There was a time, in 1971, when the children at Sun Hill School took an interest in recording what they saw in terms of the businesses in Alresford, and what they knew of the history of the buildings in the town centre. This was recorded, in 1971, and shown to later generations of students to pass this history on, and encourage them to look around. The pages showing the results of the survey were copied by my son, when he then studied at Sun Hill in 1982.
The results are presented in the listings below: where they are incomplete, there are possibly private houses between the shops, and these are not always noted. The house numbers are shown first. On the line after this 1971 record, are the results of a survey done in 1986, inspired by this start from Sun Hill School, and some of the survey done by my son’s class at Sun Hill in around 1982. I apologize that this website does not like tabulations!
Broad Street, West side:
1 Parts of the “New Inn”: In 1893, A.Yates lived here, and his horse won the Grand National
3 Parts of the “New Inn”: Florist. TV Shop. 1986: Fruit and veg shop
5 Gedye: TV & Radio 1986: Derek Gedye Radio & Electrical
7 A Livingstone, Butcher 1986: Carpets & Curtains
9 Clunes cleaners. Dress shop. Flair Cleaners 1986: Flair Dry Cleaners
11 Feltmaker. Skins. Shoes. Draper 1986: Stiles China & Glass
13 Grocer. Barber. Coach Office 1986: ?
15 Gladstone: Draper and clothes. Stiles 1986: Stiles ironmongers
17 Howe: clockmaker. Dedman: milk. Oxley: books 1986: Laurence Oxley’s bookshop
19 “Marilyn”. “Broad St Salon”: Hairdresser 1986: “Broad St Salon”: Hairdresser
21 Grocer & Baker. Tea Rooms 1986: Godwin House Georgian Tea Rooms
23 “Anchor” Pub. GPO. Nursery school 1986: Old Post House
27 Doctors. Mary Russell Mitford born here. School
29-31 Previously Private house, plus butcher and candle-maker. Attorney, Doctor and Dentist
39 Private house 1986: Antique shop
41 Evans & Evans clocks
43 (Cranley) Home of the Hall family (Flour millers)
49 Batchelor’s Mineral Water and China
Broad Street, East side:
1986:Lawrence’s
2 Pub: Horse & Jockey, then Horse & Groom 1986: Horse & Groom
4 Grocer & baker, Estate Agent 1986: Cubitt & West Estate Agents
6-8 Hobby Horse. Candle-maker, then Saddler & Harness maker ……………… 1986: Chinese Take-away
10-14 Kelsall: Mini supermarket and grocer 1986: Kelsall Grocery
20-28 The buildings of the George Inn, operating 1415 to 1927: owned by Winchester College
20 Library. Boot repairer 1986: Hampshire County Library
28 Westminster Bank. Estate Agents 1986: Marshall Bendall Estate Agents
32 Wine shop. Wine bar 1986: Bodega Wine Bar
34-40 On the site of “Le Hart” pub, dating from 1552 to 1689
34 Telephone Exchange 1986: Private house
36-40 Chris Lenz: garage 1986: Chris Lenz: garage
40 Godwins Grocery 1920-30.
44 Blacksmith’s house
46 Blacksmith’s Smithy and Forge 1986: Old Smithy
48 Vet and Doctor’s surgery and house
50 Brewery, Orphanage. Beehives 1986: Old Mill House. 9th US 47th Infantry HQ
52 Home of Dairy Farmer (In the 50’s, Miss Pingleton, and her friend, bred goats here!)
54 Old Fire Station
West Street, North side:
2 Wessex Chemist 1986: Wessex Chemist
4 Hazelgrove: butcher 1986: (National chain of) Butcher
6 Saddlers 1986: Tobacconist
8 Anderson’s: Fishmonger and Greengrocer 1986: Still called Anderson’s
10 Jackman’s Electrical shop 1986: Gift Shop
12 Bell Hotel 1986: The Bell Hotel
14 Routledge café 1986: Private house
16 Itchen Antiques 1986: Artemesia Antiques
18 Lex Leather shoes 1986: Hines Footwear
20 Woodland Tobacco 1986: Watercress Travel
22 Reg Cutting antiques 1986: Candover Gallery
24 Office
24a Ann Verity: Hairdresser 1986: Pastimes Toys
26 Bay Tree House Antiques 1986: Pastimes Crafts
34 Private house 1986: Kitchen centre
36 Westholme
38 Berukin 1986: Dentist
40 Antiques 1986: Evans & Evans Clocks
40a M.P.Stoodley: Jewellers 1986: Stoodley Jewellers
42 Sweetland Baker 1986: Tapestry Centre
44 John Irwin Hairdresser 1986: Bread shop
46 Waring Bookshop 1986: Delicatessen
48 ASMI Ltd Petfood
50 Pat’s Pantry Confectioners 1986: Tiffin Tearoom
52 Prior’s second hand furniture 1986: Design Realities
56 Wilstead Chemist 1986: Goode: Chemist
58 Perins Newsagents 1986: Newsagent
60 Mr Howarth’s café 1986: Old School House Restaurant
West Street, South side, from Station Road downhill!
13 Turner’s Cycles and Toys 1986: A&S Fruiterer’s
15 Post Office (2013: Gone!)
17 Post Office (2013: Gone!)
19 Wine stores 1986: Peter Dominic off licence
23 Clunes Cleaners
27 Flowers & Greengrocery 1986: Oliver’s Flower shop
29 Antiques
33 Langton Antiques 1986: Gore Langton Antiques
35 (Volunteer Arms) 1986: Charms and Clipper Stationers
39 Electricity Showroom 1986: Halliwell’s Leather Goods
43 Co-op Grocery 1986: Co-op – (2013: now two new shops!)
45 Allders private house (The Hankins)
47 Hankins Garage (2013: Now the Co-op)
49 Dedman Grocers 1986: Gillian Ellen and Brambles
So what is all this worth?

Arthur Stowell
Nothing, in monetary terms. Lots, to a local historian. But another answer is, we all have an interest in our own history, understanding how our surroundings were created. Arthur Stowell understood this, as an ex-schoolteacher, when he moved to Alresford in around 1980. He lived in the Riverside Cottages in The Dean, and his book, “The story of Alresford” was published by the Alresford Historical and Literary Society at the turn of the Century. Because he was a teacher, Arthur wanted to pass on his enthusiasm to future generations. So in his Will he endowed a fund (Ref 1) to make financial awards to school projects that encourage children to take an interest in history, particularly the history of the area of Alresford.
Because of the rigorous requirements of the school curriculum, few of these grants have been taken up. One recent donation was made to Cheriton Primary School for help with an activity sand-pit, where the children use metal detectors to locate items buried in the sand! Maybe further ideas in infants schools along these lines can be suggested, or after school clubs in the older kid’s establishments could take up the idea.
Nick Denbow
Ref 1: New Alresford Town Trustees, www.towntrust.org.uk, Arthur Stowell Fund.
April 2016 Update
One of the latest additions to the Alresford Museum collection of old archives and memorabilia is a hand-drawn map of the Alresford streets, giving house numbers and house names, and in some cases the occupant’s or trader’s names. This together with the similar 1552 survey of the centre of the town, published by Isabel Sanderson and also available in the Museum, would make an interesting history project.
See also the earlier story on this website: https://alresfordmemories.wordpress.com/2015/02/05/encouraging-school-projects-in-local-studies/