Alton is a deserted medieval village between Coalville and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in North West Leicestershire, England.
The earliest documentation of the village is found in the Domesday Book where it appears as Heletone.[1] The land was rented out to someone by Hugh de Grandmesnil, and had a total value of 60 shillings. The name is probably derived from ald, and the suffix tūn, meaning "old farm".[2]
It is one of only four villages in Leicestershire that seems to have been deserted as a result of grange formation, the others being Dishley, Ringlethorp and Weston.[3] The most important possessor of granges in Leicestershire was the Cistercian Garendon Abbey whose economy was largely based on sheep farming.
Nothing remains of the village other than a few vague topographical features.[4]