Alresford - that's 'Allsford' to those in the know!

Following our coffee in Caracoli,(see below) we strolled around the pretty town, looking in the many unique shop windows and then followed the signs to the station from where the Watercress Line (officially the Mid Hants Railway) starts.

It is a heritage railway, saved by enthusiasts and run by volunteers, that runs 10 miles from Alresford to Alton. These volunteers raised the money to re-open the line as a visitor attraction, first from Alresford to Ropley, then to Alton, where the line has its own platform - no.3, with its own special buildings.

The station is all spic and span in its gleaming green paintwork and polished brass. Beyond the station is a sidings for carriages awaiting renovation and somewhere to shunt the engine to and fro for the jouney to Alton and back. There is a working signal box with a system of 'keys' that only allows one train at a time on the single track with multiple failsafes to prevent accidents. Old tin adverts line the walls as well as period posters about the railway, and a station cafe caters for travellers needs.

We lingered so long, looking in the signal box and crossing the bridge to the other platform, that we were just in time to see the next train to arrive from Alton. There were clouds of steam, noise and shouting as the train drew slowly into the station and all the passengers alighted. Now the engine, which had reversed all the way from Alton, shunted into the sidings and waited for the points to change. Then it chuffed forwards and passed the coaches waiting at the platform to beyond the points at the other end. These were then changed and the engine backed up to rejoin its train of coaches. Lots of steam and excitement for the watching crowd. Soon it would be on its way again on the last round trip of the day.

We walked back into town, and wandered down Broad Street to view Old Alresford Pond that was created in the 12th century when Bishop de Lucy built the Great Weir. It's said this was to make a fish pond so he had plenty of fish for his table, but it also created a head of water for several mills that would be built down stream. There were also water meadows here where the people grew watercress.

We walked back up the hill and dropped into Caracoli again for a cup of tea and a gingerbread hedgehog before walking back to Long Barn and the car.

We will have to return to Alresford and follow the Millennium and the Arle Valley Trails to discover more about this delightful town.

Alresford
Watercress Line