Alton
county:
coords:
coords:
Hampshire
SU718393
51.150N 0.978W : lat'n'long
otherwise: Auueltona, 1080-1087; Aultone, 1086; Auelton, 1100-1135; Awelton, 1124
ALTON
Old English 'aewielltun'='spring farm'. The river Wey rises at several points around Alton, and one source (or all of them) gives its name to the place. It may be the one which rises at 'Will Hall' whose medieval spellings, in the dominant tradition, suggest derivation from 'wielle'='spring'. (The 'Wildehel' of 1086 is out on a limb. The 14th century scribal tradition with 'Wyne-' is an aberration.) Alton stands on the Chalk just where it meets the Upper Greensand, and the combination of a steep hydraulic gradient and the Stockbridge anticline in the Chalk makes for strong springs (Cole 1985: 7).
The two manors of Alton were known as 'Westbrook' and 'Eastbrook'='west and east of the brook', being divided by a headwater of the Wey. Both names survive as house names.
It is possible formally that the first element is Old English 'awel'='hook', etc in some topographical sense (cf 'Awliscombe' Devon), but that hardly seems worth considering in the light of the above.
Shown on an old map by Perrot 1823
- Hamp
Period - 19th century, early
a town in Hampshire, with a market on Saturday. It has manufactures of corded stuffs, figured baragons, ribbed druggets, serges, &c. and round the town are plantations of hops. It is seated on the Wey, 28m ENE Southampton, and 47 WSW London.
Shown on an old map by Harrison 1788
- settlement, town - Alton Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1780s
Shown on an old map by Badeslade 1742
- settlement, town - Hampshire
Period - 1740s
The place is described in text Cox 1738
- Hampshire
Alton, a little Market-Town between Farnham in Surrey, and Alresford in the London Road: King Alfred gave it by Will to the Keeper of Leodre. The Market is on Saturdays weekly, and the Fair on [ ] yearly. It is a good Market for Provisions.
This Place gave Name to William de Alton, a Dominican Friar, who wrote in King Edward II.'s Reign, and asserted that the Virgin Mary was polluted with original Sin, as all Mankind are. Friar Pits, famous in foreign Parts in King James I.'s Time, was born near this Town; he was the Jesuit Sanders's Nephew, and died Dean of Verdun in Lorrain.
Period - 18th century, early
Alton is a small market-town, of no note, neither is there any considerable manufacture in all this part of England; except a little drugget and shalloon making, which begins hereabouts, otherwise the whole counties of ... Hampshire, are not employ'd in any considerable woollen manufacture; ...
- Eggar's School
Alton / Is a place abounding wth: Wood, & has a good Mt. for Provisions on Sat: with a Fair on _________ The Manor, before the Dissolution of Religious Houses, belonged to the Monastery of Hide, & was afterward given by K: Hen: 8th., to Richard Pescal Esqr. who again exchanged with the said K:, for other Lands in Wiltshire. This Town gave name to Wm: de Alton, who wrote in Ed 2ds. time, That the Virgin Mary was stain'd with Original Sin, as well as the rest of Mankind; And near it was born Fryar Pitts, Jesuit Sanders's Nephew, a famous Man beyond Sea (temp Ja[c] 1mi. R[ ]) who died Dean of Verdun in Lorrain . Here is a Charity school for 40 Boys, & 20 Girls.
Shown on an old map by Morden 1695
- settlement, town - Alton Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1690s-1720s
otherwise: Aulton
Shown on an old map by Ogilby 1675
- settlement, town - Hampshire
street map
Alton als Aulton
Shown on an old map by Ogilby 1675
- town - Hampshire
street map
Period - 17th century
Alton, a well wooded Town, seated on the Road, and on a small River. The Town is pretty large, but poor, and hath a Market on Saturdays, which is very great for provisions, where also are sold good store of living cattle.
Shown on an old map by Blaeu 1645
- settlement, town - Alton Hundred - Hantshire
otherwise: Alton
Shown on an old map by Simmons 1643
- Hamshire
Period - 1630s-40s
in the N.E. sector of the thumbnail map; 75 miles from London
Shown on an old map by Speed 1611
- settlement, town - Alton Hundred - Hantshire
The place is described in text Camden 1610
- Hantshire
Period - 1600s
... wherein [north parts of the county] are to bee seene Mercate Aultun, which King Aelfred bequeathed by his will unto the keeper of Leodre
Shown on an old map by Norden 1607
- settlement, town - Alton Hundred - Hamshire
Period - 1590s-1600s
Shown on an old map by Keer 1620
- Southampton
Shown on an old map by Saxton 1575
- settlement, town - Southamtoniae
Period - 16th century
Listed in Domesday Book
- Neteham Hundred - Hantescire - St Peter's Abbey - Winchester parish: - Hampshire
Period - 11th century
SCI~ PETRI DE WINTONIA ... ABBAS SCI~ PETRI de Wincestre ten. AVLTONE . Eddid regina tenut ...
Listed in Domesday Book
- Odingeton Hundred - Hantescire
Period - 11th century
TERRA HVGONIS DE PORTH ... Ipse H ten. AOLTONE . Azor tenuit de rege E ...
Listed in Domesday Book
- Neteham Hundred - Hantscire
Period - 11th century
see:- Gough Map
Period - 14th century (about 1360)
HMCMS:FA1998.49.11
Four quarters, in which - the red rose of Hampshire, two oast houses and a stook of wheat for agriculture, and a sword and battle axe recalling the clash of arms in 1643
