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| The Dorset Hotel - 34 High Street* |
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| Cafe Nero - 34 High Street - 2011 |
According to a comment on the most recent 'Recognising Tonbridge Recognised' post the building in which Cafe Nero now stands was once where The Dorset Hotel stood. I have been unable to find the exact dates when travellers to Tonbridge would have stayed in the hotel, but according to the photograph it seems to have been late 19th or early 20th Century. Maybe someone knows exactly when the hotel was in the High Street. The upper facade is virtually unchanged however at street level it is totally unrecognisable. The central arched doorway containing the double fronted doors surrounded by leaded glass is certainly a loss as are the large windows. This was definitely once a grand building. It is also interesting to note the width of the pavement which was very narrow.
Unfortunately the photograph doesn't show the roof apex or whether the dragon finial was in place at this time.
*Tonbridge Historical Society Pictorial Collection No. 9.006
The dead pubs web site has a few dates for you and the names of the publicans. The Dorset Arms 1881/91 census shows the address as no 36 but maybe the Hotel and Arms were seperate buildings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous for the information above. I found the below in Tonbridge's Industrial Heritage by The Tonbridge Historical Society:-
ReplyDelete'The Dorset Arms (later Dorset Hotel) on the west side of the High Street near Lambert's Yard was an inn by 1839. A Dorset Arms public house continued at 34 High Street after the road widening until 1961.'
Not sure that tells us too much more!!!!