Stories about the first Ampfield Vicarage
St. Mark Church, Hampshire, SO51 9BU
Saturday 19th September 2026
The old farmhouse which became Ampfield’s first vicarage and the very varied vicars and their families who lived there between 1841 and 1968. The birthplace of the Revd Wilbert Awdry, author of the Thomas the Tank Engine books.
Ampfield Vicarage and the vicars and their families who lived there 1841-1968.
The story of Ampfield’s first eleven vicars and their families, focusing on the vicarage house they lived in until it was sold in 1968.
* The earliest vicars were members of the local gentry and the first vicar’s wife described the ten-
roomed house which accommodated 4 live-in servants as ‘a small cottage’.
* Two sons of the 2nd vicar cycled around Europe on penny-farthing bicycles.
* Learn of terrible tragedies in the lives of some of the early vicars.
* Hear about the train layout in the vicarage garden enjoyed by the Awdry family and inspiring young Wilbert Awdry’s lifelong passion for trains and his later Thomas the Tank Engine books.
* In contrast learn about the vicar who antagonised everyone and all but emptied the church. He
blocked doors and windows of the vicarage and locked his churchwarden in the study.
* Learn about vicarage life during World War Two and how there were sometimes ten extra people
sheltering in the house.
* One vicar’s wife ran a nursery school in the vicarage.
Bookings open on the 25th August at 9am for Friends of Hampshire History Trust. General booking opens on 27th August at 9am. To become a Friend of HHT and gain early access, please visit: https://hampshirehistorytrust.com/donations/
Ampfield Vicarage and the vicars and their families who lived there 1841-1968.
The story of Ampfield’s first eleven vicars and their families, focusing on the vicarage house they lived in until it was sold in 1968.
* The earliest vicars were members of the local gentry and the first vicar’s wife described the ten-
roomed house which accommodated 4 live-in servants as ‘a small cottage’.
* Two sons of the 2nd vicar cycled around Europe on penny-farthing bicycles.
* Learn of terrible tragedies in the lives of some of the early vicars.
* Hear about the train layout in the vicarage garden enjoyed by the Awdry family and inspiring young Wilbert Awdry’s lifelong passion for trains and his later Thomas the Tank Engine books.
* In contrast learn about the vicar who antagonised everyone and all but emptied the church. He
blocked doors and windows of the vicarage and locked his churchwarden in the study.
* Learn about vicarage life during World War Two and how there were sometimes ten extra people
sheltering in the house.
* One vicar’s wife ran a nursery school in the vicarage.
Bookings open on the 25th August at 9am for Friends of Hampshire History Trust. General booking opens on 27th August at 9am. To become a Friend of HHT and gain early access, please visit: https://hampshirehistorytrust.com/donations/
