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The Collection

Objects

There is a strong collection of local craft material, and a range of local history material.  This includes domestic items, memorabilia and souvenirs of the town, its people, trades, professions and institutions. The collections are relevant to the ancient parish of East Grinstead and the immediate surrounding areas from all periods of history, including the present day. 

The catalogue of the collection can be searched on the computer in the Museum's Research Room – just ask the steward on duty.   Appointments can be made with the Curator to look at objects in the store.

Here are some examples of the objects we hold in the collection.  You are welcome to search through our collection catalogue on the computer available in the Research Room.

Pre-history:

• plaster cast of an Iguanodon's footprint
• winklestone (or Sussex Marble) dating from 140,000,000 BC

Early Development:

• Middle Stone Age flint scrapers
• Saxon knife blades

Tools and Trades:

• pottery items including moulds, flagons, pigments and brushes
• brickmaker's tools
• horseshoes and nails made by local blacksmiths
• agricultural objects such as scythes, saws, and a branding iron

Town Life:

• items from local shops
• games such as a stoolball bat and ball, and a shove ha'penny
• local musical programmes and town band memorabilia
• objects used by the the hospital, fire brigade and police
• a hornbook used by school children

Art and Artists:

• "The Old Road" by Benjamin Latrobe
• "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and others by Geoffrey Webb
• A selection of oils, watercolours and sketches of local scenes by local artists

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Thinking of donating an object? 

At East Grinstead Museum we welcome donations to our collection.  However, due to space restrictions we need to ensure that the objects we accept have local significance.  Here are some things to consider:

Is my donation relevent to East Grinstead or the surrounding areas?  For example, was is made here?  Was it used here by a local business?  Does it have "East Grinstead" written on it?  If you can connect your object with East Grinstead of the surrounding areas in any way, we would be very interested to hear from you.