Tangmere
Encyclopedia
Tangmere is a village and civil parish
in the Chichester District
of West Sussex
, England
. Located three miles (5 km) north east of Chichester it is twinned with Hermanville-sur-Mer
in Lower Normandy
, France
.
The parish has a land area of 467.3 hectares (1154 acres). In the 2001 census 2462 people lived in 963 households, of whom 1233 were economically active.
road of Stane Street, linking Londinium
with Noviomagus Reginorum
, now known as Chichester
. In 677 the controversial Bishop of York, Wilfrid
(later Saint Wilfrid), came to Selsey and converted the South Saxons to Christianity. In 680 a charter, possibly by the King states: “I Caedwalla...have granted his brethren serving God at the church of St Andrew...the land of 10 hides which is called Tangmere”. A hide equated to 120 acres (49 hectares).
The Domesday Survey
records that Tangmere had a population of around 120, with the stone church of St Andrew
built after the Norman conquest. Originally built of timber, the Saxon church was replaced in 1100 by a stone and timber building. Difficult to date precisely, the building incorporates scavenged and reused stone, including pre-Christian carved figures, Roman bricks; while the size of the yew tree
by the present door suggests an ancient sacred site. The church was added to in both the 12th century and in the Victorian era
.
In 1341, King Edward II granted the new Archbishop of Canterbury
the right to hold a fair at Tangmere on St Andrew's Day. The event is still held by the church every autumn, as a result of which it is where the church got its name.
The Manor of Tangmere was owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury until 1542, when Henry VIII claimed possession. It passed later to Cardinal Archbishop Pole and then to the Crown again, being granted by Elizabeth I to Richard Baker and then Sir Richard Sackville — a cousin of her mother Anne Boleyn.
In 1579 the manor became part of the Halnaker estate which was later acquired by the 3rd Duke of Richmond
. When he died in 1806, the Goodwood estate, including Tangmere, totaled 17,000 acres (69 km²). Goodwood maintained ownership of Tangmere land until the 1930s.
Tangmere was the home of the former RAF Tangmere
air station, which played a pivotal role in World War II, especially during the Battle of Britain
. Part of the former airfield is now home to the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Founded in 1917 for use by the Royal Flying Corps
as a training base, in 1918 it was turned over to the American Air Force.
Mothballed after World War I, in 1925 the station re-opened to serve the Fleet Air Arm
, and went operational in 1926 with No. 43 Squadron
. In 1939 the airfield was enlarged to defend the south coast against attack by the Luftwaffe
, with Tangmere's only hotel and some houses being demolished in the process. The RAF commandeered the majority of houses in the centre of the village, with only six to eight families being allowed to stay. In August 1940 the first squadron (602) of Supermarine Spitfire
s was based at the satellite airfield at nearby Westhampnett. The first and worst enemy raid on the station came on 16 August 1940, when 100 Junkers Stuka
dive bombers caused extensive damage to buildings and aircraft on the ground. 14 service people and six civilians were killed. Throughout the war, the station was also a secret base for the Special Operations Executive
who flew agents in and out of occupied France to strengthen the Resistance
. The SOE used Tangmere Cottage, opposite the main entrance to the base. Today the cottage sports a commemorative blue plaque
to its former secret life. As the RAF turned from defence to attack, the legendary Group Captain Douglas Bader
– the legless fighter ace – commanded the Tangmere wing of Fighter Command
. Today he is commemorated in the Bader Arms public house in the village. Many of those killed at the base, from both sides during the war, are buried in the cemetery of St Andrews church, tended to by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
After the War, the RAF High Speed Flight was based at Tangmere. In September 1946, a world air speed record of 616 miles per hour (991.4 km/h) was set by Group Captain Edward Mortlock Donaldson
in a Gloster Meteor
. In September 1953, Squadron Leader Neville Duke
flew a Hawker Hunter
at 727 miles per hour (1,170 km/h): the 50th anniversary of this event was commemorated in 2003. The station finally closed on 16 October 1970, when a single Spitfire
flew over the airfield as the RAF ensign was hauled down.
