Tate Family History

The Tate family have been living and trading in Sussex for over 300 years. Records track William Tate back to 1605. By 1785 William Tate was working 99 acres in Findon, West Sussex. By 1795 the Findon Court Book records his right to vote in County elections, so it appears he had climbed the ladder of success!

By 1841, the Tate family were recorded as Wheelwrights and still operate a number of car dealerships in Sussex today. During the late 1800s records show the family also worked as master gardeners, carpenters, shopkeepers and bricklayers.
The family’s love of gardening has resulted in the development of South Downs Nurseries at Hassocks. The nurseries, originally Clayton Nurseries, was established over 100 years ago and by 1922 was specialising in the growing of the new, rare, unusual and exotic hardy perpetual border carnations and rock dianthus.

Today, the vast nursery has been completely rebuilt to its former glory by the Tate family, for the production of new, rare, unusual and exotic garden plants. Visitors can browse the nursery and garden centre and relax in the coffee shop overlooking the nursery plants.