George Boon was one of the leading Roman archaeologists of his generation.  His excavations, principally at Silchester in the north of the county, as well as on sites in Wales, were complemented by his comprehensive knowledge of Roman artefacts and coins.

Melville Child was a native of Appleshaw, a village located just to the west of Andover, and a former Andover Grammar school pupil.  He spent most of his working life teaching classics at Kettering Grammar School but on retirement, was able to devote his time and energy to exploring the local history of the area…

The ‘first historian’ of Alresford, Robert Boyes, was a native of the town, born to John Boyes and his wife Mary (nee Russell).  Educated at the Free Grammar School, he was elected its master at the age of 21. Taking up residence in the schoolmaster’s house at 60 West Street, he was joined by Ann…

Herbert Chitty was educated at Winchester College from 1876 to 1882 and then went on to Balliol College, Oxford to read Classics. He was a barrister at Inner Temple from 1889 and worked on the Western Circuit. In 1903, he was appointed Secretary to the Warden and Fellows of Winchester College. He held this job…

Born at Newport on the Isle of Wight, Brannon initially followed his father’s profession of printing and engraving. Moving to Southampton, in about 1845 he set up his own business. Subsequently, his interests widened to include architecture and engineering. Relocating to Shanklin in 1863, by the mid 1870s he was settled in London. Like many…

Chaloner was the eldest son of William Lyde Wiggett who took the surname Chute when he inherited the Vyne Estate situated in the parish of Sherbone St John, just north of Basingstoke. Chaloner was ‘educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford; gained the Ireland University Scholarship in 1860; took his degree with first class classical…

Born in the Southampton Parish of Holy Rood, Bullar lived his whole life in the town. A schoolmaster for nearly four decades, he taught many of those who were to become the town’s civic leaders. As it was put in an obituary published in the Southampton Times “The life of Mr Bullar is in fact…

Robert Hawley Clutterbuck was born to Charles Clutterbuck ‘citizen and draper of London’ and his wife Hannah, on the first day of 1837.  He was ordained in 1864 and served at Plaistow and Clerkenwell before moving, in 1880, to St Mary Aldermanbury, City of London.  Failing health, brought on by overwork, caused him to leave…

Burgess was born in Chelmsford but at the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents in Kingston-upon-Thames. By 1939 he had moved to Southampton holding the post of Deputy Librarian since 1934. At the time he was the only professional librarian on the staff. He remained in the Library Service until…

A farmer, soldier, journalist and publisher, as well as economic commentator and politician, Cobbett led an event-laden life that took him to North America and France, and many corners of Britain, interspersed with spells in gaol. He therefore has links to many counties, though Hampshire has a particular claim since, between 1805 and 1817, he…