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Manor Lodge (formerly Portslade Lodge)

Judy Middleton 2022

The house was built in around 1785 and it is a unique structure in Portslade. The brick-built house was stuccoed in what was to become a common feature in the squares and terraces of Regency Brighton and Hove, There are bay windows and a charming hooded veranda along the whole frontage supported on wooden columns with a trelliswork balustrade. It was built unusually close to the road for a house of this substance but of course in those days the traffic would have only consisted of an occasional horse-drawn cart or carriage.

Marriage Settlement

It is interesting to note that legal documents appertaining to this property have been preserved in The Keep.

In 1789 Portslade Lodge formed part of the marriage settlement when Mary Bull, daughter of John Bull of Pangdean, married James Newnum of Portslade; the property was settled on Miss Bull.

It was a second marriage for James Newnum, his first wife being Elizabeth, an heiress of Portslade, and he was described as James Newnum, the younger, of New Shoreham. But the marriage lasted only for around two years because Elizabeth died in September 1787. By the time of his second marriage James was resident in Portslade and had kept the land belonging to his first wife. His second wife was also an heiress, which is perhaps the reason her family insisted on a marriage settlement plus an investment of £1,500 in consideration of his future wife’s fortune. In those days, unless specific provision was made, a wife’s fortune automatically became the property of her husband upon marriage.

It seems to have been a prescient move on the part of Mary Bull’s family because on 25 October 1817 James Newnum was declared bankrupt.

A New Owner

Wine merchant John Wallis then purchased Portslade Lodge. Perhaps Wallis had the bankruptcy in mind when he wrote his will on 16 May 1837 because he left land to Richard Fuller of Cornhill, London, and John Hamlin Borrer, who were instructed to pay the rents and profits to his grand-daughter Catherine Cordy for life ‘free from the control or debts of any husband’. John Hamlin Borrer was the son of John Borrer, gentleman, of Henfield. In 1822 J.H. Borrer was one of the trustees of the Turnpike Trust set up to provide a new road from Brighton to Shoreham that included a bridge over the River Adur. The Portslade part of the road cost the enormous sum of £18,250 and by 1851 there was still £11,341 to pay off.

Meanwhile John Wallis died 21 June 1837 and Portslade Lodge was leased to James Cordy.

John Borrer (1785-1866)

Although he was born at Hurstpierpoint, John Borrer had been resident at his newly-built mansion Portslade Manor since 1807, with the remains of the medieval manor still in the grounds. John Borrer was married three times but his wives all pre-deceased him, as did six of his children. He was a churchwarden of St Nicolas Church and would have needed a strong faith to survive such tragedies. He was involved in the move to have the north aisle built because the church was too small for the congregation.

That John Borrer was a man of wealth is evident from the fact that in 1829 he was able to lend the sum of £5,000 to William Izard, a Brighton gentleman.

John Borrer came to own a great sweep of land in Portslade totalling some 764 acres. The following are names of some the fields he owned in the Mile Oak area.

Hangleton Bush

New Barn

Distance Rest

Cock Roost Piece

Shepherd’s House Piece

Dimbledee Cow Down

Freeman’s Court

Then there were the farms:

North House Homestead (later North House Farm)

Stonery Gardens

Benfields’ Side Hill

There were also:

Foredown Forge

Hack Track Cottage (Foredown)

Copperas Gap windmill

Britannia Flour Mills

Part of the seashore and cliffs

Part of railway to Shoreham

He was said to own (with others) Tenantry Hill and Foredown Hill although strictly speaking these remained common land until 1861.

The 1841 census recorded John Borrer living at Portslade Manor with his third wife Sarah Anne, two unmarried daughters and his mariner son William Arthur who would later perish in the China Seas during a hurricane in 1845. There were five servants in the household.

In 1841 John Borrer, by then Lord of Portslade Manor, purchased two further plots of land at Portslade:

One lot costing £1,700 from Richard Fuller and John Hamlin Borrer; the other costing £740 from Richard Fuller, John Hamlin Borrer and Catherine Cordy.

The latter was Portslade Lodge and Catherine Cordy and her trustees agreed to sell. The property consisted of the house, garden, field, close, pleasure grounds and shrubbery plus North Church Piece and South Church Piece, which were both over one acre each. On 30 April 1841 James Cordy agreed to sell his interest in Portslade Lodge and premises to John Borrer for £600.

Catherine Cordy married John Campion of Brighton on 24 August 1841 but she died without issue on 29 September 1843.

