Notice of vacancy - East Grinstead Town Council Ashplats North Ward

The Town Council is closed for the Easter break from 4pm on 28th March and we will reopen on Tuesday 2nd April at 9am. Wishing all a Happy Easter.

Bow Bells Marker

18 July 2019

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

East Grinstead Town Council is pleased to announce that the Bow Bells Mile marker on the A22 at North end has been repaired with the kind support of Mark Ridley of Oakhurst Builders who repaired the brickwork and Jenny Watson and Luc Pineau of the Town Council who repaired and repainted the Bow Bells.

The milestones lining the A22 from Lingfield to Hailsham are believed to be the longest and most visible sequence of milestones in the country. They were erected in 1754 by the turnpike trusts that ran the London to Eastbourne coaching road The provision of distance markers to London, each a mile apart, had to be provided by the turnpike trusts under acts of Parliament. Each milestone contains an image of a bow and three bells which represent the Bow Bells of London, on top of which is the mileage remaining to said destination. They were topped with either a dot or from the 44 to 54 mile markers (Uckfield to Horsebridge) a buckle representing the Pelham family who were large landowners who lived in nearby Halland at the time and were involved in financially backing the turnpike’s extension southwards in the 1750s.

There is a program of works scheduled by the Town Council to improve the appearance of the other markers through the town.

Chairman of Amenities and Tourism Committee Cllr Christine Mainstone, EGTC head Gardener Jenny Watson and EGTC Handyman Luc Pineau and Mark Ridley of Oakhurst Builders.