Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Milner, Alfred Barrow

30 December 1872 - 12 May 1962

He was born in Lancashire, the son of an Anglican priest, studied at the Theology School, University of Durham, and was ordained into the Church of England at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He had five brothers who all also went into the Church. After a short time as Diocesan Inspector of Schools at Carlisle, he moved with his wife to Winchester to a similar post, which he held until gaining the living of vicar of Micheldever with East Stratton in 1917, where he stayed until 1929.  Like many a clergyman, he researched the history of his parish and in 1924 published History of Micheldever, printed in Paris. It followed a sad time, as his wife had died only a year before. In the preface to the book, which is a substantial work of 260 pages, he says that he was prompted to write it by messages such as: ‘Micheldever is the old home of my wife’s people; please scrub their tombs.’

He was greatly aided by free access to the library of the 2nd Earl of Northbrook (1850-1929), seated at nearby Stratton Park. After a short account of Hyde Abbey, which held the lordship until the dissolution, much of the book follows the people who held prominent positions in the village, including Thomas Wriothesley, the Stansbys, Clerkes, and Bristows. He also wrote about Lady Rachel Russell and is acknowledged in a small way in the bibliography of a scholarly biography of her by American historian Lois G. Schwoerer, published in 1988. He was able to make much of detailed eighteenth century maps, including ‘Browne’s Survey’ of 1730 and an estate plan of 1747. He also wrote a very detailed account covering 41 pages of the holding of courts leet and baron for the Hundred of Micheldever. Between 1929 and 1945 he held the living of Hinton Ampner with Bramdean, where he excavated local earthworks. He was an honorary canon of Winchester 1936-56.

Sources

• Crockford’s Clerical Directory, 1949-50

• Family history records.

• L. G. Schwoerer, Lady Rachel Russell: ‘One of the best of women’, 1988, Baltimore and London.

Portrait

Contribution to county’s history

He wrote a solid account of the history of an important village and its surroundings from sources locally available and not all now accessible.

Relevant published works

• Milner, A.B., History of Micheldever, Paris, 1924. Also, downloadable free of charge from: https://www.micheldevervillages.org/history-of-micheldever.

• Milner, A.B., Some earthworks in mid-Hampshire, PHFC, 16(1), 1944, 38-47.

Critical Comments

He does not cite sources, some of which were probably only available privately.

Other Comments

No significant book on the subject has subsequently been written.

Contributor

Barry Shurlock, 21 April 2022, with additional research by Pat Craze

Key Words

Micheldever, Lady Rachel Russell, Hundred of MIcheldever

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