WELCOME TO
THE ALTON SOCIETY
The origins of the Alton Society date back at least 50 years and the nature of the work we undertake today has barely changed.
Our ethos is to work on behalf of the community in maintaining the character of Alton, both architectural and cultural, while recognising that change is inevitable. We are critical friends to developers and the Town and District Councils, embracing proposed developments or suggesting alternatives.
The Society provides grants to organisations for projects that align with the Society’s aims. We also support the Alton College Foundation by offering creative writing scholarships.
The Alton Society is nothing without its members who support us through their annual subscriptions. Membership is a positive statement of your investment in the town and environs, and as a bonus a second person at the same address becomes a full member of the Society by default for no additional subscription.
David Simpkins
Chairman
ABOUT ALTON
The thriving market town of Alton offers a delightful mix of historic and contemporary buildings. It is well known for its regular Tuesday market.
The town’s Curtis Museum has one of the finest local history collections in Hampshire including the celebrated Roman cup found near Selborne and an impressive Anglo Saxon buckle. Its childhood gallery is packed with toys, children's books and dolls dating back to the 18th century.
The Allen Gallery is an intimate setting for one of the most outstanding collections of ceramics in the south of England. The museum includes country pottery, English stoneware, Wedgwood, English delft, English porcelain, studio pottery, tiles and more. The gallery holds regular exhibitions of art, crafts and photography.
The 11th-century St Lawrence Church featured in the Battle of Alton, a skirmish in the civil war. Royalists in the town were surprised by a Parliamentary force and were beaten back to the church where they set up defences and where they were eventually defeated.
The village of Chawton, famously the home of Jane Austen, is nearby and the Watercress Line preserved steam railway goes from Alton through the village of Medstead and Ropley and on to Alresford.
Nearby Selborne was home to naturalist Gilbert White. Here you can explore the famous zig-zag pathway, enjoy the views and explore the hanger or visit Gilbert White's House & The Oates Collection in the village.
CONTACT
ALTON map
