If you've ever strolled by Alresford's chalk stream, you may have stumbled upon a hidden gem. At one point on its journey, the River Arle passes both around and beneath a mysterious brick building. While it may look unassuming, this stream-straddling structure was built for a purpose that makes it almost unique in our country: trapping eels.

The Eel House dates back to the 1820s, when it was constructed to intercept mature European eels as they travelled downstream to their breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea. On a few special nights each year, iron grills would be used to catch eels in one of the three culverts under the building. This precious cargo was destined for London, where eels were a popular meal at the time.

When this purpose was abandoned around 1980, the Eel House fell into disrepair, and by 2006 it was in danger of collapsing entirely. Thankfully, a sterling fundraising effort by community members saw a much more positive future ensue. The building is now managed by New Alresford Town Trust, who oversaw major structural repairs in 2020 with support from the Wildlife Trust.

The Eel House is privately owned, and usually closed to the public for their safety and the structure's protection. But six times a year, visitors can enjoy a warm welcome at volunteer-led Open Days. With the urgent structural repairs completed, the Town Trust turned their attention to sharing the building's rich history and highlighting the species from which it draws its name.

Once widespread in UK waters, the European eel is now critically endangered and at high risk of extinction. Anecdotal reports suggest that these iconic fish were common in the River Arle until the 1960s, when their population went into steep decline. Environment Agency surveys of the River Itchen found around 50% fewer eels in 2019 than they did in 2009.

Keen to raise awareness of this issue, the Town Trust secured a Watercress and Winterbournes Community Grant, as well as funds from Cain Bio-Engineering, Hellards Estate Agents, and Old Alresford Parish Council. They then set out to capture the Eel House's magic in a set of information boards for use at Open Days, and an A5 booklet for visitors to take home.

As on previous occasions, Alresford's community offered generous support. River keeper Howard Boardman shared his knowledge of invertebrates, while Jan Field of The Alresford Society advised on local history. Cyril Bennett and Stephen Harte supplied illustrations, and Roy Gentry provided photographs. The Town Trust's Trustees and the Eel House volunteers all gave invaluable feedback.

The resulting boards and booklet tell the story of the Eel House in its wider context. They detail the fascinating lifecycle of European eels, possible reasons for their loss, and ways in which human action could preserve chalk stream wildlife. They also document the unusual history of the Eel House, its triumphant restoration, and its current role as a cultural heritage landmark.

These new additions debuted at the first Eel House Open Day of 2022 - April 18th. The bank holiday, combined with beautiful weather, brought large numbers of visitors from Alresford and beyond. The boards were placed around the site, creating a miniature open-air museum. The booklets were available free of charge, although donations towards the Restoration Fund were gratefully received.

Also on display were trays of water from the chalk stream, in which visitors could spot some of the species that thrive in these special habitats, from mayflies and caddisflies to bullheads and freshwater shrimp. These elements together proved a real conversation starter - a great example of how history can help us to consider our place in the world today.

The Watercress and Winterbournes partners were delighted to be able to support this wonderful project, and are grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life. In addition to those mentioned above, we would like to thank Robin Atkins, David Boddy, David Woods, and Penelope McClelland for all their hard work.

Cherishing our chalk streams

The Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme is protecting, enhancing, and celebrating the seven chalk streams that comprise the headwaters of the Rivers Test and Itchen. There are many fun ways to get involved, with more than 20 projects to explore. We also offer small grants for community-led projects like the one detailed here, and would love to hear your ideas.

Learn about Community Grants

Learn about Watercress and Winterbournes