ALTON’S 10th Regency Day dawned bright and sunny – and set the tone for the whole week.

By the time the stallholders had set up in the High Street it was already warm. Stalls selling Regency and Victorian-style clothing, jewellery, books and gifts vied for attention with the animals from Mill Farm Cottage, charity stalls, a pop-up café, tombolas and carriage rides, for the first time pulled by two magnificent horses.

There were more people attending in Regency costume than ever before and these were supplemented by re-enactors from the Royal Naval Museum, militia men from the 2nd Queen’s Re-enactment, and Georgian-era participants from Gilbert White’s House.

Minden Rose Dancers and folk singers entertained the crowds during the morning, followed by the Dandy Chargers on their velocipedes.

This year, being the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, which is being especially commemorated in Hampshire, attendance was at a record level and included a group of international journalists.

The celebrations in the High Street were followed by a dance workshop at the community centre in preparation for the annual Regency ball at the Assembly Rooms.

This was led by the Hampshire Regency Dancers, with music provided by the Hampshire Regency Players. Those attending looked resplendent in their Regency costumes and the dances were performed energetically despite the heat which had built up during the day.

The following day, the action moved to Chawton for a walk and a garden tour at Chawton House but returned to Alton in the evening for the now traditional Regency choral evensong. Again, Regency costumes were well in evidence.

Regency week organiser Pat Lerew said: “All the music was of the period and was of such a high standard that one visitor asked where the choir had come from as she couldn’t believe they were just the regular church choir. They certainly were, resplendent in their Regency dress and our thanks and congratulations go to the organist, choir and choirmaster of St Lawrence Church.”