Copthorne, West Sussex

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Copthorne
Copthorne, West Sussex (West Sussex)
Copthorne, West Sussex

Copthorne shown within West Sussex
Population Approx. 5,000[1]
OS grid reference TQ317394
Parish Worth
District Mid Sussex
Shire county West Sussex
Region South East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Crawley
Postcode district RH10 3**
Dialling code 01342 (usually 71****)
Police Sussex
Fire West Sussex
Ambulance South East Coast
European Parliament South East England
UK Parliament Horsham
List of places: UK • England • West Sussex

Coordinates: 51°08′21″N 0°07′05″W / 51.1391, -0.1181

For other places with the same name, see Copthorne.

Copthorne is a village in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England, close to Crawley and Gatwick Airport. It is the most northerly ecclesiastical parish in the Diocese of Chichester in the Church of England, and together with Crawley Down makes up the civil parish of Worth.[2]

Contents

[edit] Etymology

The name Copthorne probably comes from copped or coppiced (pollarded) thorn, meaning a cut thorn tree.[3]

[edit] History

Lying as it does, on the borders between the counties West Sussex & Surrey, has contributed to Copthorne's history. There are stories of smugglers from the south coast stashing their goods in the woods around the village, conscious that it was easy to step across the county boundary, and escape any pursuing constabulary.[4]

Similarly, a number of significant boxing prize fights took place in Copthorne Common in the early 1800s. A significant one was the English championship in 1810, between Tom Cribb of Bristol and Tom Molineaux from Virginia, USA.[5] Among the 10 000 spectators was The Prince Regent, Tsar Alexander I of Russia, and Lord Byron.[citation needed]

A Copthorner is traditionally known as a Yellowbelly, and there are a number of stories told as to why this might be.[6] Some talk of villagers wearing their gold strapped around their bellies, but the most likely reason is probably tied to the traditional local trade of charcoal burning, where some of those working stripped to the waist found their skin turned yellow with the smoke. Another possibility has it that the smugglers had to crawl through the mud to avoid detection and thus acquiring muddy yellow bellies.[3]

As part of a village Millennium project, a history of the village Copthorne - The Story So Far was published by the community in 1999/2000.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mid Sussex District Council article on Copthorne (Website). Mid Sussex District Council (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
  2. ^ The Diocese of Chichester: St John the Evangelist, Copthorne (Website). The Diocese of Chichester. Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
  3. ^ a b c History of Copthorne village (Website). Copthorne village website (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
  4. ^ Mid Sussex District Council article on Copthorne (Website). Mid Sussex District Council (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
  5. ^ Tom Molineaux (Website). Spartacus Schoolnet (2004). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
  6. ^ BBC Southern Counties: Glossary of local terms (Website). BBC (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.

[edit] External links


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Towns, villages and hamlets in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England
Mid Sussex District