Visitors to Sackville College are immediately immersed in 400 years of history. The principle rooms are the Chapel with its original carved door and the Great Hall with its Minstrels’ Gallery and hammer beam roof. A previous Warden was the Victorian hymnologist, the Revd. Dr. John Mason Neale. In his study adjoining the Chapel, he wrote many well-known hymns and carols, including "Good King Wenceslas" and "Jerusalem the Golden". Dr. Neale, who died here in 1866 after twenty years as warden. The College’s connection with the Sackville family goes back to the year 1609 and the will of Robert Sackville, Earl of Dorset. This provided a sum of money with which to buy land and "build a convenient house of brick and stone" to be used as an almshouse. The College is a charitable foundation, which operates according to an act of Parliament of 1624 and a Royal Charter of 1631 and still has residents living on the premises. The college is located only 100 yards from the Tea Lounge further along the High Street towards Forest Row.

 

There has been a church on the site since the 11th century. It was struck by lightening in 1772 and after re-building it was opened in 1789.
This hill-top site where several tracks met would have been the obvious place to build a church when our area began to be settled in the late tenth century: and one of the most popular saints of that time, St Swithun (Bishop of Winchester, 852-862), was the unsurprising choice for its patron. We can only speculate about the original building and how it developed but pictures from the late eighteenth century show that a church of largely fourteenth and fifteenth century style stood here until 1785 when the collapse of its tower (poorly rebuilt in 1684 after being struck by lightning) made the present building necessary.The church is located about 80 yards from the Tea lounge almost directly across the other side of the High Street. A must for visitors.

 

 

 

 Widely considered as one of the best centres from which to explore the Sussex High Weald, ancient market town East Grinstead retains many heritage buildings and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. Here at East Grinstead is where the four counties - East & West Sussex, Kent and Surrey meet, making this historic town a popular base for visitors wanting to explore attractions in all four counties. The Greenwich Meridian also runs right through the town! East Grinstead's stunning High Street is lined with historic buildings including medieval timber framed buildings. In and around East Grinstead High Street discover a host of arts and crafts shops, bookshops, character historic pubs, and bars and fine restaurants, including the Nizam Tea Lounge . East Grinstead is the perfect historic base from which to explore the countryside of the High Weald and nearby Ashdown Forest.

First port of call for exploring the history of East Grinstead and the High Weald is the East Grinstead Museum situated just off the High Street on the site of the old castle market. The museum is perfect for children offering plenty of hands-on interactive displays which also include numerous artefacts, images and memorabilia. Changing exhibitions have included topics such as the history of the Bluebell Railway.

East Grinstead Museum, Old Market Yard, Cantelupe Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3BJ. Tel. 01342 302233. Open Wed & Sat 10am to 4pm, Sun & Bank Holidays 2pm to 5pm. Close over Christmas. Admission is Free.

East Grinstead Historic Town Trail

Start your East Grinstead historic town trail at St Swithuns church designed by the famous architect James Wyatt and dating from 1785. A helpful town trail plaque is displayed at the church's entrance off the High Street or pick up a guide from the TIC. The High Street was originally laid out in the early 13th century and served as a major road linking the South to London. This main market street was deliberately wide to accommodate markets and fairs which would sell to the passing traffic. Historic highlights along East Grinstead High Street include the striking Wealden house - Clarendon House dating from around 1470 with additional extensions including the Old Stone House dating from around 1630 with further extensions again built in the 1880s. Dorset House dates from 1705 and is a Queen Ann Town House restored recently in 1989. East Court along the High Street dates from the latter half of the 1700s. Once a country gentleman's house, today East Court is home to the Town Council and sits within a public park just off the High Street down College Lane. Note too Cromwell House dating from around 1599 and built as a town house for the head of an important local family.