Travel east from Winchester for some seven miles and you arrive at the town of Alresford (pronounced Allsford), this historic Georgian town, mentioned in the 'Domesday Book' is home to Hampshire's Heritage Railway 'The Watercress Line'.
Some 800 years ago New Alresford consisted of a church, built on high ground, with the humble dwellings of its inhabitants scattered round it. Its swampy ground was eventually overcome by the construction of the Great Weir, a long, high embankment. Today it is an unspoilt, mainly Georgian, market town, rebuilt after major conflagrations in 1689 and 1736. The first thing that strikes the visitor is the varied colour of the fine houses, giving the town a very pleasant, distinctive look. Alresford new and old is the perfect place to stroll and browse among the many specialist shops selling antiques, gifts, antiquarian books, pictures, china and crafts. The Watercress Line runs through ten miles of rolling scenic countryside between the market towns of Alresford and Alton. Large and powerful steam locomotives work hard to haul passenger trains over the steeply inclined route, known to railwaymen of old as "The Alps". On occasions you can also travel by Heritage Diesel Loco. A visit to the Watercress Line is far more than a train ride, it is a journey back in time to the working past of a railway which served the inhabitants of the grand estates, manor farms, smallholdings and scattered cottage communities through which it passed. It carried their produce, livestock and themselves to market, and delivered all manner of machinery provisions and supplies. The watercress plant is still grown in large commercial beds around Alresford, fed by the pure chalk-spring waters of the river Arle and it is from here that the line derives its name.Freshly gathered watercress was bundled and packed into large wicker hampers and carried by rail to be sold in London markets the same day.
There are numerous special events throughout the year such as the very popular ‘Day out with Thomas’ events during Easter & August, Mother’s Day & Father’s Day specials, War on the Line in
June, Bus Rally in July, Steam Gala in September, Wizard week in October, not forgetting the Santa
Specials in December and more!
On selected Saturday evenings the Watercress Line runs Real Ale Trains, and its dining service “Watercress Belle”. Sunday lunch can be booked on the Countryman services. All of the catering services are immensely popular, and will require pre-booking, far in advance. Ropley station now houses an interpretation of a 1950s lounge plus a new education room and gift shop.
Alresford station, with its gift shop, refreshments, picnic area and the Old Goods Shed interpretative display, is the perfect place to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the bygone age of steam train travel!