Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Hutchins, Rev. Alan Borman

14 May 1781 – 23 June 1847

Alan Borman Hutchins was the elder son of John D’Oyly Hutchins and his wife Mary (nee Borman) of Penton Lodge, Penton Mewsey.  He attended Winchester College from 1797-1800, before going on to the Queen’s College, Oxford, being awarded a BA and ordained a deacon in 1803. He became a priest two years later and two years after that was awarded his MA.  He served as curate at Allington and Newton Toney in Wiltshire, and Kimpton and Grateley in Hampshire, before crossing the border once again, to Ludgershall.

Hutchins’ archaeological excavations began with two Bronze Age barrows near the Winterslow Hut in 1814.  The work unearthed both Bronze Age and Saxon graves and Hutchins commissioned the Salisbury artist Thomas Guest (1754-1818) to produce now celebrated oil paintings of the finds.  He corresponded with Sir Richard Colt Hoare and the letters contain considerable detail about archaeological methods and discoveries in the north west corner of Hampshire.

Particular finds which came into his possession included a Saxon gold ring from Bossington (later donated to the Ashmolean Museum) and a 12th century seal matrix from Weyhill.

Hutchins married Josina Bourdillon in September 1829 (he was 48, his bride 21) and they lived at Rose Hill Cottage, Appleshaw.  He was related by marriage to the influential Heath family (bankers and brewers) of Andover.  He died at Appleshaw in June 1847 and his will contains further details about the nature and circumstance of some of his discoveries and acquisitions.

Sources

Essay by Yvonne J Hutchins Wagstaff.

Portrait

Contribution to county’s history

Rev. Hutchins provides a candid picture of antiquarian activity in the first half of the 19th century.  His detailed correspondence, commissioning of artwork and donations to a museum throw light on what is often a shadowy picture. 

Relevant published works

• Smiles S & Moser S eds. (2005) Envisioning the Past: Archaeology and the Image; Oxford.

Critical Comments

While the methods of excavation described are rudimentary the detailed descriptions and obvious enthusiasm of an enquiring mind provide a deal of information, where it is so often missing.

Other Comments

Contributor

Dave Allen, July 2022

Key Words

Antiquarian acivity in 19th Century

Any queries or further suggestions for this part of the list should be addressed to celebrating@hantsfieldclub.org.uk.

Back to Historians G-H from Gallup, Peter to Hudson, William Henry