Tonbridge

Quite one of the greatest beauties of Tonbridge is its cluster of old houses which adorns the High Street, and gives a character of antiquity to the place. Immediately on approaching the town one sees these exquisite gables and timber markings, which instantly transport one into another century. Yes! Tonbridge tells its own story in its silent dignity, and is really a centre to the whole surrounding neighbourhead. ...... Today, however, we pass along peaceful and well-guarded highways, or diverge into lanes where we may saunter to our heart's content. extract from Lady Hope's English Homes and Villages published in 1909

Tonbridge directory of homes, farms, churches, schools, inns, and other places of interest that existed prior to 1900 has been compiled from Census data, Ordnance survey maps and books of the period Tonbridge historical notes has been derived from the same sources to highlight Tonbridge key events in chronological order

Parish & other records		Before 1500	1500 to 1550	1550 to 1600	1600 to 1650	1650 to 1700	1700 to 1725	1725 to 1750	1750 to 1775	1775 to 1800	1800 to 1825	1825 to 1850	1850 to 1875	1875 to 1900	1900 to 1925	1925 to 1950	1950 to 1975	1975 to 2000	After 2000
8264	Births	6		11	126	119	102	91	81	151	649	1387	3470	2041	20	6	3	1
1168	Christenings			11	126	118	101	87	79	107	183	237	99	20
973	Marriages			42	98	94	54	72	66	84	185	142	46	52	12	18	8
98	Deaths			1	4	2	4	9	4	1		5	20	20	15	5	5	3
32	Burials			1	3	1	9	10	2			2	2			1	1

Books and other documents

The History of Tunbridge Wells by Thomas Benge Burr in 1766 - Page 191

The Tunbridge Wells Guide by J. Sprange in 1797 - Page 174

The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent - Volume V by Edward Hasted in 1798 - Page 173

The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent - Volume V by Edward Hasted in 1798 - Page 196

Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Paul Amsinck and Letitia Byrne in 1810 - Page 45

Guide of Tunbridge Wells in 1830 - Page 130

Descriptive Sketches of Tunbridge Wells and the Calverley Estate by John Britton, F.S.A. in 1832 - Page 123

Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex in 1839

New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen in 1840 - Page 304

Proceedings in the County of Kent, 1642-1646 by Richard Almack, Esq., F.S.A. in 1854

School Inquiry Commision Vol XI South-East Division by C. I. Elton and H. A. Giffard in 1868 - Page 105

The History of Tonbridge School by Septimus Rivington, B.A. in 1869

The Skeffingtons of Tunbridge by Robert Chapman in 1876 - Page 39

Tonbridge Priory by J.F. Wadmore, A.R.I.B.A. in 1882 - Page 326

Kelly's Directory of Kent by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. in 1882

Pelton's Illustrated Guide to Tunbridge Wells by J. Radford Thomson, M.A. in 1883 - Page 161

Cobbett's Rural Rides by William Cobbett in 1885 - Page 71

Tonbridge Castle and its Lords by J.F. Wadmore, A.R.I.B.A. in 1886 - Page 12

The Register of Tonbridge School from 1820 to 1886 by W. O. Hughes-Hughes in 1886

English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex) by Lady Hope in 1909 - Page 144

Highways and Byways in Kent by Walter Jerrold with Illustrations by Hugh Thomson in 1914 - Page 318

The Tonbridge of Yesterday by Arthur H. Neve in 1933 - Page 1

The Jane Austen Connection in 2000

People of note

Austen, Jane (1775 - 1817) Novelist Beeching, Arthur Thomas (1836 - 1912) Banker Beeching, Horatio (1798 - 1878) Banker Beeching, Thomas (1767 - ) Banker Gorham, Dr John (1814 - 1899) General Practitioner Gorham, Mary Caroline (1818 - 1932) Philanthropic work Gorham, William (1816 - 1881) Solicitor Groombridge, William (1748 - 1811) Painter Neve, Arthur Henry (1862 - 1936) Tonbridge author and historian

Tonbridge pictures	Birds Eye View of Tonbridge c 1260	South View of Tonbridge Priory 1735	Tonbridge School from 1760 to 1825 - Front View 1768	The Bridge 1775	The Market Place c 1795	View of the Castle and part of the Town of Tonbridge 1797	Tonbridge Castle c 1800
	Tonbridge Bridge c 1800	Mabledon 1809	Tonbridge Castle 1809	Tonbridge Priory 1809	Somerhill 1809	Somerhill - as painted by Turner in 1811 1811	Somerhill 1811