Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Willis, George William

13 October 1877 – 13 February1970

George Willis was born in Henry Place, Basingstoke, to George Willis, watchmaker and jeweller and Sarah Hunt, the oldest of their four children.  George Willis senior was soon established in premises in Wote Street in the centre of the town, and the family lived above the shop before moving to Cliddesden Road.

At school young George excelled at most subjects and cultivated his interest in natural history and archaeology by showing his finds of flints and fossils to local experts, such as Dr Samuel Andrews.  In 1894, on leaving school, he joined his father and in 1900, at the early age of 22, found himself running the family business.

In 1913 Willis rekindled his interest in archaeological fieldwalking, often in the company of John Ellaway and Herbert Rainbow.  In 1915 he joined the Hampshire Field Club and became local secretary.  As the trio discovered more and more artefacts and George accumulated a wide range of material, including a significant collection of clocks and watches, the idea of a museum for Basingstoke began to take shape.

In 1923 George Willis was elected an alderman, serving as Mayor the following year.  This elevation, the newly formed Rotary Club and the generosity of former mayor, Thomas Allnutt, all combined to promote the idea of a museum.  In 1931, it was duly opened in the former Mechanics Institute, with Willis as curator.

At the end of the World War II the museum was transferred to the County Council, with Willis continuing as Honorary Curator.  In subsequent years he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and made a Freeman of the Borough of Basingstoke. The town museum was named The Willis Museum in 1956, and George Willis was made Honorary Director.

Sources

• Wren, D 1997, Dear Mr Willis, Fisher Miller Publishing, Basingstoke

Portrait

Contribution to county’s history

George Willis was a focus for archaeological and historical studies in the north of the county.  As Honorary Curator of the Basingstoke Museum he enthused people of all ages in the study of the past and as local secretary of the Hampshire Field Club he did much to ensure it became well established in the area. 

Relevant published works

• His regular contributions to the Hampshire Field Club Proceedings, between 1920 and 1950, recorded many local finds.

Critical Comments

Other Comments

Contributor

Dave Allen October 2021

Key Words

Basingstoke, Willis Museum, Hampshire Field Club

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