Tenants

It appears that John Borrer let the house. The 1851 census recorded Terrick Haultain as the occupant; he was a 74-year old Justice of the Peace who lived there with his wife, unmarried daughter and three servants. Haultain was a former Assistant Paymaster General of H.M. Horse Guards he died in 1858 and is buried in his family's vault at Banstead, Surrey.

In 1861 Matthew Wood was the resident. He was aged 44 and was a retired Major of the Indian Army. Apart from three servants, he was alone in the house on census night.

The Borrers Again

When John Borrer died in 1866, his unmarried daughter Kate came to live in Portslade Lodge. In 1871 Kate, by then aged 60, lived in the house with four servants, including a footman, a cook and a lady’s maid. By 1874 Kate’s spinster sister Sarah Anne had moved in to keep her company. Kate died in 1890 aged 79 and Sarah continued to live in the house.

In May 1893 the outside of Portslade Lodge was repaired and painted with three coats and the front door and shutters were grained and varnished. Work was also done on the stables and coach-house while the gates leading to the stables and gardens were lime-washed. Isaac Holland, landlord of the George Inn in the village, and seemingly a jack-of-all-trades was responsible for the work for which he charged Miss Borrer £26-10s.

Sarah Borrer must have been satisfied with the quality of his work because she engaged him again in 1898. The work included various repairs, a new cover for the well and fencing around a field. In addition Holland made good a wall using 70 bricks, 4 bushels of mortar, cement and compo sand. The bill came to £32-18-5d.

It seems as though Portslade Lodge and its grounds needed continuous maintenance and repairs were again necessary in October and December 1899. This time the stable pump required attention and cost 9/6d to fix while the flue of the greenhouse was put right for the sum of 14/8d.

Important Reception at Portslade Lodge

Revd Vicars Armstrong Boyle was inducted as vicar of St Nicolas, Portslade, and St Helen’s, Hangleton in June 1899. In the afternoon and before the service Miss Sarah Anne Borrer gave a reception in her home for several important personages. They included the Bishop of Chichester, Lord Sackville (patron of the parish) the Archdeacon of Lewes, the Rural Dean, the churchwardens and neighbouring incumbent.

The Blakers

Miss Borrer died in 1908 at the age of 84. She left her property to her nephew Arthur Beckett Blaker (1842-1914) son of Mary, her eldest sister. He moved into the Lodge the following year with his wife Elizabeth Jane who also happened to be his second cousin, being one of the twelve children of Edward Blaker of Easthill House, Portslade. The couple had five children:

Dorothy Kathleen Blaker (7 February 1888 – 16 December 1966)

Arthur Wilfrid Blaker (1889 - 18 March 1915)

Brenda Mary Gordon Jones 12 March 1891 – 5 March 1962)

Geoffrey Beckett Blaker (15 March 1893 – 2 May 1963)

Barbara Joan Graham (24 December 1894 – 30 May 1948)

Before moving to Portslade Arthur Beckett Blaker lived at Isfield and Lewes. He took a keen interest in history and in 1882 he was elected to the Council of the Sussex Archaeological Society. In 1892 he donated several items to the Society’s Museum at Lewes including the following:

Several items from St Pancras’s Priory, Lewes

7lb cannon shot found near Devil’s Dyke

Three iron keys from St Nicolas Church, Portslade ‘two of them being of fine design and workman-ship’.

Arthur Beckett Blaker died on 25 August 1914. His son Lieutenant Arthur Wilfrid Blaker of HMS Invincible aged 26 was killed in action at the Dardenelles on 18 March 1914 and buried at sea. His mother donated the oak reredos in St Nicolas Church in his memory. It is somewhat ironic that at the time the anniversary of the Great War is being remembered, there are plans afoot to move the oak reredos out of the chancel.

Mrs Elizabeth Jane Blaker thus became a widow and lost her son within the space of five months. Her husband wrote his will on 29 July 1913 and he made his widow plus Reginald Blaker and Smithers & Sons the vendors of Portslade Lodge. The property was put up for auction on 2 July 1919 at the Old Ship Hotel, Brighton. Arthur Lloyd Jones, brewer, purchased it for £2,250.

The property included five acres and 19 perches. The auction brochure described the house as a fine old-fashioned residence with stuccoed front, louvre window shutters and a veranda. Inside the house were the following:

Attics

Eight bedrooms

Dressing rooms

Drawing room measuring 23 feet by 20 feet with a tiled hearth and marble mantel, bay window on the south, French casements opening onto the veranda

Dining room measuring 18 feet 3 inches by 15 feet, 6 inches with French casements onto the veranda

Morning room measuring 16 feet by 14 feet.

