Crawley Down is a village in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. There is one church,[1] one school,[1] and a number of social groups. It lies 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Crawley and 7 miles (11 km) east of Gatwick Airport. Crawley Down lies in the northeast corner of West Sussex, just one mile from the border with Surrey.
Until the 17th century, the area now covered by the village was used by iron producers, who sold to the Woodcock hammer in Felbridge. Some small farms were set up in the 1600s, part of a pattern of enclosures in the area in the 17th and 18th centuries. A large manor, The Grange, was built for a London silversmith in the 18th century, and the settlement slowly grew, with a restart of ironworking to supply metal for guns to be used in wars with France.[2] In the 19th century, after iron working had ceased, the local clay was mined for bricks.[3]
In the 19th century, Crawley Down was known as a centre for prizefighting. The illegal sport was attracted by the proximity to London, combined with a secluded location. Large and boisterous crowds were attracted to the matches, and local law enforcement turned a blind eye as the prizefights were a useful source of income for the village.[2]
The railway from Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells passed through the village, and although a land dispute delayed its construction, a station was built for brick transport. The railway connected the village with East Grinstead, Tunbridge Wells and London, and spurred rapid growth of the village, with several new estates, namely Down Park, Tiltwood, and Huntsland.[3] All Saints Church was built in 1843, and a Primary School attached to the church.[4]
