Wallace Henry Hills was born in Chiddingly in 1863, the son of Matthew and Ellen Octavia Hills. He was brought up in Lewes where his father worked at Lewes prison. At the age of 17, Wallace was a reporter on the local newspaper and by 1901 he was editor of the East Grinstead Observer. He established himself as a local historian when he published "The History of East Grinstead" in 1906. He was a highly active member of the East Grinstead community as Chairman of the Urban District Council, Churchwarden of St Mary's Church and Director of several local companies.