Large entrance hall measuring 15 feet 9 inches 13 feet 9 inches

Kitchen measuring 20 feet by 15 feet containing boiler, range, dresser, cupboards

Butler’s pantry

Three cellars with bins and shelves

Paved courtyard

Outhouses

Timber and tiled wood shed and stove

Brick and flint Fowl House

Two piggeries

Cow house

Potting shed

Brick and flint stabling containing 4 stalls

Harness room

Large coach house

Tennis lawns

Two summer-houses

Shady walks

Kitchen garden

Fruit trees

Heated vinery with sturdy vines

Arthur Lloyd Jones lost no time in giving Mr D. Green, tenant of two fields, notice to quit. Jones continued to live in the house until 1929. Meanwhile Mrs Elizabeth Jane Blaker had died on 15 March 1924 aged 69 years.

Copyright © G. Osborne
With thanks to Mr G. Osborne for granting permission for the reproduction of the above photograph from his private collection.
1930s view of Locks Hill with Manor Lodge on the left

Recent Times

During the 1930s the house seems to have spent some time unoccupied but by 1938 the splendidly named Mr Ford Ford-Dunn was in residence. William Hawkins was the occupant by the 1950s while in the 1960s there was frequent change:

1962 – Michael Deasy

1966- John Deek

1969 – William H. Stannard

During this time the house came to be called Manor Lodge most probably to provide a visible connection with Portslade Manor, by then called St Marye’s Convent, which was owned by the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. This organisation still owns Manor Lodge although the convent was sold to Emmaus in 1997.

By 1970 Manor Lodge was split into two residences while today it is divided into four apartments.

On 10 September 1971 the house received Grade II listed building status.

Sources

Directories

J. Middleton Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

Memorial inscriptions St Nicolas Churchyard

The Keep

How 10/9 Portslade Lodge, deeds and bills

How 11/11 Portslade Lodge, conveyance 1-9 South Street

Copyright © J.Middleton 2017
page layout by D.Sharp

Southdown Road, Portslade.

Judy Middleton 2003 (revised 2021)

The name of Southdown Road did not make an appearance in Street Directories until the 1930s although there were some houses at the south end. These eight houses were already in place by 1899 and were known as Southdown Cottages, and that name remained until further development in the 1930s. The description of ‘cottages’ is a misnomer because they were good-quality houses inhabited by senior members who earned their living at the Brewery, while some Brewery labourers lived in the next road – North Road.

copyright © G. Osborne
An Edwardian view of North Road and the brewery worker's homes
With thanks to Mr G. Osborne for granting permission for the reproduction of the above photograph from his private collection.

These houses could all be considered as part of an industrial enclave in contrast with the rural aspect of north Portslade and Mile Oak. Today, numbers 1-7 and 2-8 Southdown Road are part of the Portslade Old Village Conservation Area.

The land on which the later houses were built was once farmland or market gardens. A vestige of agricultural days lies in the lane at the back of the houses on the south side, which once led to North House Farm. Further charming evidence of a different use comes from some of the gardens on the south side where the occupants often came across fragments of clay pipes while digging the soil.

This leads to the supposition that the old pastime of quoits was once played in the vicinity with the local yokels gathered for a quiet game and the latest gossip while pressing some loose tobacco into their clay pipes. Unhappily, these clay pipes were fragile and easily broken, then a new one had to be purchased. Quoits was popular until the First World War, and both the Stag’s Head and the George Inn had their own quoits team.

Former Owners

From the deeds belonging to a house in Southdown Road, it is possible to have a glimpse of the land’s former owners.

23 January 1866 – This is the date of the will written by John Borrer Esq of Portslade, and he appointed the following as his executors and trustees – Eardley Nicholas Hall, Revd Cary Hampton Borrer, and William Hall. John Borrer left a cottage, bakehouse and premises in Portslade Street (High Street) to his son Henry Hall Borrer and his heirs. John Borrer had purchased the premises from the representatives of Mr Penticost, and it was then in the occupation of Messrs Peters.

17 April 1866 - Codicil. The portion of the Four Acres in Portslade let to John Hinde Hale, as well as the remainder of the Four Acres, and the Pound Field, part of the Manor House property, should, after the expiration of the period specified, be held in trust for John Borrer’s daughters, Kate and Sarah Anne, and they should have the use rent free after Borrer’s decease.

copyright © D. Sharp
A view of the south end of Southdown Road.
The far left - the former Manor House, almost centre - the tower of St Nicolas Church above the trees, and to the right - the former Portslade Brewery.

