Thakeham (or Taceham or Thackham depending upon how old you are!!) is a village of antiquity dating back beyond the Doomsday Book into Saxon times, many artefacts including a crock of gold have been unearthed by accident to illustrate this.

You have only to walk down the ancient "holloways" and byways to get a feel for the antiquity of the surrounds. A short walk to the East from the field will take you to Strawberry Lane, once pounded by smugglers carrying their contraband to hiding places in the village. Many of the old houses in the area have dark cellars and unexplained recesses that could tell a few tales.

Following this ancient track North you would come to "The Street" passing the Church of St Mary’s (previously St Peter’s) of Norman origin and progressing up the Street there are a number of premises whose function has changed with the years. You pass a private garage that was once a forge, then the original old Post Office and shop, now a dwelling house.

Another old forge became a butcher’s shop before being used by the WI as a meeting place, it too has become a private dwelling.

The new old Post Office was formerly a School for Young Ladies and shared premises with the old police station (at least a constable used to live there!).

The Street contains many fine buildings that are both pleasing to the eye and represent a cross section of village life. Walking down the Storrington Road will take you through the deep cuttings carved out by French prisoners during the Napoleonic wars and back to the Chesswood’s Grounds.

Festivities are nothing new in Thakeham, Thakeham Club Day (a predecessor of Village Day) was held behind the White Lion, May Day was always celebrated at Abingworth Hall and there is nothing new about the Morris Dancers Morris Dancers performing, they were present at such events many years ago.