Tadworth history
This page gives a brief history of Tadworth.
At the time of the Norman Conquest Tadworth, like many other places, was given to favourites of William the Conqueror.
The area was divided into north and south. Tadeorde (south Tadworth) went to William's half brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux.
The Domesday Book records that in the time of King Edward the Confessor, Tadeorde was held by two brothers. Tadorne (north Tadworth) was given to William de Braisse.
Both must have been little more than farms at this time, unlike the nearby Manor of Preston, where the Preston Hawe housing estate now stands.
In 1952 during preliminary work on the estate excavations revealed the remains of a 12th century great hall.
Tadworth Court
By 1274 north and south Tadworth were owned by the church, Tadorne by the Priory which later became Southwark Cathedral and the south by the Priory of Merton.
They fell back to private hands after the dissolution of the monastries and in 1694, south Tadworth was sold to a rich merchant named Leonard Wessell who built the Manor House known as Tadworth Court in 1700.
The house was later owned by several luminaries including the future Lord Chief Justice of England, Charles Russell.
The 'market'
In 1841 the village consisted of a few houses clustered around Tadworth Court. These were all situated on the south side of Tadworth Street, the main thoroughfare.
The main shopping centre of Tadworth, Cross Road, was built around 1908 and was then known as the 'market'.
It owed its location to the arrival of Chipstead Valley Railway in 1900.
The regular train service brought more people and investment to the town and led to the development during the 20th century of the Tadworth we know today.
Last updated : 28/04/2009
