Stephen Coleridge

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Stephen Coleridge (1854–1936) was a UK author, barrister, opponent of vivisection and co-founder of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Stephen Coleridge was the second son of John Duke Coleridge, Lord Chief Justice of England, and Jane Fortescue Seymour, an accomplished artist. His grandfather was nephew to the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.^[1] He was educated at Bradfield College.

In 1903, in the Brown Dog affair, Coleridge accused William Bayliss of the Department of Physiology at University College London of breaking two laws in his handling of a dog which was killed after vivisection. Bayliss sued for libel and was awarded damages of £2,000.

At fourteen he was sent to the public school Bradfield. This seems to have rankled since his father, grandfather and elder brother were all educated in the more prestigious Eton. However things got better afterwards. His university course was at Trinity College, Cambridge where he graduated in 1878. . At this time his mother painted his portrait which now hangs on a wall at Chanter’s House. He was a rather beautiful young man. A copy of this painting appears in ‘Memories’. This was also the time when Stephen caught the attention of Ellen Terry. The following year he set off on a voyage round the world. Ellen wrote to him;

‘Pretty boy, I’m very happy even without you. Still you see you are in my thoughts, or how should I be talking to you in pencil at this moment ... little dear, take care of yourself. Think how dear you are to very many and if the knowledge will only make you more prudent know that you are a dear in a guise to ‘Livie’ too.’

During the early 1900s and until his death in 1936 Stephen Coleridge resided in The Ford House, of Chobham, Surrey. he married Susan in 1911. He published two books which both included the subject of the Ford and its many reputed hauntings. The first "The Chobham book of poetry and prose" and the second "Digressions".

He was criticized for his work as we see Charles Richard Sanders in "Two Coleridgeans" making a quote that suggests this: "He found Coleridge's tendency to mix poetry, philosophy, and religion particularly objectionable, since it seemed to him that such a mixture was contrary and to clear-headed thinking." It appears he believed he had some spiritual connection with the manor house and that he personally had healed it by heavy restoration and the act of reversing of all the doors throughout the estate. He claimed the house had given each owner a three year trial before ridding them from its doors by either death or misfortune. Up until this day only two families have resided in the house for more than ten years. Stephan Coleridge, who's father was John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge, and Woodley, Michael Woodley The Baron of Menie and his family.

Stephen Coleridge's surprisingly short will is a last testament to his love for the Ford House:

This is my last will and testament of me Stephen Coleridge of The Ford, Chobham, Surrey.

I give and bequeath all my property real and personal, not the subject of trust, to my wife Susan Coleridge. I appoint my brother in law Ralegh Phillpotts executor of this my will dated this 29th of July 1921.