Attractions of Alresford

Excellent schooling is just one of the reasons buyers are drawn to the pretty Georgian market town of Alresford, according to Lindsay Johnn of Savills Winchester

The town’s Perins School has recently been ranked among Tatler’s Best State Secondary Schools in the UK.

The magazine commented on the school’s abundance of sports clubs, recently ‘smartened up’ uniform, ‘snazzy school cafe’ and excellent pastoral care.

Eighty-six per cent of pupils gain A* to C GCSE grades, after which many go on to Hampshire’s best sixth-form colleges, such as Peter Symonds College.

“In addition to a number of highly rated schools in the area, Perins School has always been consistently good, particularly for sports,” says Lindsay. “As such, properties within the school’s catchment area are always popular. The pretty town itself tends to be more popular with downsizers, as there is quite limited space, while the family market tends to be in the surrounding villages, such as Ropley, Cheriton, Bramdean, Itchen Abbas and Bighton.

“Alresford has a good number of excellent independent shops, including Hetre, Alresford Linens, Moda Rosa, several great pubs, a Pizza Express, a tapas restaurant, curry house and the flagship Caracoli coffee shop and deli. Added to which, there are some lovely walks along the famous chalk stream river,” said Lindsay.

“The town is well-known for the Watercress Festival and Watercress Line steam train, and there is also a music festival and a popular rugby club. There is a lot going on in Alresford for a rural market town.”

Alresford and the surrounding villages are popular both with local buyers as well as those moving out of London.

The following properties in and around Alresford are currently on the market:

Fox Cottage, Bramdean, is a detached house with spacious accommodation including entrance hall, four reception rooms, five bedrooms, two en suite, family bathroom and double garage and garden. Guide price: £1,275,000.

Stiles Yard, an exceptional new courtyard development tucked away within the centre of Alresford where there are just two highly specified and spacious detached houses with covered parking and gardens each available at £1,350,000.

Cricket Close House, on the fringes of Northington Down, presents an exciting opportunity to renovate an attractive brick and flint house in 3.5 acres of grounds. The current accommodation includes kitchen/breakfast room, two reception rooms, four bedrooms, a swimming pool and a tennis court. Guide price: £1,495,000

Spring Wood is in a private position surrounded by woodland, close to Bramdean. Completed in 2009, the accommodation includes a 50ft sitting/dining room with kitchen/breakfast room, drawing room, four bedroom suites, indoor swimming pool and wet room, a double garage and gardens and grounds extending to 2.5 acres. There is also a three bedroom cottage with garden. Guide price: £2,250,000.

The Old Rectory is a fine Grade II listed former rectory on the edge of Bramdean. There are four reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, a coach house, games room, workshop, garage, swimming pool and hard tennis court. There is also a stable block and paddocks, with the gardens and grounds extending to a total of 4.74 acres. Guide price: £2,350,000

Lindsay can be contacted at Savills on 01962 841842.