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Holy Trinity Church,
with its prominent chestnut shingled spire, was built as a Chapel
of Ease of East Grinstead parish in 1836 and extended in 1878. The
ecclesiastical parish that includes St. Dunstan’s Church,
Ashurst Wood was created in 1894. The church is a pleasantly plain
and simple example of early Victorian church architecture. Since
the Millennium, the church and spire have been spectacularly floodlit
- a real focal point in the centre of the village. The interior
of the Church has been improved in the last few years and a new
church clock installed in 2010.
Village Halls - Freshfield
Hall, the larger hall, was built in 1892 and extended with the addition
of the smaller hall (now known as Peter Griffits Hall) in 1929.
The complex is a Grade 11 listed building and offers a stage and
facilities beyond what would normally be expected in a village of
this size. The halls provide a meeting place for several clubs and
organisations and a venue for the local dramatic societies.
Community Centre -
a stone built Grade 11 listed building - formerly the primary school,
is situated in Hartfield Road. The property was purchased by the
Parish Council in 1993 and houses the Parish Council office and
County Library, as well as other ‘community’ groups
and classes for different activities.
The Chequers Hotel
is an attractive brick and timber building dating from the 15th
century. It has recently been extended to include a new 100-seater
function room. Near the church is The
Swan, a timber framed building of the coaching era
with a painted sandstone frontage. In 1788, Viscount Torrington
in his account of “A Tour into Sussex” wrote glowingly
of having there ‘a leg of mutton and turnips just boiled,
added to a plumb pye with good cheese and half a pint of brandy,
a clean cloth and civility’ which he contrasts with ‘the
bad inns of Grinstead’.
The Brambletye Hotel
was originally built as a private residence but has been a hotel
since 1866. Arthur Conan Doyle was a visitor here and ‘Black
Peter’s Bar’ features in some of the Sherlock Holmes
stories.
The ruins of Brambletye House
and its gateway, built in 1631 and abandoned towards the end of
the 17th century, stand half a mile to the north west, near the
site of a Domesday settlement of the same name.
On the outskirts of the village is Kidbrooke
Park with its fine stone built house dating from
1734 and extended in the 19th century. Now Michael Hall School,
it was for over 200 years the “big house” of the village
and the successive families of the Nevills, Colchesters, Freshfields
and Hambros were all benefactors of the village. Whilst parts of
the grounds are now occupied by modern housing developments, much
remains of the parkland originally laid out by Humphrey Repton and
interesting new buildings have been designed for the school.
Ashdown House, a mile
and a quarter to the east and now a school, and Hammerwood
House two miles to the north and well restored after
years of neglect, are fine stone built houses, both designed by
Benjamin Latrobe. They are particularly interesting examples of
his early work prior to his emigration to America in 1795 where
he designed buildings of note in Washington and is now regarded
as the father of American classical architecture. Hammerwood House
is open to the public on certain days during the summer months.
For details ring 01342 850594.
Along the Hartfield and Lewes Roads are a number of typical Sussex
timber-framed and weather-boarded cottages, whilst scattered around
the fringe of the village are many small country houses designed
by leading architects of the early 1900’s.
The River Medway runs through the village and one mile to the west
is
Weir Wood Reservoir.
The Reservoir is the venue for a sailing club, a fishing club and
is also an important bird sanctuary with a purpose-built hide.
The Forest Way is
a linear country park and bridleway originally part of the former
railway track from East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells. It is owned
and managed by East Sussex County Council. The flat tree-lined track
runs through peaceful countryside with small fields and scattered
farms. It is particularly accessible for people with disabilities.
Forest Way is part of the National Cycle Network. One of the few
‘Pegasus’ crossings in the country has been installed
by the Highway Authority at the point where the Forest Way crosses
the A22 enabling horse riders and cyclists to cross this busy road
with ease. Trails lead off the Forest Way into the surrounding countryside
taking walkers closer to local landmarks.
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