4 February 1841 – 29 April 1924
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 Arthur Finch). The catalogue of Hampshire Libraries (also that of the British Library) lists several items flagged as ‘local history’, but with few exceptions, his publications were essentially sermons, albeit often with an historical flavour. He did, however, write The Passing of Old Winchester, on the history of the College, and contributed to works on parochial documents and other sources.
He grew up in Assington, Suffolk where his father, Daniel Rose Fearon, was the curate. Educated at Winchester College, he went on to New College, Oxford, where he pursued a brilliant career as President of the Oxford Union and fellow of his college. He took holy orders and in 1867 returned as a tutor to Winchester. In 1882 he was briefly headmaster of Durham School, alongside the cathedral, albeit making some fundamental changes, including the introduction of the three-term year, the building of an open-air swimming pool and enlargement of the sports fields. However, after only two years he returned to head his old school, following George Ridding, who had been appointed Bishop of Southwell. Fearon remained head until 1901, when he was instituted Archdeacon of Winchester, a post he held until 1920.
The Times in its obituary called him ‘one of the most stimulating teachers that Winchester has known…[often imparting] the first awakening of interest in history’.
Sources
The Times, 30 April 1924, p. 19
Portrait
Courtesy of Winchester College.
Contribution to county’s history
Minor, but it is interesting that a headmaster of Winchester College championed local history.
Relevant published works
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The life and times of Henry de Blois, c. 1090-1171: [A lecture delivered in the hall of the Winchester Mechanics’ Institute, 20 March 1878], 1878, J. Wells, Winchester, 32 pp.
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Sunday mornings at Winchester: some addresses on church history, 1901.
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With J.F. Williams, The parish registers and parochial documents in the archdeaconry of Winchester, 1909.
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With others, The early churchwardens’ accounts of Hampshire, 1913, Warren, Winchester, 236 pp
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The passing of old Winchester, 1924
Critical Comments
Although he was a brilliant scholar (four Firsts at Oxford) he was essentially a priest and never seriously applied his scholarship to historical studies.
Other Comments
Fearon was the last but one headmaster of Winchester College to have taken holy orders.
Contributor
Barry Shurlock, 14 March 2024.
Keywords
Winchester College, Winchester, Local HIstory
Any queries or further suggestions for this part of the list should be addressed to celebrating@hantsfieldclub.org.uk.
