Tatsfield In
Anglo-Saxon England, Tatsfield lay within
Tandridge hundred. In 1086 it was held by Anschitill (Ansketel) de Ros from the
Bishop of Bayeux. Its Domesday assets were: ½ hide. It had 2
ploughs. It rendered 60 shillings (£3) to its
feudal overlords per 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.
Thomas Retherick's heir was his son
Owen, also called 'de Gales' (of Wales), who in 1366, during the war with France, left England to join the king's enemies in that country, and before going likewise released all his right in the reversion of the manor to Roger de Stanyngden and his heirs. Thus in 1392 a grant of the manor of Tatsfield, which was alleged to have been long-concealed, was made by the Crown to John Maudelyn. In 1416–17 John de Stanyngden or Stalkynden conveyed his rights in the manor to John Uvedale. William Uvedale inherited on his father's death in 1616. He conveyed the manor to a later Sir John Gresham (see
Gresham baronets), before passing under his nephew,
Marmaduke Gresham's will. From his son and co-heir, Sir Isaac Shard acquired it in 1717. 1759 Isaac Pacatus Shard wanted a sale; his heir William put it up for sale with three farms containing let at £190 a year and of wood. It was acquired via a Mr Butler by the last in the line of Greshams (see Calcotts below). 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. The station closed in 1974 when its work was merged with that of
BBC Monitoring's receiving station at
Crowsley Park in
South Oxfordshire. Some derelict remains of the BBC station can still be seen. On 10 December 1935 a
Savoia-Marchetti S.73 of
Belgian airline
SABENA crashed at Tatsfield, killing all eleven on board. At the time, it was Britain's worst air crash.
Ancient roads A number of ancient routes cross the parish. The best studied is the London to
Lewes Way west of the village centre. It was constructed about 100 AD between the mentioned towns/settlements . (Part of this
Roman road forms the county boundary here, with Greater London to its east and another part of Surrey to the west.) One other trackway appears also to be of importance: this is the Biggin Hill to Titsey route, which is straight in places, and as is pointed out in the
Victoria County History (1912) provides a direct connection between the Roman road at the entrance to the village and the two villa sites in Titsey Park, suggesting a possible Roman origin. ==Transport==