The Four Acres being the western part of the piece known as Nine Acres in Portslade and currently let to Mr Cherryman, should be marked off the residue of the said nine acres, and removed from the devise of the said Manor House, and thenceforth go to John Borrer’s son, H. H. Borrer in fee simple.

John Borrer died at Portslade 12 August 1866; probate granted 25 September 1866.

30 August 1905 – This is the date that H. H. Borrer of Oakdene, Wilbury Gardens, Hove, wrote his will appointing Revd William Buchanan Dunlop of Sayers Common, Sussex, and Reginald Blaker of Lewes, solicitor, as executors and trustees. They should pay for his funeral and testamentary expenses, debts and legacies.

H. H. Borrer died at Oakdene, on 18 March 1909; probate was granted 20 April 1909.

(Henry Hall Borrer was born on 16 October 1822. He was still Lord of the Manor at Portslade in 1887, although he lived at Hurstpierpoint for 27 years, then moved to Oakdene, 33 Wilbury Gardens, Hove. He was in his 89^th year when he died, and he was buried in Hove Cemetery).

29 September 1922 - Vendors Revd W. B. Dunlop, Vicarage, Sayers Common, and R. Blaker, Lewes, sold to John Broomfield, Portslade, gardener, and Sidney Herbert West of North House Farm, Portslade, for £600 a piece of land situated on the north side of High Street, believed to be described as The Cottage, Bakehouse, and premises, but later known as 21 & 25 High Street, plus Four Acres.

copyright © D. Sharp
This former North House Farm's flint wall is now a garden wall of a bungalow in Southdown Road.

11^th July 1933 – John Broomfield of North House Farm, Portslade, made the following declaration. ‘At Michaelmas 1888 I became Tenant of the late Henry Hall Borrer (Four Acres) and continued as tenant until sold to me and West in fee simple. In 1932 I and West constructed at our own expense a roadway through a portion of the said land (now known as Southdown Road).’

When a house in Southdown Road was sold in 1934 for £655, the vendors were Broomfield and West. It is amusing to note the restrictive covenants on the property:

No steam engine might be set up

No caravan house on wheels allowed

No booth, swing or roundabout

No bricks or tiles to be burnt

No lime to be burnt

In short, it was to be a residential area only.

Development

John Broomfield and his business partner Sidney West hit upon the idea of developing the Four Acres for housing, and planning permission was granted in 1932. Then the duo became more ambitious, and in October 1933 sent in an application to extend Southdown Road in a northerly direction with a branch road going east from the centre of the proposed extension to Short Lane. But obviously Portslade Council was not happy about this.

In a letter dated 16 November 1933 Portslade Council received a letter from the Ministry of Health enclosing a letter from Messrs Cockburn, Gosling & Co, on behalf of Broomfield and West complaining about the Council’s refusal to grant planning permission to develop houses on the east side of Southdown Road, on the west side of Short Lane. The rumpus resulted in a Public Inquiry, which was held on 14 December 1933 – they certainly did not waste time in those days. On 15 January 1934 the Ministry of Health dismissed Broomfield’s appeal. Thus it was back to the drawing board, and within a very short space of time, H. E. Oliver, on behalf of Broomfield, submitted amended plans, and these were duly accepted by Portslade Council.

House Notes

copyright © D. Sharp
Numbers 1 - 7, Southdown Road, these houses were once a part of the Brewery complex and reserved for senior staff, Brewery workers lived in smaller houses in North Road

Numbers 1-7 – These houses on the north side are part of Portslade Old Village Conservation Area.
The houses 1-8 were originally inhabited by senior members who earned their living at Portslade Brewery, while some Brewery labourers lived in the next road – North Road.

Number 5

Richard Thomas Telling lived at this address before the First World War, sadly he was killed in Flanders in 1917 aged 27. Richard was a member of Portslade Cricket Club and his father held a staff position at the Portslade Brewery in the Old Village.

copyright © D. Sharp
Numbers 2 - 8, Southdown Road, these houses were once a part of the Brewery complex and reserved for senior staff, Brewery workers lived in smaller houses in North Road

Numbers 2-8 – These houses on the south side are part of Portslade Old Village Conservation Area.

