Tarring, West Sussex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Tarring |
|
|---|---|
 Tarring High Street |
|
 West Tarring
|
|
| Population | 8,646 (2011.Ward) |
| OS grid reference | TQ132040 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WORTHING |
| Postcode district | BN13, BN14 |
| Dialling code | 01903 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Tarring, officially West Tarring, is a neighbourhood of the Borough of Worthing in West Sussex, England. It lies on the A2031 road 1.2 miles (1.9 km) north-west of the town centre. It is called "West Tarring", or less commonly "Tarring Peverell", to differentiate it from Tarring Neville near Lewes.
History
Tarring was given by King Athelstan of England to the archbishops of Canterbury in the 10th century, and there is a tradition that the village was visited by Thomas Becket, the martyred archbishop, in the 12th century and also St Richard of Chichester, patron saint of Sussex, in the 13th century.
West Tarring is noted for its 13th-century parish church of St Andrew, 13th-century Archbishop's Palace, numerous old houses including the 15th-century timber-framed Parsonage Row, and two pubs: The Vine and the George and Dragon.
Despite Tarring High Street being a relatively short and very narrow road, it was once home to five pubs and was also the route for double decker buses. This is the reason for the "George and Dragon"'s unusually high pub sign. A lamp case bearing the legend "Castle Inn" is still present outside one of the former public houses.
West Tarring had an ancient fig garden, dating from 1745 or earlier. This garden survived for nearly 250 years but most of it was destroyed in the late 20th century to make way for property development.
Modern Tarring
West Tarring sub-post office was closed in 2004 and is now a tea room. There are three other shops: a small general stores, another tea room and a ladies' hairdresser. Once a village, Tarring has now become a commuter feeder area and suburban enclave.
The nearest railway station is West Worthing, 0.8 km (0.50 mi) away.
Famous residents
- St Richard of Chichester (1197–1253), lived here for a time after 1244, with the parish priest, Simon, while his appointment as Bishop of Chichester was disputed.
- John Selden, polymath, was born here on 16 December 1584.
- Edward Henty, first permanent settler of Port Phillip District (later the Colony of Victoria), was born here in 1810
- James Henty, pioneer, merchant and politician in Australia, was born here on 24 September 1800.
- William Henty, who bowled the first ball in the first ever first-class cricket match in Australia, was born here on 23 September 1808.
- Stephen Henty, prominent on the Victorian Legislative Council in Australia, was born here on 3 November 1811.
- Horace Mitchell, first-class cricketer, was born here on 19 January 1858.
- Jason Lewry (born 1971), first-class cricketer, grew up here.
Images for kids
-
Section of a map from 1583 by Joannes van Doetecum the Elder showing Tarring and its surrounding area
