Falkner was born in
Manningford Bruce,
Wiltshire, and spent much of his childhood in
Dorchester and
Weymouth. He was educated at
Marlborough College and
Hertford College, Oxford, graduating with a third-class degree in history in 1882. After Oxford, he was a master at
Derby School, then went to
Newcastle as tutor to the family of Sir
Andrew Noble, who ran Armstrong Whitworth Co., one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world. Falkner eventually followed him as chairman in 1915. In his business travels round the world, Falkner brought back antiquarian treasures of all kinds. After his retirement as chairman in 1921 he became Honorary Reader in
paleography at the
University of Durham, as well as Honorary Librarian to the Dean and Chapter Library of
Durham Cathedral. Falkner fell in love with Durham and, although he spent his later years travelling frequently, he called Durham his home, living in the Divinity House (now the University Music School) on
Palace Green in front of the cathedral from 1902 until his death. There is a commemorative plaque there, while his monument is in the south cloister of the cathedral. He is buried at St John the Baptist Church in Burford, Oxfordshire. In addition to his three novels and his poetry, he also wrote three topographical guides (
Oxfordshire,
Bath and
Berkshire) and a
History of Oxfordshire. ==Bibliography==