Number 2 - John Greenfield lived in this house for many years, and was often to be seen pottering about in his long sloping back garden. In his youth he liked to ride a powerful motorbike. He used to enjoy a visit to the Cricketers, next to the Sussex County Cricket Ground in the 1950s, which in those days was so retro that there was still sawdust on the floor. Mr Greenfield was ahead of the curve in his passionate interest in local history, then considered a somewhat niche pursuit. Over the years he built up a fine collection of old photographs relating to Portslade, which he left to Hove Library.

Number 53 - In 1969 Revd K. A. Bradshaw lived in this house. He was a curate at nearby St Nicolas in the days when the large congregation merited both a resident vicar and a curate.

Street Parties

Street parties have been held in Southdown Road to celebrate national events for many years, resulting in the road being closed for the day and tables and chairs set up in the middle of the road. These road closure events enabled the social gathering of neighbours, organised games between children, fancy dress and the sale of cakes for various charities.

List of Road Closures

June 1977 Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

July 1981 The Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer

8 May 2020 VE Day (75 year anniversary of Victory in Europe), due to the coronavirus pandemic and the UK’s lockdown restrictions, street parties were forbidden. Southdown Road residents decorated their houses in red, white and blue and held picnics in their front gardens with their own household and social gatherings were restricted to ‘over the garden fence’ with one’s immediate neighbours.

The weekend of 4^th and 5^th June, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, on the Saturday the south end of Southdown Road was closed, on the Sunday the north section of Southdown Road was closed for their Jubilee celebrations. The bells of St Nicolas Church were rung on Sunday at 8pm at the close of the weekend celebrations which could be heard in the southern section of Southdown Road.

Portslade Planning Approvals

1932 – in March, Broomfield & West submit plans for layout of new road

1932 – F. J. Edmonds, 20 houses, numbers 10 to 48

1932 – H. Jones, eighteen houses

1933 – H. Dearing, two houses, numbers 49/51

1933 – Mrs Williams, 20 houses, numbers 53 to 91

1933 – H. C. Williams, 24 houses

1933 – White & Sons, two blocks of flats

1933 – J. Broomfield, two houses, numbers 45/47

1933 – F. J. Edmonds, eighteen houses, numbers 9 to 43

1934 – H. E. Oliver, ten houses, numbers 97 to 115

1953 – Ten bungalows

1955 – 54 semi-detached bungalows (fourteen in Southdown Road extension)

1958 – Two detached houses at junction with Downsway

copyright © D. Sharp
Evening view from the west side gardens of Southdown Road in June 2019 with the former Brewery dominating the sky line.

Sources

Encyclopaedia of Hove and Portslade

House Deeds

Mr G. Osborne

Portslade Council Minute Books (at The Keep)

Street Directories

page layout and additional reserach by D.Sharp

St Nicolas Church Portslade Memorial Inscription

Transcribed by Judy Middleton and the Revd Richard Rushforth. (1983)

copyright © D.Sharp
The Chancel of St Nicolas Church, Portslade.
locations of the following memorials:- Revd Donald F Campbell, former Vicar and Archdeacon of Carlisle.
Lieutenant Blaker RN, and the 1914-1918 & 1939-1945 Roll of Honour.

BORRER – In memory of John the affectionate son of John and Mary Anne Borrer who by an awful dispensation of Providence on the 10^th day after his marriage was suddenly cut off and separated from his beloved wife and all who are dear to him by a coach accident on entering the city of Carlisle on 17^th August 1844 aged 29 years. Having endured with remarkable fortitude the amputation of his leg, he died after 3 days of acute suffering leaving his family in deep affliction for the loss of one most justly endeared to them. A solemn warning for all to prepare for eternity. Consider this ye that forget God. Repent ye and believe the Gospel. Brine fecit New Road London.
BORRER – In Memory of William Arthur the second son of John and Mary Anne Borrer born on 19^th January 1816 who sailed from Singapore on 23^rd September 1845, and no tidings having been heard of him, it is supposed the vessel foundered in a terrific hurricane which raged in the China Seas a few days after he left the port. Blessed with a cheerful and benevolent disposition, he gained the good will and affections of his crew and the friendship of his acquaintance. Whilst from his distant wanderings he communicated to his family when in affliction such Christian consolation as would induce them not to sorrow as those without hope. Thy way is in the sea and thy paths in the great waters and thy footsteps are not known. Psalm 77. In the midst of life we are in death. Watch therefore for ye know neither the day or the hour wherein the Son of Man Cometh.
BORRER – In memory of Kitty the wife of John Borrer who departed this life April 7^th 1811 aged 27. Also of Mary Anne the second wife who died July 13^th 1819 aged 27. Also of Sarah Anne third wife of John Borrer who died January 4^th 1866 aged 72. Also of John Borrer who died August 12^th 1866 aged 81. They remembered that God was their rock and the high God their redeemer. Nathaniel son of John and Mary Anne Borrer born June 1^st 1818 died August 24^th 1818. Also of Frederick Leopold son of John and Mary Anne Borrer born July 1^st 1819 died September 3^rd 1819. Also of Lindfield son of John and Sarah Anne Borrer born September 3^rd 1823 died October 24^th 1823. Also of Ellen the kind and affectionate daughter of John and Mary Anne Borrer born February 10^th 1817 died April 12^th 1834. Patience in Affliction she calmly submitted to the will of God, seeking consolation in his word and died looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of her faith. The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you.

