A Blue Plaque has been unveiled at one of Alton’s most historic buildings on Church Street.

The Quaker Meeting House has been commemorated for being the second oldest in the world that is still in use. It was built in 1672 and serves the Quakers, a group of people who believe in simplicity, truth, equality and peace.

The plaque was paid for by the group and the town council. Quakers, Mayor Cllr Annette Eyre, Alton Society and the community attended the ceremony on July 26.

“It's a real privilege and honour to be here today, a part of history again that Alton has created,” Cllr Eyre said.”

“This building and this area has seen and witnessed so much and I'm so glad that we're all here to celebrate the plaque.

“It's part of the community that so many people need to come and experience. It's lovely.”

She added that she will come back in the future to experience and learn more about the Quakers and reflect in the site’s garden - which is open for community use. The garden is also an old burial ground that is used today.

Inside there is a main meeting room where everyone sits in a circle facing each other as equals. Above is the gallery, where women’s business meetings were conducted and was erected following the Toleration Act 1689.

Alton Society member Brian Good commented: “I just like what Quakers do and how they do it.

“[The Meeting House] it's one of those slightly tucked out of the way places that a lot of people in Alton don't even know exists.

“All around you, there's history. You've just got to scratch the surface and it's there.”

In 2022, Quakers celebrated the 350th birthday of the house and a booklet was later published to mark the occasion.