Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Millard, James Elwin

18th May 1823 - 20th September 1894

Born in Norwich, became chorister at Magdalen College 1834, taking a succession of degrees and posts, BA, MA, BD, DD. and Fellow 1853-65. He was ordained deacon in 1846 and priest in 1847. He served as Master of Magdalen School 1846-64 where he succeeded in raising its academic standards.

In 1864, he was appointed Vicar of Basingstoke, and brought to it the reforming zeal of the Oxford Movement, apparent not just in the number of services and the style of worship but also in his parochial work, he set up a system of parish visitors, the magazine and many clubs and groups to help his parishioners. A generous donor to the church, he made many improvements to the fabric of the building. He married Dora Sclater of Hoddington and they had a large family of seven children. He somehow found time to study the history of the church and town, in particular the original sources. He was made Canon of Winchester in 1882, and after 26 years of service to St Michael’s, he retired to Oxford 1891.

Sources

• Magdalen College Archive

• Parish Magazines HRO 46M74 PZ1-43

• Hants & Berks Gazette Sept. 22 & 29 1894

Portrait

Canon Millard, front row centre, with teachers from the National School in Basingstoke

Contribution to county’s history

Canon Millard was the first serious historian to apply his scholarship to Basingstoke. His published works include the full texts of many important sources, some no longer available.

Relevant published works

• The book of accounts of the Warden of the Fraternity of the Holy Ghost in Basingstoke 1557-1654. C.J.Jacob, 1882

• A short account of Basingstoke, Basing and the neighbourhood, printed by C.J.Jacob, 1880s

• With F.J. Baigent – A history of the ancient town and manor of Basingstoke, C.J.Jacob, 1889

• Several minor works on ecclesiastical subjects

Critical Comments

The details of the manorial documents, court cases, church history, architectural descriptions and much else made available in transcription in his magnum opus with Baigent have been an invaluable source of information for all those studying Basingstoke’s history ever since.

Other Comments

Comments at the celebration of his 25 years in the parish ‘It would be hard to find a man who had the power more thoroughly to endear himself to all with whom he came into contact, or a man of larger mind, of more amenable temper or unswerving integrity’.

Contributor

Mary Oliver - February 2022

Key Words

Basingstoke, Oxford Movement, History of Basingstoke

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