A TIMELINE OF ALTON
By Tim Lambert
c 200 AD A Roman settlement called Vindomis exists at Neatham near Alton
c 700 A small Saxon village exists at Alton
1100 King Henry I of England and Robert, Duke of Normandy sign a treaty at Alton
13th Century Alton grows into a small market town
1307 The king grants Alton the right to hold a fair
1380 The main industry in Alton is weaving but many pilgrims pass through the town on their way to Canterbury
1641 A grammar school is founded in Alton
1643 During the Civil War Parliamentary troops defeat Royalists at the Battle of Alton
1665 Alton is struck by plague
1,200 Alton has a population of around 1,200. Even by the standards of the time it is a small town.
1801 Alton is growing and now has a population of about 2,000
1813 A new Town Hall is built
1844 Alton gains a gas supply
1851 The population of Alton has passed 3,500
1852 Alton is connected to London by railway
1856 The first cemetery in Alton opens. Curtis Museum is founded.
1862 A sewage works is built at Alton
1865 Alton is connected to Winchester by railway
1874 All Saints Church is consecrated
1876 A waterworks is built at Alton
1901 The population of Alton is over 5,000
1908 Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital is built
1927 Alton gains an electricity supply
1966 St Mary's Church is built
1971 Alton by-pass is built
1972 Alton Sports Centre opens
1975 Alton Community Centre opens
1978 Alton College opens
2001 The population of Alton is about 17,000
2005 The Maltings Centre opens