sundays and some Bank Holidays. Perins Car Park is Built in the 1820s and recently restored, the roof-tops of Alresford and the tower pass The Old Toll House j a fine red- home to the a steam railway, Alresford is also renowned for its lush scenery closed Bank Holiday and Sundays after 1pm. On-street of St John’s Church. brick hexagonal building that was Mid-Hants this is where eels were trapped on and riverside walks. A lovely place for strolling, there is plenty j originally the tollhouse for the parking with time limit. The Millennium Trail is suitable for moonless autumn nights, as they Many of the ponds of the Alre Valley Steam wheelchair and pushchair users. Winchester to Alresford turnpike. A little to see in the town and by its attractive riverside. undertook their once in-a-lifetime Fishery are of recent construction, but Railway, the further down you will pass the front migration to breed a . The Eel House the oldest date back to the 18th century Watercress The Alresford Millennium Trail links together footpaths around gates of Arlebury Park House with its If you would like this leaflet in a larger format please sluices still control the water levels in when they were created for the pleasure Line. the town with illustrated boards which give information on fine Cedar of Lebanon tree. contact the tourist information centre on the river and the surrounding fish farms. of the owners of Arlebury House. Why not the history of Alresford, its inhabitants, wildlife and 01962 840 500 or b ® spend a day The Eel House sitting astride the river b Rejoin the Millennium Trail at the countryside setting. If you would like to explore a little further e-mail [email protected] , in the UK’s can be viewed externally at all times but gates of Arlebury Park Recreation then add on the optional loop known as the Alre Valley Trail. watercress it is also open to the public on certain Ground. Revised edition published 2010 by ©New Alresford Town Council, Tel 01962 732 079 Fax capital and public holidays and Alresford Watercress 01962 734 629 Email:[email protected] Publication assisted by the ride the New Alresford Society and Winchester City Council. Whilst every endeavour has been made to Festival dayc . For details see Alresford ensure the accuracy of information contained route the Working with www.towntrust.org.uk or town Town in this publication, no responsibility can be crops once taken for errors, omissions or subsequent notice boards. Council amendments. CUS0183-0331 June 2010. took to Produced by Winchester City Council. market? www.alresford.org cus0183-0331 alresford millennium trail FINAL:Layout 1 11/08/2010 10:39 Page 7 The Millennium Trail You can add an optional diversion within the Millennium Trail by branching off onto the Alre Valley Trail, shown overleaf. ® The Millennium Trail Ahead of you is: 14 Take the footpath that leads off 18 ®150 metres from The Dean you will Broad Street the right side of the lane. reach a kissing gate. This is where the Look out for the display boards round the trail with details of To the right of this stretch of footpath is 1.6 mile Alre Valley Trail leaves the what to see and local history and don’t forget the bread for One of Hampshire’s finest street scenes 4 an area now reserved for wildlife. Millennium Trail to continue down the the ducks! 4 . Essentially Georgian, it was laid out at Through the trees to the right you will valley. (Turn over for information on the the beginning of the 13th century by The Station Yard just glimpse Weir House, once the home Alre Valley Trail). To continue on the Bishop de Lucy, who built a town called of a local benefactor, Sir Francis Lindley.