The Bakers of Portslade: A Century of Service from Copperas Gap to North Street
"Do you remember the Baker’s Hardware store in North Street? For many of us, this 1970s shopfront was a local landmark, the place to go for everything from a handful of nails to expert advice. But behind this familiar facade lies a family legacy that runs deep into the very foundations of Portslade.
Thanks to a wonderful connection from one of our readers, Dee, we’ve traced the Baker family back to 6 Clarendon Place in the heart of Copperas Gap. In the early 1900s, this was a household of eleven children! While their father, Henry, worked as a foreman at the Portslade Gas Works, his relatives were busy building the town and running the now-legendary H. Baker & Sons builders' yards and funeral directors just up the road.
This photo from the 1970s marks the final chapters of a story that began with blacksmiths and master joiners. From the soot of the Gas Works to the timber of the North Street yards, the Bakers didn't just live in Portslade—they built it."
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| Copyright Ray Hamblett Bakers Hardware store is just a short stroll from where the family lived in the Copperas Gap area. Do you remember buying your tools or Paraffin there? |
The Bakers of Portslade: Building a Legacy from Copperas Gap to Trafalgar Road
We recently received a fantastic comment from Dee, who believes her great-grandmother was a Baker born at 6 Clarendon Place, Portslade. What started as a simple query has quickly revealed a fascinating story about one of Portslade's most influential and prolific families – a family whose legacy is literally built into the streets we walk every day!
From Blacksmiths to Builders: The Rise of the Baker Empire
The Baker family's journey in Portslade began as blacksmiths in the Old Village, but by the mid-1800s, they had moved down to the bustling industrial heartland of Copperas Gap. They quickly expanded, becoming H. Baker & Sons, a name synonymous with building, timber, and even undertaking.
Their headquarters was a sprawling yard at 51 North Street. Imagine this hub of activity: timber stacks, the clang of the forge, horse-drawn carts coming and going, all just a few minutes' walk from the terraced houses of Clarendon Place. They were master builders, responsible for much of the Victorian and Edwardian housing stock you still see today, especially in areas like St Andrew's Road and the many streets branching off Trafalgar Road. If you live in a classic Portslade terrace, there's a good chance a Baker laid those bricks!
6 Clarendon Place: A Home at the Heart of Industry
Dee's great-grandmother, a Baker born at 6 Clarendon Place, lived right in the thick of it. Census records show that Henry Baker, a foreman at the Portslade Gas Works (a huge employer in Copperas Gap!), lived at number 6 with his wife Sarah. And here's where Dee's memory of "many sisters" truly comes alive: by 1911, Henry and Sarah had 11 children!
Imagine the lively household with daughters like Ellen, Sarah, Alice, Florence, Edith, and Hilda growing up there. These sisters didn't just stay at home; the 1921 census shows Edith and Hilda working as laundresses at the nearby Portslade Steam Laundry – another major local employer. Even their brother, Henry James Baker, followed the family's industrious path, working as a general labourer for local contractors.
More Than Just Bricks and Mortar: A Family Intertwined with Portslade Life
The Bakers weren't just building houses; they were integral to the entire local economy. From hauling coal with their giant horse "Captain" (who required a box for young George Fuller to even reach his back!) to providing essential funeral services, the family's reach was extensive. Their original funeral director business at 51 North Street evolved and eventually moved to Station Road and then Church Road, a name still recognised in the area today.
"The Bakers weren't just building houses; they were shaping the very streets where the Church Road traders would later thrive. To see how these neighbourhoods evolved by 1938, take a look at our
And a fascinating local footnote: if Dee's great-grandmother was living at 6 Clarendon Place in July 1909, she would have had a front-row seat to history! Clarendon Place was famously the site of a significant Suffragette rally, using its unique layout as a natural amphitheatre.
Do You Have Baker Family Connections?
This remarkable story shows how deeply connected families like the Bakers were to the very fabric of Portslade-by-Sea. We want to thank Dee for sparking this incredible journey into local history!
If you have any connections to the Baker family, memories of Clarendon Place, North Street, or the Portslade Gas Works or Steam Laundry, please share them in the comments below! We'd love to hear more.
Other points of interest:
Portslade Gas Works (where Henry worked) was famous for its "Canal" location. The coal came in by sea, was processed by men like Henry, and then delivered to the town by firms like his cousins' (the Baker builders). It was a perfect circle of local industry.The Steam Laundry: The Portslade Steam Laundry (where the sisters worked) was on the corner of Clarendon Road and Station Road. It was a massive brick building—very modern for its time—and provided a rare opportunity for local women to earn their own wages.
"Does anyone have an old 'Baker & Sons' receipt in their attic, or perhaps a family photo taken in Clarendon Place?"
Read about the origins of the Baker family
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