copyright © J.Middleton
Location of memorials in St Nicolas Church Portslade
HOPER – In memory of the Rev Henry Hoper MA 44 years vicar of Portslade and rector of Hangleton who departed this life on 4^th December 1858 aged 70 years. This tablet was erected by his parishioners as a memorial of their gratitude to Almighty God, for the blessing vouchsafed in giving them a pastor, untiring in his exertions for their temporal and eternal welfare. The love of Christ constraining him. We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God as friends. Psalm 55 Chapman
BOYLE – In gratitude to God and to the dear memory of Sophia Courtney Boyle only sister of the Revd Vicars Armstrong Boyle MA BCL vicar of Portslade and rector of Hangleton. She was his constant companion and fellow worker, brave, intelligent, faithful, simple, generous. She gladdened many lives by her continual joy, and inspired them by her high-hearted enthusiasm. She entered into rest on Trinity Sunday 14^th June 1908 aged 47 years. Holy, holy, holy, all the saints adore thee / Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea / Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before thee / Which wert and art and evermore shall be.
SCRASE –

copyright © D.Sharp
The Scrase plaque

Here lyeth buried Rychard Scrasce late of hangleton, gentlema whiche died in ye yeare of our lord god one 1499. Here lyeth buried Rychard Scrasce of Blechington gentlema which died in ye yeare of our lord one 1519. Here lieth buried Edward Scrasce of blechington gentlema who died in ye yeare of our lord 1579. This plaque was preserved from the ruins of West Blatchington church. (Richard Scrase of Hangleton who died in 1499 was a landowner, brewer and miller and he and his wife had four sons and four daughters. He left his lands at Hangleton to his son James but he left his ‘wynde-mylle’ in Portslade to his wife Alice. It is stated that the Scrase brass was found and preserved from the ruins of West Blatchington church. There has been some speculation as to what it was doing there in the first place because Richard Scrase’s body was buried at St Peter’s, Preston, which seems a more likely location for the brass and indeed the historian MA Lower states that it was discovered there. If that had been the case there would have been no reason to remove it because St Peter’s, Preston never became a ruin like St Peter’s, West Blatchington.
CLARKE – To the memory of Mr Theophilus Clarke assistant surgeon HEICS who died at Coco in the East Indies November 8^th 1840 aged 27 years. (The initials stand for the Honourable East India Company’s Service).

copyright © D.Sharp
St Francis of Assisi stained glass window
was given in memory of
Revd Vicars Armstrong Boyle.
The memorial plaque above the window
is to Harry Blaker.
BLAKER – Sacred to the memory of Mr Harry Blaker of Brighton, surgeon who died 23^rd April 1846 aged 61 years. The memory of the just is blessed.
BOYLE – In loving memory of Vicars Armstrong Boyle MA BCL vicar of Portslade and rector of Hangleton 1899-1919. (Saint Francis window).
CLUTTON – In memory of the Revd Ralph Clutton AM late vicar of this parish and rector of Horsted Keynes who departed this life 8^th January 1761 aged 66 years. Also of Elizabeth relict of the said Revd Ralph Clutton who died 14^th May 1785 aged 79 years. Also of the Revd Ralph Clutton AB rector of Horsted Keynes and Aldrington son of the Revd Ralph Clutton and Elizabeth his wife who departed this life 13^th April 1772 aged 44 years.
CLUTTON – In memory of Owen Clutton Esq third son of the Revd Ralph Clutton late vicar of this parish and Elizabeth his wife who departed this life 3^rd December 1796 aged 63 years. Also of Elizabeth his wife (daughter of Isaac Townsend Esq Admiral of the White and Governor of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich) who departed this life 16^th November 1802 aged 78 years.
CLUTTON – To the revered memory of the Revd John Clutton MA for more than fifty years the resident vicar of this parish and rector of Hangleton. He died January 5^th 1815 aged 83 years. And of his sister Mrs Elizabeth Clutton who resided with him and shared in his labours of love: she was distinguished for kindness of heart and active benevolence, qualities which justly endeared her to her neighbours of all ranks. She died November 25^th 1813 aged 85 years.
BLAKER – In memory of Brian Oscar Blaker died June 2^nd 1942 in Australia whose family has been closely associated with this church from the year 1485, the space under this tower was adapted as a baptistery.

