Alton, Staffordshire

{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox UK place

|country = England

|official_name = Alton

|static_image_name = The village sign, Alton - geograph.org.uk - 1600803.jpg

|static_image_caption = Village sign

|coordinates = {{coord|52.977|-1.890|display=inline,title}}

|population = 1,226

|population_ref =(2011){{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11119968&c=Alton&d=16&e=62&g=6464907&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1449059311100&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=2 December 2015}}

|shire_district = Staffordshire Moorlands

|shire_county = Staffordshire

|region = West Midlands

|constituency_westminster= Staffordshire Moorlands

|post_town = Stoke-on-Trent

|postcode_district = ST10

|postcode_area = ST

|dial_code = 01538

|os_grid_reference = SK073422

}}

Alton ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|ɒ|l|t|ən|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Alton.wav}} {{respell|OL|tən}}) is a village in Staffordshire, England.{{cite book|author1=Roger J. P. Kain|author2=John Chapman|author3=Richard R. Oliver|title=The Enclosure Maps of England and Wales 1595–1918: A Cartographic Analysis and Electronic Catalogue|date=1 July 2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-82771-3|page=118}} It is noted for the theme park Alton Towers, built around the site of Alton Mansion, which was owned by the Earls of Shrewsbury,{{cite book|author1=William West|author2=Frederick Calvert|title=Picturesque views and description of cities, towns, castles, mansions, and other objects of interesting feature, in Staffordshire, from original designs, taken expressly for this work by Frederick Calvert, engraved on steel dy {{sic}} Mr. T. Radclyffe, with historical and topographical illustrations|year=1834|publisher=William Emans|page=28}} and designed by Augustus Pugin.{{cite book|author=Peter Scott|title=A History of the Alton Towers Railway: Including Other Railways & Transport Systems at Alton Towers, Together with the Railways at Lilleshall Hall & Trentham Gardens|date=1 May 1998|publisher=Peter Scott|isbn=978-1-902368-06-1|page=11}} In the 1914 map by Whiston, there were copper works in the village.

The village is on the eastern side of the Churnet.{{cite book|author=William Adam|title=The Gem of the Peak; or Matlock Bath and its vicinity; an account of Derby; a tour from Derby to Matlock: ... a review of the geology of Derbyshire; catalogue of minerals and rocks, and of the flora of the high and low Peak|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bnJHAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA238|access-date=28 September 2012|year=1857|publisher=J. & C. Mozley|page=238}} It is mentioned in the Domesday Book, and contains numerous buildings of architectural interest; the Round-House, Alton Castle (now a Catholic youth retreat centre), St Peter's Church, The Malt House, St John's Church and Alton Towers.{{cite book|author1=H. C. Darby|author2=I. B. Terrett|title=The Domesday Geography of Midland England|date=2 September 1971|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-08078-1|page=320}}

Alton was served by the Alton railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on 13 July 1849 and closed in January 1965.

The Chained Oak in Alton has been made famous by the ride Hex – The Legend of the Towers at Alton Towers and the legend involving the Earl of Shrewsbury.{{cite web|url=http://www.altontowersheritage.com/heritage/article.asp?articleid=99 |title=The Legend of the Chained Oak |author=Steve Hollyman and Gary Kelsall |publisher=Alton Towers Heritage |year=2008 |access-date=28 September 2012 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430220927/http://www.altontowersheritage.com/heritage/article.asp?articleid=99 |archive-date=30 April 2013 }}

File:High Street and the Black Bull, Alton - geograph.org.uk - 1600840.jpg