Alton grew from a small farming community with a corn mill on the river into a town of sufficient status to send two burgesses to Parliament by 1295. The town that grew up around the river crossing (George Bridge) took a shape which has hardly altered, the streets that served its medieval life having determined its development up to the present day.
Fortunately for Alton it was spared the 19th century industrialisation suffered by many similar towns, though land along Butts Road became the site for new building, led by the demand for public services - the gas works in 1844 and the police station in 1845. Houses soon followed by the expansion was contained within a new boundary formed by the Alton to Winchester railway line in the 1860s. The present century has seen urban development of the large farms of Amery, Anstey Manor and much of Willhall and, most recently, of the old common fields of Borovere and Hogpath field.
Photographers have been recording the town since the mid-19th century and the authors have made skilful use of superb surviving images to illuminate their narrative and to give a vivid, visual impression of the town in the past, of events, and of the people who lived and worked there. Their book will be widely welcomed throughout the area.
Contents:
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
A Brief History of Alton
Photographs of Alton
Bibliography
Review:... the publishers are to be congratulated for maintaining their reputation at the forefront of local history publishing ... a sure-fire best-seller ... whole-heartedly recommended ... - Alton Gazette
