It is somewhat ironic that Willis was a leading genealogist, given that it proved quite a challenge to find reliable biographical information about him. This was mainly because he has a fairly common name and initially it was not clear if a quantity surveyor, who published a number of books on the subject, was the…

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.

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.

Samuel Winbolt was educated at Christ’s Hospital and read classics and history at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, obtaining a Masters in 1892.  He then returned to his alma mater and spent his entire working life (until 1926) teaching at the school.

It is somewhat ironic that Willis was a leading genealogist, given that it proved quite a challenge to find reliable biographical information about him. This was mainly because he has a fairly common name and initially it was not clear if a quantity surveyor, who published a number of books on the subject, was the…

Williams-Freeman was born at Hamble Cliff, Southampton, the youngest of three sons.  He attended Haileybury College and looked set to follow his eldest brother into the Army.  At Woolwich, however, he changed direction and opted for the medical profession, graduating from Durham in 1885 and obtaining the Gold Medal in his MD exam three years…

John Trussell was a poet, historian and city officer, who pioneered the history of Winchester and of local history in general. His major work, ‘The Touchstone of Tradition’, is unpublished and was lost until 1974, when it was acquired by HRO. Another of his works, ‘The Benefactors of Winchester’, lists city documents, mayors etc, and…

Telford Varley was, from 1897 to 1926, the first headmaster of Peter Symonds School, Winchester.  During his tenure he wrote and contributed to two popular local histories – and was ordained as a priest (1908).

John was born in Brixton where his father, Matthew, had been ‘perpetual curate’ of St John’s Church since 1853. In 1864 the family moved to Finchingfield in Essex following the appointment of his father as vicar. John was educated at Felstead School and subsequently Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, from where he graduated in 1876. He…

After a career in publishing and journalism in London, William Whiteman and his wife Mimo came to live in Northfield Cottage, Church Road, Steep, a thatched house on the corner of Church Road and Mill Lane. This was probably in the 1960s, as he and Mimo had married in 1965 in Petersfield. It was perhaps…