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
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 [...]
TURNING THE TOWN BLUE FOR DEMENTIA AWARENESS WEEK 17-23 MAY
Have you noticed the town is gradually turning blue to mark this important week to raise awareness of dementia? Businesses along Railway Approach, London Road and the High Street have been asked to turn their [...]
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POPULAR TOURIST HOT SPOTS
Chequer Mead
CHEQUER MEAD Chequer Mead is fast becoming one of the best entertainment venues in the South East. With a programme offering something for everyone, you may be pleasantly surprised [...]
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 [...]
East Court
EAST COURT East Court Mansion is the Town Council’s administrative base and is set within the parkland grounds of East Court. It is an 18th Century Grade II listed [...]
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...
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.
