Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Tonbridge castle was destroyed by fire in 1088 only 22 years after it was built, and in 1260 the stone castle and gatehouse that remains today were built.

Tonbridge Daily snippet

A Venetian Fete was held on the river in Tonbridge every summer from1890’s to c1950's. It should be resurrected !!

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Baldwins Travel occupies the former site of The Red Lion pub and before the 1640's it was known as The George

Recognising Tonbridge

Where in Tonbridge am I today?

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

There were lots of guesses on this Recognising Tonbridge post, but there wasn't one correct answer.
The picture was of a small part of the semi-circular shaped wrought iron bench that is outside The Parish Church.

Tonbridge Flower Arrangers Club

Jenny Nye

Jenny Nye, well known for her work at the Chelsea Flower Show, demonstrated two contemporary designs at the Tonbridge Flower Arrangers Club's monthly meeting in The Medway Hall in The Angel Centre. She showed club members and visitors how to complete a textured and a tapestry arrangement with flowers.

The photographs were provided by Peter Ellis of Tonbridge Community Films

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

A small cricket ball workshop was set up by Gradidge in 1932 in a building on the corner of East Street and The High Steet. The company was founded in 1870 by Harry Gradidge.

Gradidges became part of the Slazengers Sykes Gradidge & Ayres group of companies in the early to mid part of the 20th century.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Tonbridge Weather Notes recorded deep snow in the town on the 5th May 1787

Tonbridge Attractions in 1924

A Second Chance

Since Tonbridge Farmers Market started trading monthly in the town we all can't wait for the next one to come around. So next weekend there's an opportunity to have a second helping of the town's favourite market at the West Kent Garden & Leisure Show.

They will be at Tonbridge Angels Football Club, Longmead with their wonderful local produce and stalls from 9am until 5pm, next Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 May, as part of the Garden & Leisure event which features all the regular garden and plant stalls, birds of prey, flower arranging and cookery demonstrations.

So if you missed the brilliant sunny Sunday Farmers Market yesterday there's another chance to buy fresh local produce and enjoy the Garden & Leisure Show too. 

Entrance is £3 for adults, £2 for concessions and children under 16 are free.

Tonbridge Arts at Tonbridge Farmers Market

A lot was happening today at the monthly Tonbridge Farmers Market ... not only were Tonbridge Arts Festival organisers out in the sunshine letting all the good people of Tonbridge know about the brilliant events that will take place in the town in June ... shoppers were serenaded by members of the marvellous Bacchus Wind Orchestra who will be performing on June 16 at St Stephens Church as part of the Festival programme. For more details on their concert see http://www.tonbridgeartsfestival.co.uk/index.php?inc=event-details&ev=31

Serenading Shoppers at Tonbridge Farmers Market

Bacchus Wind Orchestra

The Tonbridge Arts Festival aims to bring the joy of the arts to the people of Tonbridge and beyond, in a ten-day celebration of all art forms. The festival will comprise performing, visual and literary arts events to be held in venues throughout the town. It will offer local people the opportunity to access and participate in high quality artistic performances and exhibitions from professional and amateur artists and groups.  The Festival will run from 15th to 24th June with an exciting programme to suit all tastes.  There is something for everyone!!!

For more details of all the events taking place during the 10 days in June visit www.tonbridgeartsfestival.co.uk

Tonbridge daily Snippet

The two circular structures on the Sportsground, often graffitied, are covers to 20ft deep wells sourcing water for the waterworks.

Well I never!!!!

Recognising Tonbridge

It looked very inviting ... where am I today?

Foraging in Tonbridge

This is not the usual Tonbridge Daily post but it is in a way related to the town.

St George's Mushrooms

Whilst out and about in Tonbridge yesterday I discovered giant rings of St George's mushrooms hidden in long grass. They are one of the few good tasting edible mushrooms that can be found in the Spring, and are associated with the saint as they tend to appear in late April/early May around the time of St George's day.

