A NEW visitor centre on the Watercress Line at Alresford is to be named after the nephew of Hampshire's historic novelist, Jane Austen.

Edward Knight was not only one of the promoters of the original Mid-Hants Railway, but was also its chairman for most of its independent life, until his death in 1879.

The old goods shed at the railway station is being transformed into a new visitor centre at a cost of £465,000. Following the partial demolition of the old shed, preparations are now underway for its resurrection as a visitor centre and "groundwork" is expected to be completed by the end of this week.

Tom Carpenter, a trustee of the Jane Austen Memorial Trust, said: "It is interesting to learn about and support the restoration project for the railway shed, dating from the opening of the line in 1865 at Alresford.

"Although Jane Austen herself did not live long enough to experience rail travel, her nephew clearly saw the benefit, as it would have produced a useful outlet for the produce of his nearby Chawton Estate."

The first-floor meeting room is to be called the James Ursell Room, after a long-serving goods clerk at Alresford station.

Mr Ursell was also a well-known figure in the local community until his death in 1954.