Welcome
Thank you for visiting this site, the primary purpose of which is to provide links to other sites connected with the village of Groombridge.
If you have a site that is connected with Groombridge and would like a link to it from here, please email trevor.harrison@groombridge.com with details.:
Groombridge
Where and what is Groombridge? It is a small village of about 1,600 people, part of the civil parishes of Withyham and Speldhurst, straddling the borders of East Sussex and Kent, half way between Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells, about 40 miles south of London, 25 miles from the English Channel and 20 miles east of Gatwick Airport. Click here to find Groombridge on the map.
You will find a little bit about Withyham Parish Council on: WPC's Page on the Wealden District Council Website.
For further information please contact Councillor Duncan Sanders by email at duncan.sanders@withyhamparishcouncil.org.uk.
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Groombridge Village Hall
Groombridge Village Hall was completely refurbished and extended in 2000; it has high quality halls and rooms suitable for functions and activities from wedding receptions for 200 to intimate meetings of half a dozen. For further information, please email the bookings secretary, Duncan Sanders at bookings@groombridgevillagehall.org.uk or telephone 0560 149 7246.
To see a list of current bookings for the next 3-4 months, please click here to view in PDF format in a new window. Using the PDF format it is possible to zoom in and out to increase or decrease the size of the image; the pages displayed are also suitable for printing straight onto A4 paper.
The booking information is provided only for guidance and is correct only at the time of its stated update; it can and will change day by day. Accurate, current information may be obtained from the Bookings Secretary.
Information about hire charges in PDF format can be viewed here.
To view the Groombridge Village Hall brochure, please click here (PDF format, 1.7 MB).
The Chairman of the Management Committee, Mrs Sue Homewood, may be contacted by email at chairman@groombridgevillagehall.org.uk.
Groombridge Village Hall is on Station Road, opposite Corseley Road and the Post Office. Click here for a map. The hall is at the tip of the orange arrow.
St. Thomas' Church
The Parish Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, New Groombridge, designed by Norman Shaw, was first opened for worship in 1884, since which time it has remained the principle place of worship for the village. More information about the church may be obtained from its own website, www.stthomasgroombridge.org.uk or by calling Fr. Tony Green on (01892) 864265.
Groombridge St. Thomas' School
St. Thomas' School is a thriving primary school with close physical and spiritual links to the adjacent parish church. The school website was launched in November 2001 and includes information about the school and contributions from the children www.groombridgest-thomas.e-sussex.sch.uk. For further information, look on the website, email the school at school@groombridge.com or telephone (01892) 864305.
Groombridge Place - Click here for the Groombridge Place Website
Tennis
Groombridge Tennis Club opened for play in July 2000 with three courts. There are over 300 paid-up members but the membership list is still open. Junior, Senior, Family and Social Membership is available at attractive rates.
Please use the following link www.groombridgetennisclub.org.uk for the club's website or alternatively email them using this address "enquiries@groombridgetennisclub.org.uk".
Sunnybanks Farm near Bodmin in Cornwall offers self-catering tennis holidays for families, groups and individuals of all standards. Sunnybanks is affiliated to the LTA. For further information, visit the Sunnybanks Website: Sunnybanks or email tennis@sunnybanks.co.uk.
Bowls
Groombridge Bowls Club opened for play in 1919. There are 40-50 playing members and new members are welcome.
Please click on Groombridge Bowls Club for the club's website
Contact the club by email at groombridgebowls@live.co.uk. or by telephone on (01892) 863760.
Drama
GADS, Groombridge Dramatic Society, presents a minimum of three varied productions a year, including a summer open air production in the village, usually Shakespeare. The society is friendly and the standard of productions is high. New members are welcome and there are always opportunities for involvement in all aspects of drama; acting, production, direction, stage-management, sound, lighting, music, wardrobe, set construction, front-of-house and anything else that takes you fancy. The GADS website may be found at www.gromarts.org.uk.
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The SevenStreams Community Play and Heritage Project 2007 was the most exciting dramatic event in the area for many years. Performances of the play took place over the last two weeks of June 2007 in an adapted grain store at Hale Court Farm, Withyham and the legacy heritage project will hopefully be with us for many years to come. To find out more, click on the logo above to visit the SevenStreams website at www.sevenstreams.co.uk or call Janet Sharples on (01892) 864510 or Christine Terry on (01892) 864643. |
Horticulture
Groombridge Horticultural Society and Garden Club organises a busy programme of shows and events. The GHSGC website may be found at www.ghsgc.org.uk.
Libra Audio
Libra Audio is a local firm, based in Withyham, that specialises in the hire or supply and installation of sound equipment for special events and public buildings. The company was responsible for the installation of the PA and hearing loop systems at Groombridge Village Hall and is shortly to install a noise monitoring and cut-out device for the protection of users and the comfort of neighbours.
Visit Libra Audio's website at www.libraaudio.co.uk or call William Brown on 01892 662700 to find out more.
Local Food and Produce
There are a growing number of local food producers around the village including:
Climbing
Groombridge is justifiably famous for Harrison's Rocks, the sandstone outcrop to the south of the village. To find out more about the Rocks and climbing locally, indoors and out, visit Chris Tullis's websites www.evolutionindoorclimbing.co.uk and www.softrockclimbing.co.uk.
A wide range of rock climbing courses are also offered by Sarah Cullen - see her website at www.rockclimbingclasses.co.uk for more information.
Spa Valley Railway
Running from Tunbridge Wells via High Rocks to Groombridge and on to Eridge*, the Spa Valley Railway offers a delightful five mile ride through some beautiful and unusual countryside.Further information including timetables is available at www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk or by calling (01892) 537715.
*The railway expects to open its extension from Groombridge to Eridge in mid-to-late 2009, at which point it will enjoy interchange facilities with main line services on the London-Uckfield line.
GRIP - Groombridge Recreation Ground Improvement Project
Under the auspices of Withyham Parish Council, a sub-committee was formed in May 2009 to review the present use the recreation ground and consider suggestions for improvement. Further information and contact details of those involved can be found on GRIP's website.
Please address any enquiries about this site to: trevor.harrison@groombridge.com or call 01892 861690.