copyright © D.Sharp
Brackenbury Chapel, contains memorials:- 14,15,16,17,18 and 19
BRACKENBURY – This turret and the adjoining memorial chapel were erected by Hannah Brackenbury AD 1869
BRACKENBURY – Within these walls are deposited the mortal remains of the last in lineal descent of the ancient family of Brackenbury of Denton and Sellaby in the County of Durham. Anno Domini MDCCCXIX.
BRACKENBURY – Hannah Brackenbury born November 17^th 1795 died at Hove February 28^th 1873 possessed of great wealth she devoted much during her life, and after by bequest to objects of beneficence. She thus prayed Lord remember when thou comest to thy Kingdom. Luke 23, 42.
BRACKENBURY – Ralph Brackenbury born March 16^th died at Hove September 29^th 1864. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing sister his sole surviving relative. The memory of the just is blessed.
BRACKENBURY – James Blackledge Brackenbury of Park Hill near Manchester born October 2^nd 1793 died at Hove October 31^st 1844. Exemplary in all the relations of life and abounding in Christian charity.
BRACKENBURY – Harriette Mary only child of James Blackledge Brackenbury and Harriette his wife born March 5^th 1833 died May 2^nd 1861. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

copyright © D.Sharp
Brackenbury Chapel viewed from the west
FRIEND – Here lies ye Body of John Friend who departed this life June ye 5^th? 1736 aged 55 years. Here also lieth ye body of Thomas Friend who departed this life June ye 19^th 1737 aged 24 years. (The memorial is let into the floor of the north aisle and is decorated with 3 skulls in a central medallion).
BRIDGER – Underneath lies the Body of Charles Bridger Gent. Late of this parish son of Charles Bridger Gent. by Elizabeth his wife. He died January 12^th 1779 aged 29 years. Also the body of Charles son of the said Charles Bridger Gent. by his wife Elizabeth daughter of the late Robert H------Gent. of Southwick. He died January 7^th? 1779 aged 1 year 10 months and was buried on the same day with his father. Also of Elizabeth his wife who died ? 18^th 1817 aged 76 years. (Floor of the north aisle).
Floor of the north aisle. 1817 aged 76 years
CARPENTER – Here lieth Sarah the daughter of Robert Carpenter Esq and Esther his wife who died the 12^th of March 1726 aged 3 months and 8 days. Also Sarah who died August 12^th 1728 aged 3 months and 10 days. Also Robert who died January 19^th 1731/2 aged 11 months and 13 days. Also Esther who died the 12^th of January 1738/9 in the 16^th year of hir (sic) age. Also Henrietta who died the 9^th day of Aprill (sic) 1739 aged 10 months wanting one day. Also here lays the body of Hester* wife of Robert Carpenter who died the 31^st of December 1742 in the 46^th years of her age. (Hester* wife of Colonel Robert Carpenter was buried 8^th January following. Colonel Carpenter was killed at the Battle of Fontenoy 1745 according to Cockayne). The stone is let into the floor of the north aisle.
COOKE – Here lieth the body of Thomas Cooke Gent. who departed this life December the 26^th 1742 in the 83^rd year of his age. (Floor of north aisle).
COOKE – Here lieth the Body of Mary wife of Thomas Cooke Gent. who died July 19^th 1717 aged 44 years. (Floor of north aisle).
COOKE – Here lieth ye Body of Thomas Cooke Gent. died January 1709 aged and also ye Body Thom Cooke Gent his wife who died 1717:1712. (Floor of north aisle).
WHITT(am---?) – In memory of Susanna? Daughter of Thomas and Mary Whitt(am---?) who died March 30^th 1-02. (Floor near sanctuary steps).
In memory of William (Floor south of sanctuary steps).
SMITHW--- - Here lieth ye Body of Thomas Smithw--- died 25^th July 1730 aged 83 years. (Floor near sanctuary steps).
BOYD – In memory of Julia Boyd who died at Brighton on the 26^th December 1862 aged 53 years. (Floor near sanctuary steps).
Here lies the body of Susan Susanna Redley (Floor near sanctuary steps).
BLAKER – The reredos is given in memory of Lieutenant Blaker RN by his mother.
CAMPBELL – The oak of this chancel floor was given by the parishioners in grateful memory of Donald Fitzherbert Campbell vicar 1919-1927 and later Archdeacon of Carlisle died 24^th September 1933 RIP.

