Matron Jackson – Canadian Wing, Queen Victoria Hospital – WW2

During World War Two Archibald McIndoe, a pioneering plastic surgeon, treated burnt airman at the Queen Victoria Hospital(Q.V.H.) East Grinstead. Working alongside him was an equally talented Canadian plastic surgeon, Group Captain Albert Ross Tilley. He persuaded the Government to fund the building of a Wing at the Q.V.H. for

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Documenting Life in Lockdown

We’ve been working with HealthWatch West Sussex as part of our Lockdown Life Project. HealthWatch West Sussex helped us by creating two questionnaires, one for businesses, and the other for people to complete. Once they were up and running, we both promoted them around the East Grinstead Area. After the

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Tributes to the Guinea Pig Club

Tributes to the Guinea Pig Club As part of the Guinea Pig Club’s 80th Anniversary in 2021, Bob Marchant, the Secretary of the Club, looks at the many ways the Club is commemorated. As we are now entering the year 2021 , it will see the 80th Anniversary of the

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The History of Almshouses and Sackville College

We’re delighted to announce that on 24 January 2020, Caroline Metcalf will give a talk at the Museum the history of almshouses, in particular the history of our neighbour, Sackville College.  Caroline will discuss the history of almshouses in England, how and why some were founded, and their traditions. She

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New temporary exhibition: Villages at War

To commemorate the ending of hostilities in WWI on November 11th 1918, the Mid Sussex District Council gave East Grinstead Museum a grant to curate a touring exhibition showing the impact the war had on the town and some of the nearby villages. Each community researched life before, during and after

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Childhood in East Grinstead

    This exhibition is designed to be a whistle stop tour of childhood in East Grinstead. Imagine the world before radio and television, not to mention the Internet, I-pads, computer games, Facebook and all other things we rely upon to keep us amused and entertained today. What on earth

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East Grinstead Museum completes transfer to CIO

East Grinstead Museum has completed its change from a Charitable Trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, or CIO. CIOs are a relatively new legal structure available for charities or charitable groups that wish to be incorporated.  The structure, in effect, allows charities to enter into contracts as corporate entities with limited

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Suffragettes and Suffragists. Museum talk by Joan Roberts on Thursday 9th May

On the 9th of May at 7.30pm we welcome Joan Roberts to the Museum.  In her talk, Joan covers the position of women in society in the 19th century, as well as the struggle for the vote by both men and women; the founding of the Suffragists, who predated the

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Book Review: “Sussex Industrial Heritage”

Here is a brilliant review of a book entitled “Sussex Industrial Heritage” in the current issue of “Sussex Life” magazine. We have got this book in stock in our shop. Next time when you pay us a visit please ask about this title! Sussex Life, January 2019 copy

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THE EAST GRINSTEAD SUFFRAGISTS

          Muriel, Countess de la Warr                 Lady Indina Sackville In a May 1911 survey, eight out of ten women in East Grinstead said that they preferred not to have the vote!  This view of women’s suffrage echoed prevailing opinion

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