Tatsfield is a community with a population of almost 2000, a village shop, a pub and a village pond with resident ducks. The village lies close to the Pilgrims Way, and along its western boundary runs the route of the old London to Lewes Road built by the Romans.
Tatsfield was listed in the Domesday book. It rendered 60 shillings to its feudal overlords every year.
During the mid 14th century the manor was held by Rhodri ap Gruffudd, brother of the last native Prince of Wales, and his descendants. In 1416–17 John de Stanyngden conveyed his rights in the manor to John Uvedale. William Uvedale inherited it on his father’s death in 1616.
It was acquired by the last in the line of the Gresham family. The ancient manor-house, called Tatsfield Court Lodge, stood near the church and was pulled down by this last Baronet, Sir John before his death in 1801, and a new house was built at the foot of the hill, near the Pilgrims’ Way.
In 1929, the BBC established its Tatsfield Receiving Station just outside the village and its masts and shortwave aerials were a prominent local landmark. The station closed in 1974.
On 10 December 1935 a Savoia-Marchetti S.73 of Belgian airline SABENA crashed at Tatsfield, killing all eleven on board. At the time, Britain’s worst air crash.
