Royal Tunbridge Wells

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Royal Tunbridge Wells
Image:dot4gb.svg
Statistics
Population: 45,000
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference: TQ585395
Administration
District: Tunbridge Wells
Shire county: Kent
Region: South East England
Constituent country: England
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county: Kent
Historic county: Kent
Services
Police force: Kent Police
Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}}
Ambulance: South East Coast
Post office and telephone
Post town: TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Postal district: TN1, TN2
Dialling code: 01892
Politics
UK Parliament: Tunbridge Wells
European Parliament: South East England

Royal Tunbridge Wells (often called simply Tunbridge Wells) is a Wealden town in west Kent in England, just north of the border with East Sussex. It has a population of approximately 45,000 (2001 census) and is the administrative centre of the Tunbridge Wells Borough. The borough has a population of 104,030 (2001 census). The town is twinned with Wiesbaden in Germany. In 2006 it is celebrating its 400th anniversary.

Contents

[edit] History

The town was founded around the Chalybeate Spring discovered in 1606 by Dudley, Lord North, a courtier to James I. The high iron content of the waters was believed to have medicinal qualities and the town developed as a spa town. It was named after the nearby town of Tonbridge, which was at the time spelled "Tunbridge". The similar names and alternative spellings have been a source of confusion ever since, especially to uninformed people travelling on the London-Hastings railway line. The spring can still be visited in the Pantiles area of the town, surrounded by Regency architecture.

The prefix "Royal" dates to 1909, when King Edward VII officially recognised the popularity of the town amongst royalty and aristocracy by bestowing the town with its official "Royal" title. To this day, Royal Tunbridge Wells is one of only two towns in England to be granted this, the other being Royal Leamington Spa.

[edit] Layout of the town

Mount Pleasant
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Mount Pleasant

The town centre is split, roughly, into two sections.

The southern part of the centre is the older part of the town, containing at its heart the "Village" area. It is here that The Pantiles can be found, which contain the spa which made the town so famous. This area is popular with tourists and residents alike, and live music is usually played in the old bandstand through the summer period.

Also on the southern side of the town is the Spa Valley Railway which operates heritage trains from Tunbridge Wells West Station to nearby High Rocks and Groombridge.

The north is the more recent part of the town containing the Royal Victoria Place Shopping centre (owned by The Westfield Group) as well as the pedestrian area and many retail shopping outlets. This part of the town also contains some pieces of noted architecture. The north part of the town is also home to the Assembly Halls and the Trinity Theatre (formerly Holy Trinity Church), which offers live comedy, drama and musicals. The old cinema is soon to be demolished and replaced by a nightclub, shops and bars.

At the end of Lime Hill Road is the newly refurbished, but controversial, Millennium Clock, designed by a local sculptor.

In the adjoining village of Rusthall can be found the peculiarly-shaped Toad Rock, a popular leisure spot on Rusthall Common.

[edit] World views of the town

The Pantiles - Chalybeate Spring
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The Pantiles - Chalybeate Spring

Tunbridge Wells is traditionally associated with the prim middle classes, especially in the locution "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells". (The editor of the former Tunbridge Wells Advertiser, allegedly told his staff to concoct letters to fill the letters page. One letter was signed 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells', Icons of England). This phrase has remained in circulation because of its perceived aptness in describing the inhabitants of the town.

Tunbridge Wells is often assumed to be a bastion of the middle classes and comfortably bourgeois. However, like anywhere it has areas of deprivation that suffer from a range of social problems. However, according to the Indices of Deprivation 2004 no area is within the 20% most deprived in the areas within England and the Local Authority as a whole is within the 20% least deprived, (the recognised measure of deprivation).

References to Tunbridge Wells abound in literature as diverse as Arthur Conan Doyle's The Valley of Fear, Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow and Against The Day, Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest, Zadie Smith's White Teeth, John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester Tunbridge Wells and E. M. Forster's A Room With a View. David Lean's epic film Lawrence of Arabia closes with Mr. Dryden answering King Feisal: "Me? Your Highness? - On the whole, I wish I'd stayed in Tunbridge Wells." In the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Tracy Di Vicenzo says to Bond that she looks forward to living as Mr. and Mrs. James Bond of Acacia Avenue, Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge Wells came into cricketing spotlight during the 1983 Cricket World Cup , when Kapil Dev scored 175 not out off 138 balls for India against Zimbabwe on July 6, 1983. This was the record for the highest score in a one-day international

Tunbridge Wells was listed 3rd Best place to live in the Channel 4 television programme Best and Worst Places to Live 2006 based on crime, education, employment, environment and lifestyle.

