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…

Eyre was born in Padbury, near Buckingham, and began his working life in the merchant navy.  By his early 20s, however, he had taken holy orders and served as curate at a number of English parishes before – in 1875 – becoming rector of Swarraton and vicar of Northington, where he spent the rest of…

The author of what has been described as the most important travel journal of the 17th century, Celia Fiennes, was born at Newton Toney in Wiltshire, to Nathaniel Fiennes, a Parliamentarian colonel in the English Civil War, and his second wife, Frances.

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…

Usually known as the Venerable William Fearon DD, he was one the many ‘priest headmasters’ of Winchester College. He is included because he clearly had an interest in local history and is credited with ‘earnestly’ promoting its study in the county (see Hants & Berks Gazette on 31 March 1906, cited in the profile of…

Eyre was born in Padbury, near Buckingham, and began his working life in the merchant navy.  By his early 20s, however, he had taken holy orders and served as curate at a number of English parishes before – in 1875 – becoming rector of Swarraton and vicar of Northington, where he spent the rest of…