Royal Tunbridge Wells
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For the larger local government district, see Borough of Tunbridge Wells.
| Royal Tunbridge Wells | |
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| Population | 45,000 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Tunbridge Wells |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TUNBRIDGE WELLS |
| Postcode district | TN1, TN2, TN4 |
| Dial code | 01892 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | Tunbridge Wells |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
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 celebrated its 400th anniversary.
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[edit] History
The town of Tunbridge Wells 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 healing properties 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
The town centre is roughly in two separate halves.
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 recently developed 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.[citation needed]
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.
[edit] World views of the town
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. 2006 Low budget independent film "We've got the Toaster" was set, filmed and premiered in the town.
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] Twinning
The town is twinned with Wiesbaden in 
Germany. 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
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 Carluccio's, 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 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.
Tunbridge Wells is also home to Masala The Indian Restaurant located at 51 The Pantiles. Masala is the largest restaurant in Tunbridge Wells.There you can get the traditional style of Indian food that came to England in the 60’s. Presented by Salim Choudhury Masala is an off spring of a number of Indian Restaurant branches, Nizam Tandoor Restaurant East Grinstead, Nizam Indian Restaurant Haywards Heath, Spice River Indian Restaurant South Croydon, Nupur Tandoori Restaurant Hurstpierpoint and Zamdani Indian Tandoori Restaurant Hove. To book a table at Masala call 01892 616700.
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
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.
Vale Road leads from London Road to the High Street via Tunbridge Wells station. This area has seen considerable investment over the last two decades. There are modern buildings such as the AXA offices and Morrisons supermarket (currently empty). Post Office Square is an exclusive development of apartments with retail premises underneath, currently occupied by health and beauty businesses, such as Leigh Roberts hairdressers, Aphrodisia and Med-Spa beauty salon.
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:
- Beechwood Sacred Heart School
- The Skinners' School
- St. Gregory's Catholic School
- Tunbridge Wells Boys' Grammar School
- Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
- Bennett Memorial Diocesan Comprehensive School
The Salomons Campus of Canterbury Christ Church University provides postgraduate programmes.
[edit] Natives of Tunbridge Wells
Among those born in Tunbridge Wells are:
- Caroline Fry (1787-1846), writer.
- Richard Jones (1790-1855), economist.
- H T Waghorn (1842-1930), cricket historian.
- Sir Francis Robert Benson (1858-1939), actor and theatre manager.
- The Reverend Arthur Shearly Cripps (1869-1952), missionary and writer.
- Frank W. Boreham (1871-1959), Baptist preacher.
- Victor McLaglen (1886-1959), actor.
- Arthur Waley (1889-1966), Orientalist.
- Compton Bennett (1900-1974), film director.
- Sir Tyrone Guthrie (1900-1971), theatrical director.
- Roy Douglas (born 1907), classical composer
- Ron Ledger (1920-2004), former Labour MP.
- Keith Douglas (1920-1944), poet.
- Alec McCowen (born 1925), actor.
- Christopher Browne (born 1943), composer.
- William Nicholson (born 1948), writer.
- Gary Barden (born 1955), musician.
- Nick Kulmer (born 1956), AKA, Animal, Punk singer with The Anti Nowhere League
- David Gower (born 1957), cricketer.
- Shane MacGowan (born 1957), Punk singer.
- Sarah Sands (born 1961), journalist.
- Jamie Spence (born 1963), golfer.
- Alistair Appleton (born 1970), television personality.
- Mike Laloë (born 1974), film director.
- Oliver Chris (born 1978), actor.
- Richard Rose (born 1982), footballer.
- Rose Pipette born 1986, Pop singer with The Pipettes
[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.
- Richard (Beau) Nash (1674-1762), celebrated dandy and leader of fashion.
- Charles Paulet, 3rd Duke of Bolton (1685-1754), politician (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- The Reverend Thomas Bayes (1702-1761), mathematician (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Henry Bilson Legge (1708-1764), politician (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Richard Cumberland (1732-1811), dramatist.
- Sir Charles Ogle, Bt. (1775-1858), naval officer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Sir Howard Douglas, Bt. (1776-1861), military officer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Horace Smith (1779-1849), poet and novelist (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- John Cox Dillman Engleheart (1784-1862), miniature painter (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge (1785-1856), Viceroy of India (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- William Thomas Brande (1788-1866), chemist (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803-1873), author.
- Ker Baillie Hamilton (1804-1889), colonial governor (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Sir Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt (1811-1888), naval officer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), novelist.
- Golding Bird (1814-1854), medical writer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- The Reverend Edward Meyrick Goulburn (1818-1897), clergyman and writer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Philip Carteret Hill (1821–1894), Nova Scotia politician (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- William Temple (1833-1919), recipient of the Victoria Cross (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- The Reverend Thomas Roscoe Rede Stebbing (1835-1926), zoologist (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll (1845-1914), Governor General of Canada.
- Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939), daughter of Queen Victoria.
- Sir Richard Robinson (1849-1928), businessman and local politician.
- Julius Drewe (1856-1931), businessman and builder of Castle Drogo.
- Rachel Beer (1858-1927), newspaper editor.
- Francis Meadow Sutcliffe (1863-1941), photographer.
- Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding (1882-1970), Royal Air Force officer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham (1887-1963), military officer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Léon Goossens (1897-1988), oboist (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Enid Lakeman (1903-1955), political reformer.
- Arthur Fagg (1915-1977), cricketer (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Duncan Lamont (1918-1978), actor (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Bob Todd (1921-1992), comedy actor.
- Patrick Mayhew, Baron Mayhew (born 1929), politician.
- Mary Rhys-Jones (1934-2005), mother of the Countess of Wessex (died in Tunbridge Wells).
- Tom Baker (born 1934), actor.
- George Cohen (born 1939), football player.
- Jeff Beck (born 1944), musician.
- Virginia Wade (born 1945), tennis player.
- Paul Condon, Baron Condon (born 1947), police commissioner.
- Nick Brown (born 1950), politician.
- Graham Kendrick (born 1950), songwriter.
- Louise Jameson (born 1951), actress.
- Jilly Goolden (born 1956), television personality.
- Jo Brand (born 1957), comedian.
- Sid Vicious (1957-1979), musician.
- Samuel Batchelor (born 1959), poet.
- Nick Knowles (born 1962), television personality.
- Nick Wallace (born 1972), writer.
- Martin Corry (born 1973), rugby player.
- Mike Laloë (born 1974), film director.
- Keith Falkner change agent
- Damage Earl Plumber/British sailor
The Punk rock band the Anti-Nowhere League had its first public performance in Tunbridge Wells.
[edit] External links
- Street photography in Tunbridge wells
- Tunbridge Wells 400 Anniversary Website
- St Barnabas Church, off Camden Road Tunbridge Wells
- Spa Valley Railway
- Wikitravel
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - Tourism - VisitTunbridgeWells.com
- Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons
- The Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society
- Photos of Tunbridge Wells
- Royal Victoria Place
- Royal Tunbridge Wells Blog "A Day Away From Tunbridge Wells is a Day Wasted"
- "HISTORICAL AND INTERESTING VIEWS OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS"
- Tunbridge Wells Brethren
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with the surrounding suburbs, villages, towns and parishes: |
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Ashurst • Benenden • Bidborough • Brenchley • Capel • Colliers Green • 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 • Sissinghurst • Swattenden |
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| The borough of Tunbridge Wells List of places in Kent |
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