West Grinstead

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption=
latitude= 50.9741
longitude= -0.33309
official_name = West Grinstead
population =
civil_parish= West Grinstead
shire_district= Horsham
shire_county= West Sussex
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Arundel and South Downs
post_town=
postcode_district =
postcode_area=
dial_code=
os_grid_reference= TQ171207

West Grinstead is a small village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies just off the B2135 road 3.9 miles (6.3km) northwest of Henfield. The village should not be confused with the much larger town of East Grinstead which lies 17.5 miles (28km) to the north-east.

The western River Adur flows through the village.

The parish covers an area of 2583.65 hectares (6382 acres). In the 2001 census 2934 people lived in 1099 households, of whom 1547 were economically active.

Churches

St George's Church was first built circa 1100 AD and is the Anglican place of worship, and the Church of England parish church.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation dates from 1876 and is the Roman Catholic parish church. Hilaire Belloc (GK Chesterton's fellow catholic writer and controversialist is buried in its grounds.)

History

Knepp Castle is located to the west of the village near the A24. It was a motte and bailey castle and first built in the 1100s by William de Braose. In 1214, King John expanded the castle, creating it in stone and adding another floor. Unfortunately not much remains of this historic castle today due to the battle of Knepp in 1252. The battle was between King John's son, Henry III of England, and a local rebellion of peasants who had been pillaged once too often. The local peasants attacked with pitch forks and a battering ram. They then razed the building to the ground with fire balls of burning straw. King John was not at the castle at the time and returned to discover the remains of his fortress. More troops were summoned and the peasants duly punished.

Leisure

The Downs Link long distance path runs through the parish and can be used for walking or cycling.