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1914-1918 & 1939-1945 Roll of Honour
WAR MEMORIAL – 1914-1918 & 1939-1945 – In memory of those who died in the service of their country and in the cause of freedom this side altar and roll of honour were given by the people of Portslade. The names of those lost in World War I are written on parchment/paper enclosed in an oak frame and set on the south wall of the chancel. Unusually, the names of Old Boys of Portslade Industrial School were also included. Archer, C /Attree AF / Austin HJ / Bate, AE / Berry, R / Bettesworth, J / Blaker, AW / Boniface, W / Bouker, AG / Botting, A / Broomfield, F / Burtenshaw, A / Campbell, HM / Chappell, S / Charles, GH / Cheesman, R / Colburn, PW / Cooper, F / Copper, F / Coustick, H / Daughtrey, L / Dawes FC / Dunn, AJ / Edwards, CH / Goacher, A / Goble, M / Gordon, J / Gubbins, SE / Harris, AH / Henley, FE / King, J / Light, WH / Lindup, WG / March, S / Mitchell, H / Mockett, F / Oakley, JW / Parker, JH / Parsons, CA / Patching, EWR / Payne, GF / Payne, J / Peters, FG / Peters, GA / Peters, JT / Pierce, H / Pittock, AG / Pittock, G / Pratt, EG / Prince, A / Ransom, W / Reeves, H / Richardson, DW / Richardson, HHJ / Ridley, A / Ridley, JA / Ring, M / Robinson, A / Rothwell, C / Scrase, HC / Scutt, HE / Seward, JF / Sinnock, JCG / Sizer, GG / Steele, P / Strange, J / Strevens, AR / Telling, RJ / Tester, E / Tidey, E / Timms, WJ / Tipper, HJ / Todman, D / Todman, W / Tullett, F / Turner, C / Vane, A / Virgo, AA / Virgo, AE / Wareham, J / Warman, AE / Wheatland, A / White, T / Wynn, W. OLD BOYS OF PORTSLADE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. :- Adland, G / Anderson, J / Batchelor, JW / Bennett, G / Bradford, A / Bullen, W / Campbell, J / Chapman, A / Chappell, F / Chase, A / Glazierr, W / Hayden, G / Holmes, H / Knight, F / Lewis, JJ / Mason, MH / Newman, T / Pearce. C / Sherwood, C / Scrase, W / Tidy, A / Tidy, P / Tutt, AT / Walker, FD / Williams J / Williams, W / Wood, E. SECOND WORLD WAR. Bailey, A / Banham, C / Bland, RA / Cedras, C / Cherryman, LE / Daw, CF / Edwards, W / Flint, L / Gent, SF / Gibbons, R / Giddings, L / Godley, GE / Goodings, J / Gosden, A / Grant, AA / Harland, E / Harrison, R / Hillman, F / Hoskyns, C / Kennedy, W / Lambert, A / Law, WN / Mansell, R / Moody, DC / Nicholls, R / Nye, RA / Parker, GC / Perry, G / Schultze, D / Sharpe, DI / Steele, LH / Stevens, J / Stote, P / Taylor, D / Tyler, RP, Willis, C.
HOLMES – Praise God in the Lord for Ernest Pertcy Worthington Holmes vicar of Portslade and rector of Hangleton 1933-1945 in whose loving memory this porch was restored by parishioners and friends in recognition of his devoted service amongst them RIP. (East wall of porch)

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St Nicolas stained glass window
given in memory of AC Wheatland
WHEATLAND – In memory of AC Wheatland. (Baptistery window).

The earliest written record for a burial inside St Nicolas is Edward Fox’s will dated 1489 in which he stipulated ‘corpus meam sepeliendum in ecclesia de Porteslade predicta.’

Transcribed by the Revd Richard Rushforth and Judy Middleton 1983

See also St Nicolas Portslade Churchyard Memorial Inscriptions

St Nicolas Church is in the Parish of Portslade St Nicolas & St Andrew & Mile Oak The Good Shepherd

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