[edit] Local politics

Tunbridge Wells is and has almost always been from inception, a Conservative Westminster constituency. However, some of the council wards are strongly Liberal Democrat or Labour. The present political composition of the Council is:

  • Conservatives 36
  • Liberal Democrats 11
  • Labour 1

Tunbridge Wells is made up of the following council wards:

[edit] Twinning

The town is twinned with Wiesbaden in GermanyGermany. In 1960, through an advertisement in the national press, contact was made between former paratroopers in Wiesbaden, and four English ex-servicemen in Tunbridge Wells. Through this contact the friendship that now exists between the two towns sprang up, and also through this the Tunbridge Wells Twinning and Friendship Association was formed.

[edit] Staying and eating in Tunbridge Wells

Calverley Hotel - Engraving 1860
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Calverley Hotel - Engraving 1860

The town has a number of hotels, including The Spa, The Royal Wells, The Wellington and The Swan. The most famous might be the Hotel du Vin, formerly Calverley Hotel, which dates back to Decimus Burton's Calverley estate.

There are a number of restaurants, including chains such as Carluccios, Wagamama, and McDonald's. Richard Phillips' Michelin-starred Thackeray's, located in the former residence of William Makepeace Thackeray, is generally regarded as the favourite restaurant for residents and tourists alike, although many would praise the Bistro at Hotel du Vin especially for lunch. Recently the well-known chef Raymond Blanc opened a brasserie, Le Petit Blanc, in the recently regenerated "Clock" area. As well as a large number of traditional pubs around the town, a number of clubs and bars including Davinchis one of the towns few nightclubs (and generaly considered pretty rubbish) line the traditional High Street, while wine bars, pubs and other restaurants can be found in the Pantiles, near The Wells. More popular with those who seek live music is The Forum which is situated on the Common, across from the High Street. Other venues, such as the Royal Wells, The Retreat and Kelsey provide live entertainment.

Finally there are also a number of coffee shops and similar. Relish! which is a café and delicatessen and Bean specialising in chocolate are on Camden Road. Arte Bianca on Chapel Place serves coffee and sandwiches and supplies all kinds of Italian food, both fresh and pre-packed.

[edit] Shopping in Tunbridge Wells

Royal Victoria Place
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Royal Victoria Place

The Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1992. This, combined with the Calverley, Camden and Grosvenor Roads, provides many chain retail outlets. Hoopers (formerly Weekes), the largest department store in the town, is situated on Mount Pleasant Road. Many smaller shops can be found further south, around the High Street, Chapel Place and the Pantiles.

The once down-at-heel Camden Road has become increasingly bohemian since 2000, with little arty shops opening up, including Bluemoon gallery, as well as more functional shops like Bob's DIY, World of Sewing and In Gear a goth clothing and fashion shop. A particular landmark is the snooker club, with its elephant flanked doorway.

A farmers market is held outside the Town Hall on the second and fourth Saturday morning of each month and in The Pantiles on the first and third Saturday of each month.

[edit] Educational institutions

A number of schools are located in Tunbridge Wells, including the following:

The Salomons Campus of Canterbury Christ Church University provides postgraduate programmes.

[edit] Natives of Tunbridge Wells

Among those born in Tunbridge Wells are:

[edit] Other famous residents

As a spa town Tunbridge Wells was a popular resort for the upper classes, including members of the British Royal Family. It was a favoured place for retirement, so a number of famous people have died there.

The Punk rock band the Anti-Nowhere League had its first public performance in Tunbridge Wells.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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The town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, South East England
with the surrounding suburbs, villages, towns and parishes:

Ashurst • Benenden • Bidborough • Brenchley • Capel • Cranbrook • Curtisden Green • Five Oak Green • Frittenden • Goudhurst • Goudhurst and Kilndown • Groombridge • Hartley • Hawkenbury • Hawkhurst • High Brooms • Horsmonden • Kilndown • Lamberhurst • Langton Green • Matfield • Old Groombridge • Paddock Wood • Park • Pembury • Rusthall • Sandhurst • Southborough • Speldhurst • Stone Cross • Swattenden
The borough of Tunbridge Wells
List of places in Kent
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