Peter Ditchfield
Encyclopedia
Rev. Peter Hempson Ditchfield, FSA
(1854-1930) was a Church of England
priest, an historian and a prolific author. He is notable for having co-edited three Berkshire volumes of the Victoria County History
which were published between 1907 and 1924.
, Lancashire
in 1854. He was schooled at the Royal Grammar School, Clitheroe
and studied at Oriel College, Oxford. He was ordained deacon
in 1878 and priest in 1879. Ditchfield served his title as curate of St. Michael's parish church, Sandhurst
until 1880, followed by a second curacy at Christ Church, Reading
.
Ditchfield was appointed Rector of Barkham
in 1886: a post that he held until his death. From 1886 until 1903 Ditchfield was Inspector of Schools for the Diocese of Oxford
.
In 1898 Ditchfield married the daughter of Charles Smith of Ravenswood, Berkshire
.
Ditchfield was an historian and a prolific author. He also co-edited with W.H. Page
three Berkshire volumes of the Victoria County History
, which were published in 1907, 1923 and 1924.
Ditchfield was Secretary of the Berkshire Archaeological Society for 38 years until 1929, when he became its President. He edited the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Archaeological Journal from 1897 until his death.
Ditchfield was a Freemason
. He was Grand Chaplain of the Freemasons of England in 1917 and of the Mark Masons in 1918.
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(1854-1930) was a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest, an historian and a prolific author. He is notable for having co-edited three Berkshire volumes of the Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
which were published between 1907 and 1924.
Life
Ditchfield was born in WesthoughtonWesthoughton
Westhoughton is a town and civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is southwest of Bolton, east of Wigan and northwest of Manchester....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in 1854. He was schooled at the Royal Grammar School, Clitheroe
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
and studied at Oriel College, Oxford. He was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1878 and priest in 1879. Ditchfield served his title as curate of St. Michael's parish church, Sandhurst
Sandhurst
Sandhurst is a small town and civil parish in England of 7,966 homes and 20,803 inhabitants , primarily domiciliary in nature with a few light industries...
until 1880, followed by a second curacy at Christ Church, Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
.
Ditchfield was appointed Rector of Barkham
Barkham
Barkham is a village and civil parish about south-west of the centre of Wokingham in Berkshire.-Geography:The old part of Barkham is the small settlement by the parish church at and close to Barkham Street...
in 1886: a post that he held until his death. From 1886 until 1903 Ditchfield was Inspector of Schools for the Diocese of Oxford
Diocese of Oxford
-History:The Diocese of Oxford was created in 1541 out of part of the Diocese of Lincoln.In 1836 the Archdeaconry of Berkshire was transferred from the Diocese of Salisbury to Oxford...
.
In 1898 Ditchfield married the daughter of Charles Smith of Ravenswood, Berkshire
Ravenswood, Berkshire
Ravenswood is a modern village in the English county of Berkshire, part of the civil parish of Wokingham Without, adjoining Crowthorne.The settlement was established in 1953 as a self-contained environment for disabled children...
.
Ditchfield was an historian and a prolific author. He also co-edited with W.H. Page
William Henry Page
William Henry Page was a prolific and pioneering historian and editor. For the last three decades of his life was general editor of the Victoria County History.-Life:...
three Berkshire volumes of the Victoria County History
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
, which were published in 1907, 1923 and 1924.
Ditchfield was Secretary of the Berkshire Archaeological Society for 38 years until 1929, when he became its President. He edited the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Archaeological Journal from 1897 until his death.
Ditchfield was a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. He was Grand Chaplain of the Freemasons of England in 1917 and of the Mark Masons in 1918.