The Church of St Michael

The following notes on Blackford Church and Village are taken from A Guide to the Camelot Parishes. 

The Doorway is Norman and has zig-zag carving on one column and on the underside of the arch itself, with spiral fluting on the other column.

Inside the porch a Scratch Dial can be seen, which suggests that the porch is a later addition.  Also to be found in the porch are the remains of a Holy Water Stoup.

The Tower, Chancel Arch and Windows are perpendicular, but the rest of the church has been frequently renovated.

The Font is Norman and rests on a short pillar.

The Corbels under the tower arch depict unknown characters.

Graffiti can he seen in the church - at the west end, on the right of the arch (below the severe looking Tudor lady) is some writing and a sketch of a deer, and more can be found outside in the porch.  So our ancestors also used this art-form.

The oak Pulpit is Jacobean.  The Roof was renovated in 1839.

The Figures of St Michael and of Christ were found in their present damaged state when the rood-loft stairs were uncovered.  The scale armour covering the figure of St Michael shows traces of gilding, and the flat backs of both figures may mean that they once formed part of an alabaster reredos.

The Screen and the Chancel Panelling are modern.

The North Chancel Window depicts shields which are reminders of some of the families (St Maur, Lovel and Erleigh) that once owned the Manor at Blackford.

 A Memorial to Barnabe Dicke, a former Rector, is in the chancel, and is dated 1620.

A Window on the south side of the nave contains a representation of a chalice and host in yellow glass.

 The Registers go back to 1692, and Churchwardens' Accounts to 1685.

The Base of a Cross, reputedly Saxon, can be seen in the churchyard

Blackford Village

The Manor was first given to Glastonbury by King Edwy of the Saxons, and, according to the Domesday Book, four hides were retained by Glastonbury and one went to the tenant of Thurstin Fitz Rolph, Lord of Cadbury.  In 1284 it is recorded that Alma de Blackford held the 'Ville of Blakeford' from Roger de Moels, and in 1305 Lovel, Lord of Castle Cary, obtained a part of it.  The whole manor was held by Nicholas de St Maur in 1362 and his son married into thc Erleigh family of Backington.  Through lack of male heirs the property was again divided, but eventually came into the possession of two men who were cousins and who were jointly presented to the Rectory of Blackford in 1518; the manor remained in this situation until the end of the 17th century.

There are some fine historic buildings in Blackford:

East Hall Farm was built in the 17th century, though some parts of it were added later.  It was built of local Cary stone with a Doulting stone dressing and has mullioned windows and a chamfered archway in the porch.  The impressive staircase is original, and so are the beams and window seats.  There is a very old barn, and a dairy was added in the 19th century.  There is also a working water-wheel, a fishpond and a carefully arranged arboretum.

Chapel Cottage is up a narrow lane by the stream, and dates from the 15th century; it was once a small chapel with a cottage attached.

Old Beams at the end of the same lane was built in 1738 of Cary stone and has some mullioned windows.

Blackford is a tiny village even by Somerset standards, but at least one family from this community became famous; in the 18th century the Cafe Family were prominent goldsmiths in London.

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