Born in Gloucestershire in 1839, William was youngest son of Charles Stephens, a banker. He was educated privately before proceeding to Balliol College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1862 with a first class in Literae humaniores. Ordained during the 1860s, in 1869 he married Charlotte Jane Hook.

The son of a farmer from Stanmore, Berkshire, on leaving school he lacked the means to study medicine. He trained as a pharmacist and worked as a dispenser until 1841. A legacy then enabled him to enter Middlesex Hospital Medical School. Winning several prizes he qualified MRCS, LRCP and in 1845 was appointed Medical Officer…

Geoffrey Stilwell, generally known as Holt, was one of seven children born to John Pakenham Stilwell and Georgina Stevens of Yateley, and the oldest of their three sons. The Stilwells were an old banking family, owners of the recognised Royal Navy bank (Stilwell & Sons of Great George Street, Westminster and later, 42 Pall Mall)…

It is somewhat ironic that Willis was a leading genealogist, given that it proved quite a challenge to find reliable biographical information about him. This was mainly because he has a fairly common name and initially it was not clear if a quantity surveyor, who published a number of books on the subject, was the…

John Trussell was a poet, historian and city officer, who pioneered the history of Winchester and of local history in general. His major work, ‘The Touchstone of Tradition’, is unpublished and was lost until 1974, when it was acquired by HRO. Another of his works, ‘The Benefactors of Winchester’, lists city documents, mayors etc, and…

Samuel Winbolt was educated at Christ’s Hospital and read classics and history at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, obtaining a Masters in 1892.  He then returned to his alma mater and spent his entire working life (until 1926) teaching at the school.

Telford Varley was, from 1897 to 1926, the first headmaster of Peter Symonds School, Winchester.  During his tenure he wrote and contributed to two popular local histories – and was ordained as a priest (1908).

Thomas was born in Leominster, Herefordshire. He undertook his higher education at St John’s College, Oxford, graduating with a second class BA in 1853. Taking holy orders in 1854,  there followed a succession of curacies at Ross (1854-56); Bishopstone, Herefordshire (1859-62); Millbrook, Southampton (1862-65); and Cusop, Herefordshire (1865-67). He then served as rector of Otterhampton…

John was born in Brixton where his father, Matthew, had been ‘perpetual curate’ of St John’s Church since 1853. In 1864 the family moved to Finchingfield in Essex following the appointment of his father as vicar. John was educated at Felstead School and subsequently Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, from where he graduated in 1876. He…

Born at Norwich, Woodward worked as a teacher and heraldic draftsman, before becoming a congregationalist, graduating BA, and being appointed congregational minister of Wortley Harleston (Norfolk) in 1843-8.