William Gilpin was a Church of England cleric, schoolmaster, artist and author. He is perhaps best known as a travel writer, and one who originated the idea of the ‘picturesque’.

Born at Halstead in Essex, Gilbert moved to Southampton with his parents during the 1850s. He married Mary Emma Stanesby in 1867 and they continued to reside in the town for much of the remainder of the 19th century, although for a short period the couple lived in Wandsworth. While in Southampton Gilbert established a…

Born in London, by occupation he was a ‘collector of inland revenue’ (1901 census). Often quoted is his enormous compilation of 828 pages of local records, Extracts from Records in the possession of the Municipal Corporation of the Borough of Portsmouth, published by the Corporation in 1891. There were appendices on a ‘serious dispute’ amongst…

Born in London, by occupation he was a ‘collector of inland revenue’ (1901 census). Often quoted is his enormous compilation of 828 pages of local records, Extracts from Records in the possession of the Municipal Corporation of the Borough of Portsmouth, published by the Corporation in 1891. There were appendices on a ‘serious dispute’ amongst…

Born at the family mansion Englefield House, situated near Reading, Sir Henry was the eldest son of the Sixth Baronet, Sir Henry Englefield and his second wife Catherine (nee Buck). In 1778, aged 26, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in the following year a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

The Rev George Engleheart achieved national prominence as one of the greatest ever breeders of daffodils, but as a ‘highly cultured man, well read and appreciative of everything that is beautiful’ he also found time to indulge in the classical archaeology of his local Hampshire parishes.

Her father, William Escombe, was a shipping and insurance agent with the family firm Escombe, McGrath & Company Ltd in Manchester, which provided the family with a comfortable living. They moved to Bishopstoke in 1874, where Dorothy was born two years later.

Born in Clerkenwell, London, he came to Portsmouth to work at the brewery of Pike, Spicer & Co (later taken over by Brickwood’s), where he eventually became a director. He had a strong interest in genealogy and local history and after his death left a large collection of notes that were purchased by the Borough…

Born in Clerkenwell, London, he came to Portsmouth to work at the brewery of Pike, Spicer & Co (later taken over by Brickwood’s), where he eventually became a director. He had a strong interest in genealogy and local history and after his death left a large collection of notes that were purchased by the Borough…

Harry Gidden was on the staff of King Edward VI School in Southampton for over 42 years from 1883. He had previously been a pupil at the School since 1879. Retiring in 1925, a year or so earlier he had been awarded a PhD by London University ‘for his noteworthy work on the charters of…