east grinstead museum
East Grinstead Museum . The museum’s roots lie in the collection that was
amassed in the tower of St Swithuns Church, by the vicar, the Rev Golding
Golding-Bird in 1926. A set of grappling irons, used to pull thatch from burning
buildings, were stored in the tower, for accessibility at all times. They
sparked his interest and he began collecting other items to start a small
museum. This museum closed in 1955 with the Urban District Council storing most
of the collection at East Court. In 1960 some items were displayed in two
cabinets there. By the 1970s, the East Grinstead Society wanted a local history
museum and were offered three small rooms at East Court, in which to start it.
The East Grinstead Town Museum opened in July 1976. Items of local interest were
soon donated by the public. The largest number of artefacts were from the
defunct pottery, rescued from the site by a local resident, Charles Goolden. The
trustees applied for official status under the National Museums and Galleries
Commission scheme. They were successful, becoming accredited in 1995. Because of
its out of town location, limited space and without control of the temperature
and humidity needed to maintain the collection to the highest standards, it was
decided to find more suitable premises. In 1997, work began on the quest to find
them and to secure the funding for such a large project.