Until 1983 37 acres (149,733.8 m²) of barracks, admin blocks and repair workshops remained derelict until bought by Seawards Properties Ltd. Housing soon spread around the airfield, and much RAF building was demolished and officers' houses retained as homes. However, some original RAF buildings remain, including 3 large hangars, the Control Tower and one of the ‘H Block’ accommodation buildings.
The Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, now a major visitor attraction and base for annual celebrations was founded by a group of enthusiastic veterans.
The Parish Council was established in 1966, from when the village has slowly resumed its development as a rural community, rather than a military one. With the boom in modern housing there has been an influx of young families, most of whom work in and around Chichester.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Chichester District
Chichester (district)
Chichester is a largely rural local government district in West Sussex, England. Its council is based in the city of Chichester.-History:The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the municipal borough of Chichester and the Rural Districts of...
of West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Located three miles (5 km) north east of Chichester it is twinned with Hermanville-sur-Mer
Hermanville-sur-Mer
Hermanville-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Sights:* 13th century church* Commonwealth war cemetery* Old village center...
in Lower Normandy
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The parish has a land area of 467.3 hectares (1154 acres). In the 2001 census 2462 people lived in 963 households, of whom 1233 were economically active.
Origin of the name
The origin of the name Tangmere is not certain. Mere implies a pool rather than a grand lake, and 'tang' is thought to mean tongs or a serpents tongue. It could be that Tangmere was the pool at the fork, or junction of two ancient paths. The pool was later filled in to form a small village green.History
The Saxon village lies a mile south of the RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
road of Stane Street, linking Londinium
Londinium
The city of London was established by the Romans around AD 43. It served as a major imperial commercial centre until its abandonment during the 5th century.-Origins and language:...
with Noviomagus Reginorum
Noviomagus Reginorum
Noviomagus Reginorum was the Roman town which is today called Chichester, situated in the modern English county of West Sussex. Alternative versions of the name include Noviomagus Regnorum, Regnentium and Regentium..-Development:...
, now known as Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
. In 677 the controversial Bishop of York, Wilfrid
Wilfrid
Wilfrid was an English bishop and saint. Born a Northumbrian noble, he entered religious life as a teenager and studied at Lindisfarne, at Canterbury, in Gaul, and at Rome; he returned to Northumbria in about 660, and became the abbot of a newly founded monastery at Ripon...
(later Saint Wilfrid), came to Selsey and converted the South Saxons to Christianity. In 680 a charter, possibly by the King states: “I Caedwalla...have granted his brethren serving God at the church of St Andrew...the land of 10 hides which is called Tangmere”. A hide equated to 120 acres (49 hectares).
The Domesday Survey
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
records that Tangmere had a population of around 120, with the stone church of St Andrew
St Andrews Church, Tangmere
St Andrew's Church is a Church of England church, located in Tangmere, West Sussex. It lies within the Diocese of Chichester.The Saxon village lies a mile south of the Roman road of Stane Street, linking Londinium with Noviomagus Reginorum, now known as Chichester...
built after the Norman conquest. Originally built of timber, the Saxon church was replaced in 1100 by a stone and timber building. Difficult to date precisely, the building incorporates scavenged and reused stone, including pre-Christian carved figures, Roman bricks; while the size of the yew tree
Taxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
by the present door suggests an ancient sacred site. The church was added to in both the 12th century and in the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
In 1341, King Edward II granted the new Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
the right to hold a fair at Tangmere on St Andrew's Day. The event is still held by the church every autumn, as a result of which it is where the church got its name.
The Manor of Tangmere was owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury until 1542, when Henry VIII claimed possession. It passed later to Cardinal Archbishop Pole and then to the Crown again, being granted by Elizabeth I to Richard Baker and then Sir Richard Sackville — a cousin of her mother Anne Boleyn.
