Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

As always the Recognising Tonbridge post had many of you sending in your answers, and it regularly amazes me that this feature always has a large response, but I suppose it's  because we all like a quiz.  So, to my great surprise only two correct answers were amongst the many I received, the first being from John Urquhart of Tonbridge Dental Centre, closely followed by Peter @greenhares.

The image was a close up of a representation of the Tonbridge Urban District Council Coat of Arms on the commemoration stone, at the Watergate entrance to the Castle grounds.  The inscription below the arms reads:

'This historic castle was acquired in commemoration of the happy reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria and the grounds were opened by the Arthur Philip Stanhope Lord Lieutenant of Kent 23 May 1900 for the use of the public forever'

Tonbridge Urban District Council Crest

Commemoration Stone Tonbridge Watergate

TUDC was granted the coat of arms in 1935, and although the arms were 'to be borne and used for ever hereafter by The Urban District Council of Tonbridge and by its successors’ they were sadly replaced by the new Tonbridge & Malling District Council. Some may say it is then that Tonbridge finally lost it's identity.  The image on the commemoration stone is a partial representation of the intricate original arms which is below.

Tonbridge Urban District Council Coat of Arms

At the top one can see the two towers and gatehouse that represent Tonbridge Castle. Look very closely at the left hand tower and you will see a lion in a circle.  This is a 'Passant Guardant' indicating that the Great Seal of England was in safekeeping at the castle for a short time during the reign of Edward I.  On the right hand tower are three chevrons, in a circle, representing the de Clare's family coat of arms.  Today the flag flown above the castle towers bears the three red de Clare  chevrons on a yellow background.

On the shield below the castle is a five arched bridge representing the five waterways that crossed the High Street. Today only two remain and flow beneath Big and Little Bridge and the others have now been filled in.  The ship suggests the importance of the River Medway to the town.

The latin incription comes from Cicero, the Roman philosopher and statesman, and translates

'The good of the people is the supreme law'. 

It is my opinion that the coat of arms, and in particular the inscription, is a dignified reflection of Tonbridge, and it saddens me that it was lost to the new Tonbridge and Malling District Council coat of arms below, which was the replacement in 1976.

Tonbridge and Malling District Council Coat of Arms