The Eel House
Built in around 1822, the Eel House in Alresford is (probably) unique - at least, we don't know of any other surviving Eel Houses that can be visited by the public.
Designed to catch eels at their largest when they are about to return en masse to their breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea, it was used regularly till the 1970s by the local river keepers. With the dramatic fall in eel numbers from the 1980s onwards, it fell into disuse and almost fell into the river. But in the early 2000s, it was rescued and restored by some local volunteers and the Town Trust.
It is now open to the public on around 8 days each summer. Why not come along to find out more about the story of eels and the other creatures of our precious chalk streams. See our calendar of events for more information on open days.
For more information about the Eel House, see: History of the Eel House
Volunteering at the Eel House
We welcome hundreds of visitors at our Open Days, for which we rely on local volunteers. It's a fun and easy way to get involved with the river and local history. All the information about the Eel House is provided on information boards and booklets, so volunteers need to be friendly and welcoming but not experts! If you're interested in helping out, contact clerk@towntrust.org.uk
