insideKENT Magazine Issue 32 - November 2014 | Page 109
TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Tonbridge Castle
S P O T L I G H T
O N
TONBRIDGE
Tonbridge, the pretty, vibrant market town in the gorgeous Kent countryside has a lot going
for it. There is history going back centuries, and a future that is looking bright and exciting.
With one of Kent’s busiest railway stations (around 3.8 million people pass through it every
year), a fantastic position for motorways and major A roads, and a range of shops, schools, and
attractions, Tonbridge is an ideal place for visiting or setting up home. BY LISAMARIE LAMB
history in brief
Tonbridge (or Tunbridge as it was known
historically, which explains its pronunciation) burst
into life in the late 11th century. It grew up on a
hard, high piece of ground above the River
Medway. Known to this day as Quarry Hill, this
area is where Tonbridge began to be built, with
our ancestors understanding that they needed
to be away from the lower ground that was prone
to flooding.
There is not much information recorded about
the area before 1070 when Richard of Tonbridge
(lord of the manor in Hadlow) is mentioned.
Tonbridge was excluded from the Domesday
Book because the area was a ‘lowry’, a gift from
William the Conqueror to one of his companions,
and was therefore exempt from having to provide
information regarding its population and income,
unlike other towns that are recorded in the
Domesday Book.
We do know that the castle was built at the end
of the 11th century, and that within just a few
short years there was a thriving town around it;
in fact, it had become the largest town in Kent.
Through the years Tonbridge has been known
for producing gunpowder, shoemaking,
brickworks, for being at the forefront of schooling
(Tonbridge School was founded in 1553), the
famous ‘Tunbridge Ware’ decorative wood, and
for being a financial and commercial hub in Kent.
The more important the town became, the more
money was put into its transport infrastructure,
meaning that road links were built connecting
Tonbridge to all the other major towns in the
south east, including Maidstone, London,
Brighton, and Chatham.
things to do
Everyon