The church dates from Norman times, as can be seen from the pillars of its old blocked up doorway. It was partly pulled down and restored in Tudor times. Since then its outward structure has undergone no change.
Nearby Blore Hall was the home of the Bassett family, from whom the Queen i s descended. William Bassett, the last of the male line, died in 1601 and his magnificent alabaster tomb is in the church.
The area seems to be the source to many Blores, of numerous different spellings, and there seems to be a little bit of "I'm a Derbyshire Blore and you're only a London Blore" attitude among fellow Blores. I am on a mission to be the first to link up the London Blores with those from Derbyshire.
Why is this more than a possibility ?
According to the IGI information, his father was an Abraham Blore, which is not a name I have previously come across in this tree. However, searching IGI, there is an Abraham Blore christened on 18th April 1696 at St Oswald, Ashbourne, Derbyshire with a father William Blore (1), born about 1659 in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. This Abraham had an elder brother William Blore (2) christened on 7th September 1685, also at St Oswald, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
If I am correct we have six consecutive generations where (as far as I can tell) the first male born is named William :
- William Blore 1659
- William Blore 1685 - who was childless but our line is his brother Abraham 1696 whose first child was
- William Blore 1729
- William Blore 1760
- William Blore 1786
- William Blore 1812 (his brother, Frederick, emigrated to Australia; my ancestor was brother George)
Is this more than a coincidence ? It certainly isn't conclusive but is an acceptable working theory. What makes me even more positive about the theory is that William (3) and Elizabeth named one of their children, born in 1766, Rowland. Their first three children, Rowland, William Blore (4) and John, were in partnership as carpenters ..... before being adjudged bankrupt in 1793. Is it a coincidence that there was another Rowland Blore, born in Ashbourne in 1732, who also moved down to London and became clerk of the works at Westminster Abbey ?
Why did William Blore (3) come down to Littleton, Middlesex sometime before he married Elizabeth in 1759 ? Of course, it could have been his father brought him down but it is more likely that he came down in his early 20s possibly to seek his fortune. Say, around 1750. William was a carpenter so was possibly travelling around the country as a journeyman to learn his trade.
I am happy in my own mind that the link is right but I need to do more investigation if I am going to convince the Derbyshire Blores that it is proven that they were the source for the London Blores.