Balcombe / Baldcombe / Balecumba / Baulcombe / Bawcombe / Bolkham

The Victoria County History (Sussex, vol. 7, 1940) notes: "The church of Balcombe was given to the priory of St. Pancras at Lewes by Ralph de Chesney about 1091 [...] the present south aisle is said to have been the original nave with the south chapel as its chancel. There is no ancient masonry by which they can be dated, but the wide splays of the windows suggest a 13th or early- 14thcentury origin. [...] The font is modern, of octagonal plan." The church guide web [www.stmarys-balcombe.org/intImages/History - Balcombe booklet.pdf] [accessed 6 November 2012] informs: "The porticus, and the old font and pulpit disappeared in the 1847 restoration and were replaced by the present stone porch, octagonal stone font with heavy oak lid, and stone pulpit. Great damage was done in these restorations to the historic integrity of the church."