Arlresford

Another nice breakfast and off on a leisurely trip across the South Downs. We stopped and had a bit of walk through Cheriton which is a small village located near Winchester. Apparently the village is most famous for being close to the location of the Battle of Cheriton in the English Civil War in 1644. There were quite a few thatched cottages in this town and the river Ichen has its source here.

 

 

 

 

 

The church dates from the 12th century and is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels. It was built on a mound possibly of ancient origin? Some of the stones built into this 12 th century church appear to be from more ancient sources.

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Then onto Alresford railway. This restored steam railway is commonly used in period dramas. We bought a day ticket and journeyed from here to Alton, 10 miles away. There were 2 stops in between. Beautiful English countryside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our train trips we went back to Arlesford and had a scrumptious roast dinner for lunch. Afterwards we wandered around the town.

Alresford (pronounced Allsford) is a beautiful Georgian Town which for many centuries was a prosperous wool town. Old Alresford is mentioned in the Domesday Book but the present town of New Alresford did not come into existence much before 1200 at the time when the Great Weir was being built to create Old Alresford Pond as a fish pond for the Bishop's Palace at Bishop's Sutton and a reservoir for the mills along the Itchen. The colour-washed Georgian houses you see today rose from the ashes of great fires in the 17th Century. The river Arle meanders all through the town and there are old mills dotted throughout.