The mushrooms are pale in colour and always have firm flesh particularly when they are young, so they are perfect for use in cooking and for preserving.  A distinguishing factor is their smell which is unmistakably 'mealy'. They taste sublime and go particularly well with asparagus, chicken and wild garlic.  Personally, I prefer mushrooms unadulterated and simply fried in a good oil - this way they retain their taste and smell.

Foraging Fry-up

Never eat any fungi that you are unsure of - I am extremely lucky as I have learned how to identify fungi from an expert, who is always on hand to check over what I have picked. 

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

The Iconic Blue Clock

The bell on this Recognising Tonbridge post is above the blue clock on a wall adjacent to Derek Roberts Antiques who deal in antique, and rare clocks, from their Shipbourne Road premises.

It is always assumed that the blue clock belongs to the clock dealers, but it actually belongs to their next door neighbours.  On closer inspection I noticed that the clock face was badly damaged and had split in half. however no matter who the owner is it still remains an iconic feature in Shipbourne Road.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The first gas street lamps to be lit in Tonbridge were in The High Street, Bordyke and East Street. This took place on 12 November 1836 amidst a town celebration. The lamps were only used during long dark winter nights.

By 1856 Tonbridge Gas Company supplied gas for about 51 street lamps  and 150 consumers including Tonbridge School & the Parish Church

Big Bridge Tonbridge

The lamps on the Big Bridge and Little Bridge are surviving original gas lamps which have been converted for use with electricity.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Humphrey Burton CBE,classical music presenter, broadcaster, tv director, BAFTA & Emmy winner attended The Judd School in Tonbridge

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

An explosion at Gunpower Mills, Leigh in 1916 caused chunks of metal to fall on parts of Tonbridge.

Recognising Tonbridge

There's always time to stop and look up at this bell

Where in Tonbridge am I today

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

Cleanliness is next to Godliness was the clue in this Recognising Tonbridge post, but only one person recognised the foot-scaper situated outside the former Methodist church in East Street.  It is a reminder of a time when roads and walkways around the High Street were muddy, and shared by both animals and humans alike.  Originally two foot-scrapers were in place outside the church but unfortunately now only one remains.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

A stone on the wall of Rush Hairdressing marks the site of the former Suttons Bridge that crossed The High Street.  The replica replaces the original monument that was destroyed.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Tonbridge lost an important part of its Heritage in 1901 when The Town Hall which was situated close to the corner of Castle Street and High Street was demolished

Reader Comment on Cobills

Cobills - The Thorpe Avenue Stores

This is a really vivid memory and interesting reader comment on the recent Cobills post.

I remember Thorpe Ave. stores when it was Lawson's in the early 1950's. My mum would send me there on my scooter with a basket tied on the footboard.

A lot of the food items were still sold 'loose'.
On the floor in front of the counter were boxes, sacks of cloth or thick paper and other containers holding such items as fruit, vegetables, sugar and tea.

The wooden tea chests were lined with thin sheets of lead or tin and were quite large. They were very much in demand as storage boxes when moving house.

Loose dry products were dispensed into brown paper bags and meat and dairy produce were first wrapped in greaseproof paper. On hot days mum would give me a container for the butter in case it started to melt on the way home.

In the summer holidays there always seemed to be lots of bikes and scooters laid about the forecourt (as in the photo) and young boys drinking from large Tizer bottles.
For me this is the best photo so far 'Tonbridge '. Many thanks for the happy memories of hot summers climbing trees, making camps and jam sandwich picnics.


The phone Directory shows a G E Lawson at the shop from 1950 to 1960, there was also a G E Lawson, Upholsterer and Antique Dealer, 165 The High Street as far back as 1920 and in Shipbourne Road up to 1982, although I am not sure if they are the same person.
The entries for E W Cobill at the shop start at 1961 and end in 1971.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Big Bridge (as it is now affectionately known) was built at a cost of £2146 and officially opened in 1888.

The Big Bridge over the River Medway - Tonbridge