Tadworth
| Tadworth, Surrey | |
| Surrey | |
|---|---|
 New Mill, Tadworth | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ2256 |
| Location: | 51°17’38"N, 0°14’31"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Tadworth |
| Postcode: | KT20 |
| Dialling code: | 01737 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Reigate and Banstead |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Reigate |
Tadworth is a large suburban village in Surrey, on the south-eastern slope of the Epsom Downs. The village is near to Epsom Downs racecourse, home to the Epsom Derby. It is its own village but the townscape of the great conurbation in north-eastern Surrey reaches this far, but if Tadworth can be considered part of it, it is the southernmost reach and the village, surrounded on three sides by countryside, is allowed its own identity.
Tadworth lies within the Copthorne Hundred, and nearby villages include Walton-on-the-Hill, Kingswood, Epsom, Burgh Heath, Banstead, Reigate and Sutton.
The village
The village has two, or possibly three, small shopping areas. The largest is around the station, approximately in the centre of the Tadworth area. There is another towards the south of the area, nearer to Walton Heath, and a third, known locally as Shelvers Hill, to the north, near to Epsom Downs.
The shops in these areas are those which would once have been in every prosperous village high street but now seem like curiosities; a butcher, fishmonger, baker, greengrocer and delicatessen. This being the Surrey commuter belt, the village also has estate agents, a travel agent, an off licence, several restaurant and a car dealership. Though a modest village, it still supports two banks, a post office, increasingly rare even in some towns.
There are three public houses situated to the south-east of the village centre, along the B2032 Dorking Road, these being the Blue Anchor, the Dukes' Head and Inn on the Green.
The training headquarters for the British Transport Police was located at a site between Tadworth and Walton-on-the-Hill until it was closed in 2010. The Dog Section Training School which shared the site was relocated to Keston at this time, to the same location as the Metropolitan Police Dog Training School.
Churches
- Church of England:
- Roman Catholic: St John the Evangelist
The Church of the Good Shepherd was built at the opening of the twentieth century. It is open daily, intended as a place for quiet reflection and has a church hall which is well used by the local community.
St John’s is a modern church, built in the mid-twentieth century.
Domesday Book entry
Tadworth appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Tadeorde and Tadorne. It was held partly by Halsart from William de Braiose and partly by Radulf (Ralph) from the Bishop of Bayeux. Its Domesday assets were: 2 hides. It had 5 ploughs, woodland worth 4 hogs. It rendered £3 15s 0d.[1]
Tadworth Cricket Club
Tadworth Cricket Club’s ground is opposite the Duke's Head. It is considered to be one of the most picturesque grounds in the county, surrounded by woodland and with the lighting from the pubs opposite illuminating it on a summer's evening.
The club was founded in 1903, and at that time the club was originally based at a site some 400 yards north of where it is currently situated. It is not known exactly when the club moved to its present site, but it is believed to be before the First World War. The 'Green', as the ground is affectionately referred to, was substantially smaller then, and players relied on a marquee being erected every Saturday for privacy whilst changing.
During the Second World War the ground and surrounding lands were used by the Canadian Army for training exercises and ammunition storage in the run up to the D-Day landings.
In 1951 the club members built a new pavilion on the present site, but in 1990 a disastrous fire destroyed the pavilion and all the club’s records and ground equipment. The new pavilion was opened by Alf Gover (formerly of Surrey CCC and England) during Tadworth Village week in 1993.
During the summer months, cricket is played at the ground nearly every day by the Club, or the local prep school, Chinthurst School. The ground is often let to nomadic sides, which in the past has included the Gaieties Cricket Club.
The club currently has 3 adult teams, two of which play on Saturday afternoons in the Surrey Downs League, and the other plays a good standard of Sunday, friendly cricket. The club also has a substantial colts section, with players aged 8-13 who play cricket throughout the week, and play competitive cricket in the NEC Surrey Colts League.
The club has an active website with full history.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Tadworth) |
- Tadworth Cricket Club - Surrey Downs League
- The Children's Trust