Visited 12th July 2016
The adjacent parishes of Barcombe and Hamsey are similar in character. They are both large in area and principally agricultural. The ancient parish churches are located at the historic manorial centres and are both well away from the population centres which have developed at Offham and Cooksey in Hamsey and Barcombe Cross in Barcombe. Old Hamsey St Peter is essentially mothballed, primarily used for burials in its churchyard with a new St Peter's church built in the hamlet of Offham in Hamsey while St Bartholomew's church at Spithurst serves the north part of Barcombe.
Sue's 4xgreat-grandmother, Elizabeth Adams was born (and probably grew up) in Barcombe before marrying Benjamin Upton in Pyecombe and living the rest of her life there.
With regard to Hamsey, my 7xgreat-granparents, Thomas Friend and Katherine Beedle were married in St Peter's in 1703. Also Hannah Bland's brother, Thomas, lived and baptised children in Old St Peter Hamsey around 1750 and Richard Goddard, brother of my 5xGreat-grandfather William Goddard, moved to Hamsey after his marriage and his family were born there in the 1780s and 1790s and he and his wife died there.
BUT...
We got lost after leaving Lewes and drove to where it said Hamsey on the map, which turns out to be nowhere near the old church (which is not marked on the map) so we never saw the old church at Hamsey.
"Vision of Britain" entry for Barcombe
"Vision of Britain" entry for Hamsey
Victoria County History, Sussex, Barcombe
Victoria County History, Sussex, Hamsey
The nave of St Mary's is believed to date from the 12th century with additions over the next three centuries. The last major restoration was in 1878-9. Unlike St Peter Hamsey, St Mary retained its congregation despite the shift in population within the parish and is still well maintained.
Heritage listing for St Mary the Virgin Barcombe
 |  |
| Barcombe St Mary from the Churchyard. | St Mary from the south, showing tombstones in the wall. |
 |  |
| View south from St Mary, Barcombe. | Gravestone of a cousin? |
Heritage listing for Old St Peter Hamsey
Well, we'll have to have another go at finding Old St Peter Hamsey amongst the hedged and unsignposted lanes.
 |
| Lost in Hamsey, Farm entrance on Hamsey lane. |
Return to Sussex Places
Return to Genealogical Tourism
Return to Genealogy Home Page
Return to LongArm2138