Alton

Sister cities

• Montecchio Maggiore

History

The River Wey has a source in the town, and the name Alton comes from an Anglo-Saxon word "aewielltun" meaning "farmstead at the source of the river". Alton was recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086 as Aoltone. During the Saxon period Alton was known as Aweltun. The Alton Hoard of Iron Age coins and jewellery found in the vicinity of the town in 1996 is now in the British Museum. There is evidence of a Roman posting station at Neatham near Alton, probably called Vindomis, and a ford across the River Wey on the line of a Roman road that ran from Chichester to Silchester. An Anglo-Saxon settlement was established in the area and a 7th-century cemetery was discovered during building excavations. It contained grave goods including the Alton Buckle which is on display in the Curtis Museum and considered to be the finest piece of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship found in Hampshire. The buckle, found in the grave of a warrior, has a silver-gilt body set with garnets and glass. In 1001 Danish forces invaded England and during the First Battle of Alton the forces of Wessex came together and fought against them. About 81 Englishmen were killed, including Ethelwerd the King's high-steward, Leofric of Whitchurch, Leofwin the King's high-steward, Wulfhere a bishop's thane, and Godwin of Worthy, Bishop Elfsy's son. The Danes were the victors although Danish casualties were higher and fleeing Englishmen took refuge in Winchester. Alton (as Aoltone in the 'Odingeton Hundred — Hantescire') is recorded as having the most valuable market in the Domesday Book. The Treaty of Alton was signed in 1101 between William the Conqueror's eldest son Robert II of Normandy and his brother Henry I of England. Henry had seized the throne while his elder brother was away on the First Crusade. Robert…

Geography

Alton is located at the eastern end of the Hampshire Downs, a belt of chalk overlooking the Weald. The town is bordered to the east by Wealden Grassland. Nearby Brockham Hill, situated northeast of Alton, rises to above sea level. Alton is between Farnham to the northeast and Winchester to the southwest. London is . Alton is a small built-up area according to the ONS built-up area classification.