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| The boxer Sir ] also lives in the adjoining village of Hildenborough. The cricketer ] ] and the film actor ] CBE in 1911 were both born in the town. Many famous people were educated in Tonbridge, including cricketers ], at Yardley Court, and ], at ]. ] has a long list of famous pupils including the authors ] and ], the cricketing dynesty of ] and ] as well as more recently the members of the famous pop/rock band ]. | The boxer Sir ] also lives in the adjoining village of Hildenborough. The cricketer ] ] and the film actor ] CBE in 1911 were both born in the town. Many famous people were educated in Tonbridge, including cricketers ], at Yardley Court, and ], at ]. ] has a long list of famous pupils including the authors ] and ], the cricketing dynesty of ] and ] as well as more recently the members of the famous pop/rock band ]. | ||
| Other famous people born in the town were: ] (1799-1871) botanist and photographer, ] (1858-1933) educationist, ] (1866-1932) career soldier, ] FRS (1875-1967) geneticist, Sir ] KCMG KBE (1906-1983) Director General of MI5, ] (1932-2001) football referee, ] (1971-) photojournalist. | Other famous people born in the town were: ] (1799-1871) botanist and photographer, ] (1858-1933) educationist, ] (1866-1932) career soldier, ] FRS (1875-1967) geneticist, Sir ] KCMG KBE (1906-1983) Director General of MI5, ] (1932-2001) football referee, ] (1971-) photojournalist. ]] | ||
| ===Securitas depot robbery=== | ===Securitas depot robbery=== | ||
Revision as of 23:19, 6 November 2007
- Not to be confused with Royal Tunbridge Wells
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| Tonbridge | |
|---|---|
| Population | Expression error: "31,600 (2001)" must be numeric |
| OS grid reference | TQ591468 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TONBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | TN9 (South), TN10 (North), TN11 (East) |
| Dialling code | 01732 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 35,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately four miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 25 miles south east of London. It belongs to the administrative borough of Tonbridge and Malling (population 107,560 in 2001).
History
Tonbridge stands at a point where the Saxons built a bridge across the River Medway. For much of its existence, the town remained to the north of the river, since the land to the south was subject to extensive seasonal flooding. One part of the town is still called 'Dryhill'.
The town was recorded in the Domesday Book 1087 as Tonebrige, which may indicate a bridge belonging to the estate or manor (from the Old English tun), or alternatively a bridge belonging to Tunna, a common Anglo-Saxon man's name.
In the late 1800s, the 'Tonbridge' name was actually known as Tunbridge: old maps prior to this date show it as such, as do an 1871 map and contemporary issues of the Bradshaw railway guide. In the late 1890s/early 1900s, this was changed to Tonbridge by the Royal Mail as it caused confusion with Tunbridge Wells, a much more recent town. The latter has always spelt its name that way.
Normans
An 11th Century castle was built here by Richard Fitz Gilbert, a nobleman in William the Conqueror's invading Norman army. The town was besieged by William Rufus, soon after his accession to the throne, the lord of the manor having pledged allegiance to William's brother, Robert. It is thus hardly surprising that the arrow that killed William Rufus a few years later in the New Forrest was fired by Walter Tirel who was born in town. It was soon afterwards taken again this time by King John, during his conflict with the Barons. It was subsequently besieged by Prince Edward, son of Henry III. On this occasion the besieged garrison burnt the town rather than see it fall. The town and Tonbridge Castle were rebuilt after this and in the 13th century became an official residence and records repository of Edward II. The castle was finally taken by Henry VIII and allowed to fall into disrepair.
Medieval
At that this time, Tonbridge was intended to be a medieval walled town. Walls were never built however, probably because the castle's large outerbailey could have easily accommodated the town's populace in times of strife. A surrounding bank and ditch known as The Fosse was erected and may have been topped by a wooden pallisade. Today only traces of this encircling defence now remain. The historic core of the town still contains a large number of working buildings dating from the 15th Century.
Stewarts
During the Civil War the town was garrisoned by the Parliamentarian side who refortified the castle. Royalist sympathisers made several attempts to take the town but were repulsed.
In 1740, the River Medway was made navigable to Tonbridge by the Medway Navigation Company, allowing such materials ascoal and lime to be transported to the town and gun powder, hops and timber to be carried down river to Maidstone and London. For a hundred years the Medway Navigation Company was highly profitable paying out good dividends to its investors but after the arrival of the railway in 1842 the company went into a steep decline and all commercial traffic ceased on the river by the first world war. Some of the original warehouses and the wharves are still recognisable today, downstream of the towns mainbridge.
Later, the town and its surroundings became famous for the production of finely inlaid wooden cabinets, boxes and other objects called Tunbridgeware which were sold to tourists who were taking the waters at the nearby wells (Tunbridge Wells). Another speciality in the town was the production of cricket balls.
Recent
During world war II a POW Camp was built on the junction of Tudely Lane and Pembury Road on land belonging to Somerhill. It was used to house both shotdown German airman and also captured Italian soldiers. After the war the camp was used as temporary housing for people made homeless by the blitz. The site is now occupied by the Weald of Kent Girl's Grammer School.
