Page 21 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

Location
The hamlet of Coombes is located 4km north of Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex and
just north of Lancing College, in the River Adur Valley.

Location of Coombes, West Sussex
History
The parish of Coombes existed, with the name ‘Cumbe’ at the time of the
Domesday Book. The small parish of Coombes contained 2 settlements, namely
Coombes village and Applesham, both of which were held as separate Manors.

th
By the end of the 16 century, most of the land had been aggregated into
Applesham farm. Wheat, barley, oats, peas and tares were grown in the parish in
the 17th and 18th centuries, and more than 1,000 sheep were recorded in the
parish on three occasions. At some time during the early or mid 19th century the
Applesham farm buildings were rebuilt as a model farm – still operated today as
the ‘Coombe Farm Experience’ as well as a day-ticket fishery, known locally as
‘Passies’.

A church was first recorded at Coombes in 1086. Coombes church is of unknown
dedication, although some believe it to have been dedicated to St. John the
Baptist. The church is built of flint rubble with ashlar dressings, and has a
chancel and a nave with south porch. The small nave is probably of the late 11th
century and retains its original south doorway and chancel arch. The former
west tower may have been of the same date. The church is remarkable for the
large amount of surviving wall painting. Much of it is of the 12th century, but
there is also work of later periods down to the 18th century. The 12th-century
work, discovered in 1949, includes New Testament scenes in the nave and
decorative patterns in the chancel, and has stylistic similarities with work at
Hardham and Clayton churches. These are rare survivals from the time when
English churches were richly decorated, and taught the Gospel to those who
could not read through pictures.

Coombes Church, Coombes, Sussex

th
12 Century Wall Painting, Coombes Church, Sussex

Old Portslade Village
Reason for Interest
Whilst there are no members of the ‘Portslade and Old Shoreham’ grouping of
Blakers that are directly related to the ‘Bolney’ grouping in which we have
interest, the importance of the former, and the impact that they had on life in
Portslade, Brighton and beyond merits their mention in the current research
project. As noted elsewhere, it is entirely feasible that these and other groupings
th
th
of Blaker had common ancestry in the 12 or 13 century in Sussex.

Location