East Grinstead Travel Guide

 iandsmith Says:  Coming from Oz I never cease to be amazed that you can be walking along and there, across the road (Middlerow as seen from church gate) is a timber-framed shop dating from the 1400's. The wall on the right belongs to a gunsmith. 

 iandsmith Says:  Peter Hunter did just the opposite. He queried whether or not we would like a guided tour. As a pair of enthusiastic travellers we were more than happy to join him, albeit with reservations about what could possibly be interesting in this village prayer house. If East... 

 iandsmith Says:  All the buildings here are relatively modern except for the black-and-white Tudor style one most prominent. When you are there you will notice that all is not square and straight which is a bit of a giveaway to its age.This is the view from the rear taken from the church... 

 iandsmith Says:  There I was, amazed. I'd always thought it must have been written by some Czech person or European at least and here, backlit before me, was the visage of the man who wrote the hymn, as well as many others.John Mason Neale was a compassionate man, his efforts to break down... 

 iandsmith Says:  Peter also indicated the names of the townsfolk who died in the two World Wars, highlighting the fact that twice as many were lost in the first conflict, a common occurence in villages and towns throughout Britain apparently.He also notes the plaque in memory of 104 dead and... 

 iandsmith Says:  This is the main entry gate to Sackville College from the main road though most would arrive there at the back of the building. 

 iandsmith Says:  Well, yes, it looks like a tower and it is but, when I first saw it I had wonderful visions of espying my first castle ruin of my trip. Sadly, it's merely the local water tower and not really that old (by the standards of the rest of the town) at all. 

 iandsmith Says:  This, rather obviously if you've already looked at the photo, is a restaurant but the rambling timber-framed jettied house that encloses it is of an indeterminable date but probably mid 15th to late 17th century. 

 iandsmith Says:  The refurbished Dorset Arms Inn - Inns on this site go back to 17th century under various names. This building is mostly 18th century. 

 iandsmith Says:  This today is a pedestrian area reputed to be where the 3 protestant martyrs were burnt at the stake for refusing to renounce their faith. The buildings in the background are fine examples of 15th century Hall Houses. 

 iandsmith Says:  Shown here are numbers 100-108 London Rd. 106 boasts a fine carved gable in 17th century Dutch style. No. 108, dating from 1903, is the town's first fire station. 

 iandsmith Says:  This is the intersection of Middle Row and East Court. On the extreme left, actually on the corner of Hermitage St., is the Dorset Arms Hotel, a rather attractive inn. Middlerow buildings replace market stalls dating from the first half of the 15th century. The building... 

 iandsmith Says:  While I was gog-eyed with photo opportunities Rosemarie, as is her wont, decided to stop inside the church. Just as I followed her in, a man quietly strode up the aisle, obviously intent on evicting the convict heritage foreigners and smiting the atheists from within these... 

 iandsmith Says:  This charitable foundation in the UK provides housing for the elderly. The College operates according to an act of Parliament of 1624 and a Royal Charter of 1631; its most famous warden was John Mason Neale (1818-1866), the aforementioned writer of hymns. 

 iandsmith Says:  Sackville College is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the town. Its choice setting atop a small prominence, the weathered stone and lovely street-side garden make it a bit of an eyecatcher.Through the years buildings such as Sackville College have been lovingly... 

 iandsmith Says:  Out working in the garden were three folk straight from central casting. Cheerful retirees tending their beloved bloms and only too happy for a chat with Rosemarie about roses. It was, all in all, a heartwarming experience.Ourside on one of the grand wooden doors are two... 

 iandsmith Says:  So we drove on to this aforesaid (in the intro) street and were entranced by the wonderful historical feel of the place to the point where I wanted more snaps (no surprises there).Unable to find a park in the street we adjourned to a community parking facility down a back... 

 iandsmith Says:  Here I quote from the church's history site:'Anne Tree, Thomas Dunngate and John Forman were burned as Martyrs on 18 July 1556 because they would not renounce the Protestant Faith. It should be remembered that the inscribed slabs in the churchyard of St. Swithun's are only a...