Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Hervey, Thomas - Rev.

1817 - 1901

In some ways, Thomas Hervey fits the classic model of the well-educated clergyman, with a country living remote from any town, who spent much of his time delving into the history of his parish, aided by the parish records close at hand. In other ways, he was a one-off, demonstrating some rare talents for a local historian.

His father Romaine (c.1773-1837) grew up in Westmorland and won a scholarship to Magdalene College, Cambridge, which set the pattern for the family: Thomas went up to Clare College, his brother – who became a school teacher – to Emmanuel College, and Thomas’s son, Alfred Cyril (b. 1848), also to Clare (in 1845 Thomas had married Anne Hirst in York).

After curacies at Woodhouse, Leeds, and Hawkshurst and Newenden, Kent, in 1853 Thomas (or possibly his mother, Elizabeth, HRO, 35M48/6/1512) purchased the advowson of Colemore (then spelled Colmer) and Prior’s Dean in East Hampshire. It had been held by the Abbot of Hyde until the early 16th century, after which it passed to a succession of owners. He remained its rector until his death in 1901, when he was followed by his son Alfred, who had been biding his time as a curate in a succession of Hampshire parishes.

Thomas’s main contribution to local history came after he had been at Colemore for nearly 30 years. He had earlier privately printed and published an intriguing title, Troubles of the English Church, 1859-1872, which is a collection of his articles, mainly from The Union and The Church Review. It is beautifully produced, with decorative headings and dropped capitals. He clearly was deeply involved in church politics and wrote in an easy, entertaining, almost Hardyesque style. For example: ‘Muddleton now rejoices in a handsome church; galleries and pews have disappeared; and what is more the Muddletonians are pleased with it and the service.’

In the following year he published a work on the early bishops of Winchester. In 1880 A History of the United Parishes of Colmer and Priors Dean followed, with a second edition slightly differenty titled in 1891 (pp. 331-350 cover his personal and family history). It is a substantial work of nearly 300 pages, with his own photographs and line drawing (possible also his), set and laid out in very professional manner, with his signature in the prelims. It had all been set and printed at Colemore, and was limited to 47 copies. When Oliver and Collins studied the economic and manorial history of Colemore and Prior’s Dean in 1976 they described Hervey’s work in detail, but made ‘as little use as possible’ of it – presumably to focus on primary sources.

Between 1863 and 1889 he edited the Winchester Diocesan Calendar, giving way (with no apparent bitterness) to a rector of Monk Sherborne, who had started to publish his own calendar under another title!

Sources

• Alumni Cantabrigienses


• Family Search


• J. Oliver and F.B Collins, Colemore and Prior’s Dean, PHFC, 1976, 32: 83-92


• Leaflet on the 'Church of St. Peter ad Vincula Colemore Hampshire' - PDF of a leaflet from the 'Redundant Churches Fund'.

Portrait

None known, but this is a view of the church of St Peter ad Vincula, Colemore.

Contribution to county’s history

Like many clergymen, he wrote the history of his own parish, but published it himself in considerable style. 

Relevant published works

• Troubles of the English Church, 1859-1872, 1876, Colemore

• Bishops of Winchester in the Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman Periods, 1877

• A History of the United Parishes of Colmer and Priors Dean in the County of Southampton, 1880, Colemore

• The Parish Registers of Priors Dean and Colmer to the end of 1812, 1886, Colemore.

Critical Comments

His evident interest in the contemporary story of the Church of England perhaps made him more of a journalist than an historian, providing some fascinating insights into the politics of the Winchester diocese, yet to be studied.

Other Comments

He was not the only clergyman in the county to have his own printing press. An earlier example is the Rev Alex R.C. Dallas (1791-1869) rector of Wonston, who also owned a press, and sought to use it in his mission to convert the Catholics in Ireland to the Anglican faith. Colemore is now regarded as a ‘deserted village’, but is still occupied.

Contributor

Barry Shurlock, 2 February, 2024.

Key Words

Colemore, Priors Dean, printing, self-publishing, Winchester Diocesan Calendar

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