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Peter Woodhall tells the story of his
Grandfather's life. Further information on Henry and
Mary Stentiford's family is to be found in Issue 1 in the Archive
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Henry
Stentiford, Great Grandfather of Peter and Stephen
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Philip
Stentiford was born at Wood End in Morchard Bishop on 5 Apr 1885. He was the fourth
child and third son of Henry Stentiford and Mary Webber. His father,
Henry, worked hard on the land and as a drayman, with his wife providing
a supplementary income from making lace cloths. Their lifestyle was poor
and neither moved far from their home or place of birth.
Their son Philip, on the other hand, although he worked largely on
the land until his death in 1965, was prepared to travel far and wide in
order to make a living and support his family as best he could. |
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Having
received an elementary schooling, he moved away from the family home at
the age of twelve, when he left the village of his birth and travelled
to the nearby city of Exeter, where he became a house-boy for the Bishop
of Exeter.* Stories he told tell us that he found the Bishop an
enlightened employer and a kind and caring human being.
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Exeter -
Entrance to the Bishop's Palace c.1890 From the Collection
of Peter Thomas |
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Young
Philip was often taken for vacations to the Quantock Hills, although it
is not clear whether he enjoyed these or not as one of the main pursuits
seemed to be hunting deer. Even at this age, Philip was very much
against the taking of life for any reason that he did not view as
necessary. As time went on and he matured, these beliefs developed into
pacifism and an abhorrence of any form of violence. |
| The Quantock Hills
© somerset.zynet.co.uk |
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Edward Bickersteth was Bishop of Exeter from 1885 to 1900. |
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Except where stated, this page is ©
Peter Woodhall |
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