Tonbridge today
Education
The town is home to several remaining Grammar Schools, including The Judd School, Weald of Kent Grammar School and Tonbridge Grammar School (formerly Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls). Tonbridge School, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde, is a nationally respected boys' public school in the centre of the town. A number of Tonbridge's secondary schools have specialist status, including Tonbridge Grammar School for Maths and ICT; Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls, a specialist school for languages; the Judd School for Music with Maths; the Hayesbrook School for boys, a specialist sports college; and Hillview School for Girls, which has recently been awarded a Performing Arts Status. Hugh Christie Technology College is also renowned in the area for its IT expertise, and for allowing students to take GCSEs in year 9, rather than the usual year 11. Further education is also available at West Kent College and there is also a small campus of the University of Kent.
The many primary and secondary schools in the Tonbridge area provide a high quality of education, with several regularly appearing close to the top of county and national ratings lists, and this has been an incentive for many when moving to the town. It also means that teaching is a major source of employment in the town, and that thousands of pupils commute daily into the town especially by train.
Industry, commerce and tourism
Major industries include light engineering, distribution and services. A monthly farmers' market sells a wide variety of locally produced food and drinks, together with more exotic imports.
The town has largely retained its 'market town' atmosphere and has many attractions to visitors and residents alike, including the well-maintained Castle Gatehouse, a large country park and activities based around the river. Sports facilities including an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a leisure centre and a large sportsground are all located close to the town centre. Many of the facilities are provided or subsidised by the local authority.
Most of the town's shopping facilities are clustered around its high street, which runs for about one mile through the town centre. There has been increasing criticism from local residents that there is a relative abundance of restaurants, estate agents, banks and 'cheap' shops, and a lack of major high street retailers. However, there are far fewer empty high street premises than in the mid 1990s, and the town inevitably suffers from its proximity to large shopping centres such as Maidstone and Bluewater. Recent proposals to improve edge-of-town shopping facilities, particularly from supermarket chains, have met with stiff opposition from town centre retailers.
The Police Station is the local command station and is located on Pembury Road.
Tonbridge is also the location of Carroty Wood. An outdoor activity and residential centre run by 'Barnabas Adventure Centres'offering groups of young people the opportunity to try out a variety of different out door activities
Communications
Tonbridge railway station is Kent's busiest with 3.8 million passengers using it a year. It is an important railway junction with lines to London, Ashford, Hastings and Redhill. The town is also served by the A21 trunk road between London and Hastings and the A26 between Maidstone and Brighton. It is also close to the M25 motorway.
There are future proposals to dual the A21 at Castle Hill and thereby improve the connection to Tunbridge Wells and Pembury, where a new regional hospital is to be constructed.
Famous people and events
Tonbridge made national and international headlines in the summer of 2004 when it staged an open-top bus parade for Dame Kelly Holmes to celebrate her double Olympic gold success. Over 40,000 people were estimated to have packed Tonbridge town centre and lined the route from her family home in nearby Hildenborough, roughly equivalent to the combined population of both, and more than twice the numbers who attended the subsequent parade in central London for all of the medallists.
The 2007 Tour de France passed through the centre of Tonbridge on 8th July, as part of the first stage (London to Canterbury). The riders climbed Quarry Hill at the south of the town, a Grade 4 and first King of the Mountains climb of the Tour.
The boxer Sir Henry Cooper also lives in the adjoining village of Hildenborough. The cricketer Frank Woolley 1887 and the film actor Harry Andrews CBE in 1911 were both born in the town. Many famous people were educated in Tonbridge, including cricketers Bob Woolmer, at Yardley Court, and David Fulton, at The Judd School. Tonbridge School has a long list of famous pupils including the authors EM Forster and Frederick Forsyth, the cricketing dynesty of Colin Cowdrey and Chris Cowdrey as well as more recently the members of the famous pop/rock band Keane.
Other famous people born in the town were: Anna Atkins (1799-1871) botanist and photographer, Henry Fowler (1858-1933) educationist, Harold Stephen Langhorne (1866-1932) career soldier, Reginald Punnett FRS (1875-1967) geneticist, Sir Dick White KCMG KBE (1906-1983) Director General of MI5, Ron Challis (1932-2001) football referee, Timothy Allen (1971-) photojournalist. ]]
Securitas depot robbery
Main article: Securitas depot robbery
Tonbridge was also the location of the largest cash theft in British criminal history. On 22 February 2006, over £53.1 million was stolen from the Securitas Cash-handling Depot in Vale Road to the east of the High Street. The robbery is currently under investigation, a large amount of the money has been recovered, and several people have been charged.
Miscellaneous
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (August 2007) |
- Tonbridge is twinned with the towns of Le Puy-en-Velay in France and Heusenstamm in Germany.
- Tonbridge has its own famous athletic club, Tonbridge Athletic Club, being Kelly Holmes' former Athletic Club.
- Tonbridge has its own football team, the Tonbridge Angels.
- Tonbridge Cricket Club , founded in 1837, train and play in Tonbridge, Cowdrey Cricket Club , renamed from Tonbridge Printers CC in 1998 after Lord Colin Cowdrey of Tonbridge, is the town's main cricket club.
- Tonbridge has its own Rugby union club, Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Football club. TJRFC (TJ's) is a very healthy club, (possibly 200+ participants) including a successful minis section that play Tag Rugby.
- The town has its own wildlife hospital, The Fox Project.
- During the summer months there is a Touch Rugby club.
- Tonbridge has its own dinghy sailing club, the Tonbridge Town Sailing Club
External links
- History of Tonbridge Churches
- Pembury Road Baptist Chapel
- Tonbridge Air Training Corps Squadron
- The Rotary Club of Tonbridge est 1924
- Quintus vocal consort, choir in Tonbridge, Kent, for weddings and concerts
- Tonbridge Tourist Guide - Heart of Kent
- Tonbridge School
