Groombridge



Groombridge is a village of about 1,600 people. It straddles the border between Kent and East Sussex, in England. The nearest large town is Tunbridge Wells, about 4.5 mi away by road.

The main part of the village ("New Groombridge") lies in the Withyham civil parish, which forms part of Wealden District of East Sussex. Across the county boundary lies the much smaller and older part of the village ("Old Groombridge"). This is within the Speldhurst civil parish, which forms part of the Tunbridge Wells Borough of Kent.

New Groombridge has a primary school associated with the church of St Thomas, part of the Diocese of Chichester. It has a general store, a bakery, a post office, a hairdresser, a car dealership and the Junction Inn public house. Old Groombridge has the church of St John, which is part of the Diocese of Rochester. It also has the Crown Inn public house, but no shops.

History
Groombridge Place is a popular visitor attraction, boasting an impressive 700-year history beginning in 1239. Groombridge Place has been owned by some of Kent's most distinguished families, including the de Cobhams and Sir Richard Waller, ancestor of the poet Edmund Waller as well as of Winston Churchill.

Burrswood
Burrswood, situated in countryside north-west of Groombridge, is an independent non-surgical hospital which treats the whole person in a Christian environment. Specialities include palliative and respite care, post-surgical care, rehabilitation, counselling, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy. As a charity, Burrswood runs an "Access to Care" bursary fund where individuals may apply for assistance with fees. Burrswood also offers regular healing services, guest house, tea room, gift shop and Christian book shop. Burrswood was founded in 1948 when Dorothy Kerin established her healing ministry. In 2008 it celebrated its diamond jubilee and a commemorative service was held in Rochester Cathedral. www.burrswood.org.uk

Railway
Groombridge stood on the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line. Other stations included: Three Bridges, Rowfant, Grange Road, East Grinstead, Forest Row, Withyham, High Rocks, Tunbridge Wells West and Tunbridge Wells Central. The line was operated by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, then Southern, and later British Rail. Groombridge station was finally closed on 6 July 1985.

Groombridge is now on the Spa Valley Railway and is at present the southern terminus of that line. The current Groombridge station is on the east side of Station Road, and a joint ticket for the railway and Groombridge Place is available. A canopy has been erected on both sides of the station, using the former canopy supports from Gravesend West station. A brand new signal box has been constructed on the site and signalling is being installed in conjunction with the extension to Eridge which opened in 2013. In 2014 the Old Station has been bought back from Withyham Parish Council and reopen as the ticket office in April 2014.