Nostalgic memories of East Grinstead's local history

Share your own memories of East Grinstead and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying Memories 11 - 17 of 17 in total

In the 1911 census my great grandparents lived in this house - Arnherst House. John & Alice Upstone; John was a postman. Their son, John Alfred, married Lilian Blackstone Adams (from Foest Row). Then they moved to London (south) where Alice died in 1932 and John Alfred's son, Harry Edward, married Lilian Sansum and had 1 child (me). We lived in London until 1980. Any "stray" Upstones - I would be pleased to hear from. Thanks from Lynn Upstone
My grandmother and her children lived in East Grinstead on Glen Vue. It was just a dirt road which came to a dead end. I do not remember my grandfather as he died when I was very young. I can remember spending Christmases with my grandmother. East Grinstead was hit by a bomb in the war. There was a direct hit on a cinema and the death toll was over 80. Later in the war a doodle bug hit the town in almost the same ...see more
My great-grandfather Stephen Whiting Easton was a watchmaker who had a shop in Hartfield Road. He was also a master carpenter and he made a scale model of the local church. On his death the model was kept by his daughter Eva Luck. My family went often to view the model, but on one occasion Eva announced that she had sold it. Does anyone remember the model or know what happened to it?
My parents managed the Glanfield for Ind Coope & Allsop in the late 1940's and early 1950's and I went to a prep school called Aston House (long gone)
The pub in the background is the Ship Inn. In the late 60s/early 70s I used to go to an excellent folk club in a room above the pub.
I had to leave this school due to my father's death and missed it terribly. ALL my closest friends were now too far away to see. Because it was a boarding school, it was like being taken away from my family. My most enjoyable young years were had here.
The car in this photograph is a Wolseley 10 HP car and a similar car can be currently seen on our website. The car on the website was part of a collection owned by the Lucey family in Ireland that was sold in 2007. http://www.wolseleyworld.com/index.php