EAST GRINSTEAD, a market town in the East Grinstead parliamentary division of East Sussex, England, 3o m. S. by E. from London by the Southern railway. Pop. of urban district 7,901 East Grinstead is a junction station with branch lines to Groombridge (connecting with the Tunbridge Wells and Uckfield lines), Lewes, Hayward's Heath and Three Bridges. St. Swithin's church, rebuilt in the 18th century, occupies the site of a Saxon church, which later belonged to the priory of St. Pancras at Lewes, by whom its incumbents were appointed. Sackville college is an almshouse founded in 1608, and St. Mar garet's home and orphanage was founded in the last century. Brewing and brick and tile making are carried on. The electricity undertaking is owned by the council. In the vicinity (near Forest Row station) is the golf course of the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf club. The hundred of East Grinstead (Grenestede, Estgren sted) was in the possession of the count of Mortain in 1086, and in the reign of Henry III. was part of the honour of Aquila, then in the king's hands. The honour was granted by him to Peter of Savoy, through whom it passed to his niece Queen Eleanor. In the next reign the king's mother held the borough of East Grin stead as parcel of the honour of Aquila. East Grinstead was included in a grant by Edward III. to John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and it remained part of the duchy of Lancaster until James I. granted the borough to Sir George Rivers, through whom it was obtained by the Sackvilles, earls of Dorset. East Grin stead was a borough by prescription. In the i6th century it was governed by an alderman, bailiff and constable. It returned two members to parliament from 1307 until 1832, when it was dis enfranchised. In 1 285 the king ordered the market to be held on Saturday instead of Sunday, and in 1516 a yearly fair was granted.