The Blaker Family Heritage Trail

 

🚶 The Blaker Family Heritage Trail

A self-guided walk through 400 years of Portslade history.

Stop 1: Easthill Park (The Family Seat)

Standing at the gates of Easthill Park, you are looking at what was the Blaker's private world until 1947.

• The House: Notice the grand, detached style of Easthill House. This was enlarged in 1848 for Edward Blaker to reflect the family's growing status.

• The Gardens: The park you are walking in was once their private walled garden and stables. When you enjoy the open space today, you are enjoying the preserved estate of Portslade's longest-standing dynasty.

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Stop 2: St Nicolas Church (The Spiritual Home)

Head west to the Old Village and enter St Nicolas Church. The Blakers didn't just worship here; they practically maintained the building for centuries.

Look for these specific memorials:

1. The Oak Reredos (Behind the Altar): A beautiful, intricate oak screen. It was gifted by Mrs Blaker in memory of her son, Lt. Arthur Wilfrid Blaker, lost at sea in 1915.

2. The West End Restoration: Look at the stonework and windows at the back of the church. This was restored in 1947 by Mrs Lloyd (née Blaker) in memory of her brother, Brian Oscar Blaker.

3. The Churchwarden Records: Check the boards for the 19th-century churchwardens—you’ll see the Blaker name appearing time and time again.

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Stop 3: Manor Lodge (The Social Connection)

Just opposite the village green sits Manor Lodge (formerly Portslade Lodge).

• This house illustrates how the "big families" stayed together. It was originally a Borrer family home, but upon Sarah Borrer’s death in 1908, it passed to Arthur Blaker.

• It’s a perfect example of the "tight-knit" social circle that ran Portslade for centuries.

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The Man: Lieutenant Arthur Wilfrid Blaker, MID

Arthur was a professional sailor caught in the opening salvos of the Great War.

• The Action: He was a Lieutenant on the battlecruiser HMS Inflexible during the Dardanelles Campaign. On 18 March 1915, the ship was hit by Turkish gunfire and then struck a mine. Arthur was severely wounded and died the following day aboard the hospital ship Soudan.

• The Honour: He was Mentioned in Despatches (MID) for his gallantry during that fierce naval battle.

• Resting Place: He was buried at sea, but his name is etched on the Chatham Naval Memorial and, more importantly, in the heart of Portslade Old Village.
  
   

Lieutenant Arthur Wilfrid Blaker Image: IWM (HU 113958)_

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The gates finally swung open! While the council secured Easthill in 1947, it wasn't until July 1948 that Mr W.G. Phillips officially declared the park open to the public. After years of being the Blaker family's private gardens, it was a major victory for the village—even if the cricketers had to wait another year for their pitch! Does anyone have photos of those early football matches or the first summer fetes in the park?

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A Video from the curators of  Portslade History.co.uk

📲 Tips for the "Walking Reader"

• Look Up: Many of the architectural details on the cottages near the church were influenced by the landowners of the time.

The Cemetery: If you have time, wander the older section of the churchyard to find the various Blaker family vaults—they are among the most prominent in the yard.

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A quick follow-up to the Easthill post: It turns out the house had a secret 'Cold War' life! In 1959, the Civil Defence used a room on the ground floor for recreation. Marie Deschenes recalls her mother being an instructor there. I remember the sirens being tested from Fairfield Gardens nearby—a chilling sound in such a beautiful park! Does anyone else remember those tests, or perhaps saw the CD instructors in their uniforms?

Marie Deschenes has shared some incredible history about her mother, who was a Civil Defence instructor at Easthill House (c. 1960). It turns out she was a veteran of the No 5. COMPANY, COMMAND SIGNALS and even worked in the War Rooms during the Blitz! She used those high-level skills to teach map reading right here in Portslade. It’s amazing to think of that level of expertise being shared in a small room on the west side of the house.