Tillington, West Sussex

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=All Hallows, Tillington
latitude= 50.98913
longitude= -0.62975
official_name = Tillington
population =
shire_district= Chichester
shire_county= West Sussex
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Chichester
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= SU962219

Tillington is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located one mile west of Petworth on the A272. The parish includes the hamlets of Upperton, River, and River Common.

The land area is 1416.3 Hectares (3498.3 acres). Approximately 500 people live in 227 households in the parish (2001 census). Upperton and Tillington are designated Conservation Areas. There are many old dwellings, including medieval timber framed houses, with one third of the buildings in the parish being grade II listed. [Chichester District Council, "Tillington Parish Plan 2006." (Can be downloaded from the village website)] Pitshill is a Georgian mansion standing at the head of a valley between Upperton and River. [http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=5185 All Hallows Church] with its unusual Scots crown tower is a landmark when approaching from Petworth, and is floodlit at night.It was painted by J M W Turner and John Constable. The church, first recorded in 1100 A.D. was mostly rebuilt and enlarged between 1807 and 1837, but retains [http://www.crsbi.ac.uk/ed/sx/tilli/ Romanesque sculpture] and a plain eight-sided twelfth century stone font. Opposite the church is the historic Horseguards Inn, thought to get its name from the cavalry who stayed there overnight while escorting gold bullion from London to the navy at Portsmouth.

History

The first reference to Tillington is in a title deed of 960 A.D., as "Tullington", the farm or village founded by Tulla. Upperton (Upper Village) is first mentioned in 1191. Grittenham (Great Farm Enclosure), once a much larger settlement than today, is first mentioned in the Domesday Book, 1086, as Greteham. River (On the Slope) has also been called "Treve" through most of its history.

During the sixteenth century A.D. a lot of common grazing land east of Upperton was illegally enclosed to make a deer park for Petworth House causing impoverishment of the farmers of Upperton. This resulted in a long running legal case against the Earl of Northumberland, owner of Petworth, described by Peter Jerrome in his book "Cloakbag and Common Purse". [Peter Jerrome,"Cloakbag and Common Purse" The Window Press 1979 ISBN 0-9504830-0-2 p100-106.] The "common purse" was a fighting fund raised by the tenants to fund legal action in the Chancery court; the "clokebagge well fraught with money" was a large bribe to the tenants' leader to drop the case, after first having had him press ganged into the army and sent to fight "beyond seas" which probably meant in Ireland, which he survived.

Geology

A sandstone ridge with an elevation of approximately 170m runs east to west across the centre of the parish, from Upperton to River. The north facing scarp slope falls steeply to the low weald where the soils are a mix of weald clay with alluvial soils. This northern part of the parish is well wooded, the farmland being a mix of pasture and arable. Ironstone deposits on the lower slopes of the escarpment have been quarried in the pre-industrial era leaving parts of River Common pitted and scarred, now overgrown by naturally regenerated broadleaved woodland. To the south of the sandstone ridge the land slopes gently down to the River Rother having very fertile free draining soils on greensand which are divided into large fields and mostly used for intensive vegetable production. Some of the upper slopes have recently been planted with grape vines.

Wildlife

Acid sandy soils and neutral clay and loams provide a range of habitats, and there is some brookland adjoining the River Rother.There is no chalk. There is ancient grassland on River Common where glow-worms can be seen. Much of Petworth deer park with closely grazed ancient turf and numerous ant hills is within the parish boundary. The northern part of the parish has a diversity of small fields,hedges and woodlands supporting a wide range of species. Foxes,badgers,fallow deer and roe deer are plentiful. Muntjac deer are sometimes seen. Four species of reptile are present. Adders are found on the common and grass snakes throughout. Common lizards have been seen at River Common and Parkhurst Farm. Slow-worms are found in most places. Buzzards returned to the area several years ago and breed regularly. A full habitat survey will be undertaken during the spring and summer of 2008.clear

port and Leisure

Tillington cricket ground on the southern edge of Upperton has fine views of the South Downs . This is a popular place for picnics. There is a modern sports pavilion and adjoining hard tennis courts and children's play area. Just north of the church and pub Tillington Village Hall is a well equipped venue for meetings,indoor activities and parties.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.gravelroots.net/tillington/home.html The Tillington & Upperton Guide] - An indexed guide to Tillington, Upperton and River. Contains maps, photo galleries, history, news and information.
* [http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=5185 All Hallows Church]
* [http://www.tillington.net Village website]