Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Andrew, Walter Jonathan

1859 - 1934

Born in Derbyshire, son of a family prominent in civic affairs, Walter Andrew attended Rugby School and qualified as a  solicitor in 1882. 

Outside the law, Walter Andrew had many and varied interests.  As an ‘intrepid balloonist’ he was awarded the gold medal of the Balloon Society; he was hon. editor of the Derbyshire and Natural History Society; and an active member of the Manchester Pedestrian Club.  Nationally he founded the British Numismatic Society in 1902 and was a member of the Society of Antiquaries.

Walter and his first wife were enthusiastic caravanners.  They moved to Michelmersh, Hampshire, 1913, where he became a member of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society.

As an amateur archaeologist he excavated an important Saxon bowl at Oliver’s Battery.  But from 1927 until his death his focus of interest became the discovery of King John’s House, a medieval stone building in Romsey.  Working with T.D. Atkinson (nationally renowned architect/ surveyor) he researched records and determined that the much disguised building was the one built by King John and subsequently granted to Romsey Abbey by his son, Henry III.

Sources

• Walter Andrew Collection, Historic Resources Centre, Hyde, Winchester (since closed and collections absorbed into Hampshire Cultural Trust)

• Resources held at King John’s House, Romsey

Portrait

Contribution to county’s history

• The Saxon bowl, Winchester City Museum
• King John’s House, Romsey, set back from Church Street in downtrodden Church Court, might have been lost for posterity if not for the work of Walter Andrew and T.D. Atkinson.  Just before WW2 all surrounding tenements in Church Court were demolished as unfit.

Relevant published works

• Andrew. W.J. (1928) A History of King John’s House, Romsey

Critical Comments

Contemporaries in many spheres, and others since, criticised his work, suggesting that it lacked rigour.  His vast range of interests may have led to a dilettante approach to his research and conclusions.

Other Comments

At Michelmersh, Walter Andrew and his first wife lived in a timber-framed house where he lived as closely as possible to a medieval life-style.  His second wife, however, insisted on a more up-to date existence.

Contributor

Barbara Burbridge, Romsey Local History Society ( LTVAS)  01.11.2021

Key Words

Romsey, King John's House, Michelmersh

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