Straddling the Greenwich Meridian, East Grinstead was visited by American president JF Kennedy just months before he was assassinated and became known as the ‘town that doesn’t stare’ because of the pioneering plastic surgery work on injured RAF servicemen in World War II
Originally built in 1883 as The Grosvenor Hall, The Whitehall building once housed a theatre, a dance hall and a restaurant, and was where election results were announced. During the war it was a cinema and, in 1943, ten German bombers were on their way to drop their load on London when one of the aircraft became separated from the rest of the squadron. Rather than carrying on, the pilot decided it was safer to find an alternative target and head for home. His crew saw a train entering East Grinstead station, so they dropped their load, aiming for the High Street. One of the bombs fell on the Whitehall Cinema during a screening of a Hopalong Cassidy movie and killed 108 people. Another 235 were injured.
At the top of London Road and the western end of the High Street stands Clarendon House, a classic Wealden house dating from around 1485, which was for a while known as The George - presumably a pub or an hotel. Later on, it was used by judges holding the Winter Assizes. It is said that just outside all manner of punishments took place - whippings, hangings and, famously, the burning at the stake of the three Protestant Martyrs on July 18th 1556. Next door is the Old Stone House, built around 100-150 years after Clarendon House.
At the eastern end of the High Street stands Cromwell House, built at the end of the sixteenth century. It was clearly a very prestigious property, although the original owner’s name appears to have been lost in the mists of time. It was clearly quite a statement property for the time and forms part of the extraordinary line of half-timbered buildings in the High Street.
The High Street is wider than most because for many years it doubled up as the town market place. Along the length of the road, you can find all kinds of medieval buildings, half-timbered structures and alleyways. It can boast one of the longest continuous runs of 14th-century timber-framed buildings in England.
Dating from around 1830, The Old Lock-Up opposite Sackville College once served two purposes. It was the home of the Town Constable, but also the gaol. The gaol bit is easy to spot from the outside with its diamond-shaped high window - on the right of this picture. It was built to let light into the cell, but at a height that prevented escape.
Imberhorne Viaduct is a Grade II Listed structure built in 1882, then closed as part of a working railway line in 1958 and reopened in 2013 when the Bluebell Railway extended its reach to the town. Pictured crossing is Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4 Tank Locomotive No. 80151 on its way to Sheffield Park.
Sir Archibald McIndoe is a legendary figure in East Grinstead, famous for his pioneering plastic surgery work with mostly RAF personnel – known as the Guinea Pigs - injured by burns during wartime. Born in New Zealand, he worked at The Queen Victoria Hospital and made a huge difference in the lives of badly burned aircrew, greatly improved their treatment and rehabilitation. This bust of the great man is in the town museum in Cantelupe Road. East Grinstead became known as the ‘town that didn’t stare’ as the residents welcomed the injured servicemen into their lives.
Wing Commander Guy Gibson of 617 Squadron, who led the famous Dambusters raid of 1943 visited the burns unit to offer his support in 1944. This is his signature from the Museum visitor’s book.
The Greenwich Meridian Line passes through East Grinstead at the East Court Estate, the Town Council’s administrative headquarters base. This is the Millennium stone, with the Meridian line marked on it, created by artist Liza Jane Stumbke.
On the front wall of Freshfield Hall in Forest Row is a plaque commemorating the visit on June 30th 1963 of President John F. Kennedy to the village, when he and his wife were staying at the nearby country house of our then-Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, Birch Grove in Horsted Keynes.
LOCAL LIFE