In 1579 the manor became part of the Halnaker estate which was later acquired by the 3rd Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond
Field Marshal Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 3rd Duke of Lennox, 3rd Duke of Aubigny, KG, PC, FRS , styled Earl of March until 1750, was a British politician and office holder noteworthy for his advanced views on the issue of parliamentary reform...
. When he died in 1806, the Goodwood estate, including Tangmere, totaled 17,000 acres (69 km²). Goodwood maintained ownership of Tangmere land until the 1930s.
Royal Air Force Station
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
air station, which played a pivotal role in World War II, especially during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. Part of the former airfield is now home to the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Founded in 1917 for use by the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
as a training base, in 1918 it was turned over to the American Air Force.
Mothballed after World War I, in 1925 the station re-opened to serve the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
, and went operational in 1926 with No. 43 Squadron
No. 43 Squadron RAF
No. 43 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It last operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland in the air defence role until disbanded in July 2009.-In World War I:...
. In 1939 the airfield was enlarged to defend the south coast against attack by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, with Tangmere's only hotel and some houses being demolished in the process. The RAF commandeered the majority of houses in the centre of the village, with only six to eight families being allowed to stay. In August 1940 the first squadron (602) of Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s was based at the satellite airfield at nearby Westhampnett. The first and worst enemy raid on the station came on 16 August 1940, when 100 Junkers Stuka
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
dive bombers caused extensive damage to buildings and aircraft on the ground. 14 service people and six civilians were killed. Throughout the war, the station was also a secret base for the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
who flew agents in and out of occupied France to strengthen the Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. The SOE used Tangmere Cottage, opposite the main entrance to the base. Today the cottage sports a commemorative blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
to its former secret life. As the RAF turned from defence to attack, the legendary Group Captain Douglas Bader
Douglas Bader
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.Bader joined the...
– the legless fighter ace – commanded the Tangmere wing of Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
. Today he is commemorated in the Bader Arms public house in the village. Many of those killed at the base, from both sides during the war, are buried in the cemetery of St Andrews church, tended to by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
After the War, the RAF High Speed Flight was based at Tangmere. In September 1946, a world air speed record of 616 miles per hour (991.4 km/h) was set by Group Captain Edward Mortlock Donaldson
Edward Mortlock Donaldson
Air Commodore Edward "Teddy" Mortlock Donaldson CB, CBE, DSO, AFC & Bar was an RAF Second World War Flying ace, and former holder of the airspeed World Record.-Biography:...
in a Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
. In September 1953, Squadron Leader Neville Duke
Neville Duke
Squadron Leader Neville Frederick Duke DSO, OBE, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, FRAeS,Czech War Cross was a British Second World War fighter pilot. He was the top Allied flying ace in the Mediterranean Theatre, having shot down at least 27 enemy aircraft, and was acknowledged as one of the world's foremost...
flew a Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
at 727 miles per hour (1,170 km/h): the 50th anniversary of this event was commemorated in 2003. The station finally closed on 16 October 1970, when a single Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
flew over the airfield as the RAF ensign was hauled down.
Recent history
Following the closure of the RAF station, some of the land around the runways was returned to farming. Tangmere Airfield Nurseries have built huge glasshouses for the cultivation of peppers and aubergines.Until 1983 37 acres (149,733.8 m²) of barracks, admin blocks and repair workshops remained derelict until bought by Seawards Properties Ltd. Housing soon spread around the airfield, and much RAF building was demolished and officers' houses retained as homes. However, some original RAF buildings remain, including 3 large hangars, the Control Tower and one of the ‘H Block’ accommodation buildings.
The Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, now a major visitor attraction and base for annual celebrations was founded by a group of enthusiastic veterans.
The Parish Council was established in 1966, from when the village has slowly resumed its development as a rural community, rather than a military one. With the boom in modern housing there has been an influx of young families, most of whom work in and around Chichester.
