East and West; two towns near Salisbury in Wiltshire.
Grinsted, Eo/, a town 29 miles from London, seated on a hill near the borders of Surrey, near Ashdown forest. It has a handsome church, which was rebuilt after being burnt down 1683. On November 12, 1785, the beautiful tower having lately fallen to decay, fell down, and part lighting on the church very considerably damaged it. An hospital in the reign of King James I, for 31 poor people of this town, was built and endowed with 330l. a-year. It is a borough by prescription, governed by a bailiff and his brethren; has sent burgesses to parliament ever since the first of Edward II, who are elected by about 35 burgage-holders; had a charter for a monthly market from Henry VII, and is generally the place for the affizes. The returning officer here is the bailiff, who is chosen by a jury of burgage-holders. Its market is on Thursday; and its fairs, which are well frequented, are July 13 and December 11; which last is a great one for Welsh runts, that are bought up here by the Kentish and Suffolk farmers, and for fat hogs and other cattle.
Grinsted, We/, in Sussex, a town above 10 miles to the south-west of East-Grinstead.