John Marsh was born in Adderbury, Oxfordshire, the son of George Marsh, a master carpenter, and his wife Catherine. It is unknown how or when he arrived in Hursley, Hampshire a distance of some 80 miles from his home. Nor do we know much about his education – he does not appear to have attended…

Charles Kingsley was born at Holne, Devon and educated at Kings College, London and Magdalene College, Cambridge.  He took holy orders and married Fanny Grenfell and in 1844 was given the living at Eversley, after being curate there for two years.  At that time Eversley was a remote village in the northeast Hampshire heathland fringed…

Kirby was educated at Eton 1848-1855 and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he stayed on as a fellow and assistant tutor 1861-1864. He then moved to London and was called to the Bar in 1866. He worked as a conveyancer and equity draftsman at Lincolns Inn, and acted as a reporter in the Rolls…

Kirby was educated at Eton 1848-1855 and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he stayed on as a fellow and assistant tutor 1861-1864. He then moved to London and was called to the Bar in 1866. He worked as a conveyancer and equity draftsman at Lincolns Inn, and acted as a reporter in the Rolls…

Although history was one of Kitchin’s main interests, he was something of a polymath who followed a variety of activities, and in three different centres. Fortunately, during his two periods in Hampshire he left marks that can be readily identified and chronicled.

Although history was one of Kitchin’s main interests, he was something of a polymath who followed a variety of activities, and in three different centres. Fortunately, during his two periods in Hampshire he left marks that can be readily identified and chronicled.

From 1944–1964 George Knapp was Vicar of East Worldham where his ashes are buried and he is commemorated in a memorial window. Coincidentally, it was the benefice held by the last surviving chantry priest of Selborne Priory during the mid-16th century.

From 1944–1964 George Knapp was Vicar of East Worldham where his ashes are buried and he is commemorated in a memorial window. Coincidentally, it was the benefice held by the last surviving chantry priest of Selborne Priory during the mid-16th century.

Guy Mainwaring Knocker was a very young Sopwith Camel pilot in the First World War, serving with No 65 Squadron Royal Flying Corps in France.  He was wounded in action in April 1918 but served in the RAF until 1947.

Born in Northumberland, Alan Merson’s initial intention was to become a Presbyterian minister. However, at Oxford in the 1930s he began a lifelong friendship with the celebrated Marxist historian, Christopher Hill, and this together with the Spanish Civil War led to him joining the Communist Party of Great Britain to which he belonged as an…