The quiet village of Thakeham nestles in the shelter of the South Downs in the heart of West Sussex with many fine views and is situated about three miles north of Storrington, which is a thriving large village at the foot of the South Downs with a wide range of amenities.

Thakeham was mentioned in the Domesday Book, and the oldest part of the village of Thakeham is ‘The Street’; down this lane there is a wide variety of architectural styles and properties. In 1875 a school was built in The Street to accommodate 92 children but in 1935 this had fallen to 35. It was bolstered by an influx of evacuees during the Second World War requiring the use of the parish rooms, adjacent to the school. Thakeham First School still provides an excellent primary education for local children. The parish church of St Mary’s dating from Norman times is a building of quiet sanctity and the churchyard is a most peaceful place. The interior of the church is well preserved with a bell tower at one end and the view from the door of the church is one of the tranquil beauty of a typical English village.

The quiet peaceful atmosphere of Thakeham belies the activity, which takes place in the background. A village day is held in June and for the local community there is a Christmas dinner, spring teas, an annual village walk and an occasional “Burns Supper”. No English village would be complete without its own Morris dance side and Thakeham maintains this tradition. The area is primarily agricultural with much of the surrounding land being devoted to farming and there are many fine farms and farm buildings.

Storrington village is close by and offers a wide range of local amenities, including a supermarket, banks, doctors and dentists, as well as several churches. A short drive away is Pulborough with a main line railway station with excellent links to London.