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. Ditchfield was born in Westhoughton, 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. He 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.