Alton, a small town and a parish in Hants, on the L. & S.W.R., 47 miles from London. The river Wey rises close to the town, which dates from the time of the Saxons; was the scene of a meeting with the Danes in 1001; sent a member to parliament in the time of Edward I.; and was taken, in 1643, by the Parliamentarian forces of Sir William Waller from the Royalist force of Colonel Boles. It consists chiefly of one long steep street, contains some handsome houses, is a seat of petty sessions, and has two banks. It formerly had a considerable manufactory of bombazines, and afterwards manufactures of silk, druggets, serges, and other fabrics. It now has extensive breweries of much note, and a large paper mill. A weekly market is held on Tuesday, and fairs on the Saturday before 1 May, 11 July, and 29 Sept. The market-house has been enlarged, and other aids to the market effected. The parish church is a spacious edifice, variously Saxon, Norman, and Later English, with square embattled tower and spire, and contains some wall paintings of the 15th century; it has been restored and much improved. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Winchester; value, £320. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Winchester. The Church of All Saints is situated at the west end of the town. The living is a vicarage; net value, £300, in the gift of the Bishop of Winchester. There are a grammar school, mechanics' institute, an extensive museum, a cottage hospital, assembly rooms, a Constitutional Club, and workhouse. There are chapels for Congregationalists, Wesleyan Methodists, Baptists, and Quakers, also a Roman Catholic church. A popular adage makes the town noted for its Quakers, and Bernard Barton has embalmed them in his verse. The Dominican friar William de Alton, of the time of Edward II., the biographical author John Pitts, born in 1560, and the botanical writer William Curtis, born in 1746, were natives. The parish comprises 3925 acres; population, 4671. A chief residence is Thedden Grange. Hops are extensively grown. Alton has two post and money order offices, and a telegraph office.
