Welcome to East Grinstead
On a sandstone ridge beside the Ashdown Forest, East Grinstead is capital of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Come and explore our ancient market town with its Medieval High Street, discover its fascinating history and the people who shaped it.
The town has something for every visitor – the ancient buildings are now home to a variety of friendly independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants – including a historic coaching inn. For lovers of the great outdoors, the town has a wealth of waymarked paths and a national long distance trail runs through the town on the Greenwich Meridian.
We can’t wait to welcome you to our special town…
Latest News
Charity Golf Day – Slip! Slap! Swing! in September
Slip! Slap! Swing! this September at the most entertaining charity golf day of the year, featuring Ryder Cup star Paul Way, and trick shot legend Jeremy Dale, PLUS a day of fantastic golf. The Melanoma [...]
Donate Your Surplus Food
You Can Help! 9.5 million tonnes of food goes to waste in the UK every year, contributing to 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions! You can fight this waste and help your community by [...]
Guinness World Record Attempt by Local Business
On 25th June 2021, 11 brave men are setting off on a mission to set the Guinness World Record for the fastest cycling journey from Land’s End to John-O’-Groats in a relay team format. The [...]
Mill View Care Home Celebrates Captain Tom’s Challenge
Baking the world a better place – East Grinstead residents honour national hero A local care home cooked up a storm as part of a national initiative to honour Sir Captain Tom Moore. The team [...]
WHATS ON IN EAST GRINSTEAD
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POPULAR TOURIST HOT SPOTS
East Grinstead Museum
EAST GRINSTEAD MUSEUM Built with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and money raised by the local community, East Grinstead Museum invites you to discover the old market town [...]
Sackville College
The College has been a functioning almshouse for almost 400 years, built with a bequest from the will of Robert Sackville, Earl of Dorset...
St Swithun’s Church
ST. SWITHUN'S CHURCH St. Swithun’s is a Grade II listed building. The site had a church since the 11th century. It was struck by lightning in 1772 and after [...]
Standen House
STANDEN HOUSE & GARDENS Arts and Crafts family home with William Morris interiors, set in a beautiful hillside garden. Come and see this National Trust family home and garden [...]
THE TOWN’S HISTORY
East Grinstead has a long tradition of weekly markets. It’s broad High Street is testimony to this. Even before a town existed, several ancient tracks converged on this area and people would probably have met to transact their business. Possibly in goods and animals.
The town was given a charter by Henry III in 1247 to have a weekly Monday market and an annual fair. In 1655 the market moved from Monday to Thursday predominately for the sales of corn, but joined in 1703 by cattle sales. Thursday has remained the day of the popular farmer’s market ever since. The cattle market thrived until December 1970 when the last ‘Fat Stock Show’ was held.
