Sometimes it's all worthwhile

I met a lady in the High Street this morning (you know who you are) who told me she checked in on Tonbridge Daily every day, and thoroughly enjoyed all the photographs and snippets, especially the recent Recognising Tonbridge feature on the former Corn Exchange in Bank Street. It reminded her that her late father had mentioned he often attended the Drill Hall which was on this site too for a while. This prompted her to visit the building, with her sister last weekend, in remembrance of her father.

I have no idea who views the blog, or even if it is enjoyed by locals, as very few comments are left on the site, and that's probably because it's such a faff to log in, and join to do just that. A bloggers life is quite a solitary one, but I do get a fair amount of comments on Twitter and receive emails about the site. So it was a good feeling this morning knowing that a post had triggered off family memories, and it's these little things that make it all worth while.

Keep reading!!!!

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

Recognising Tonbridge feature

Former Corn Exchange in Bank Street

 

It's very rare that a Recognising Tonbridge isn't recognised but this is one that was not. The close-up photograph is part of the circular feature set in the apex of the former Corn Exchange in Bank Street.

It was originally built as a Dissenters Chapel in 1791 (the Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England and formed their own place of worship). Later it was converted into the town's Corn Exchange which at the time stood at the entrance to Tonbridge Market. For a period of time it served as The Royal West Kent Drill Hall.

Tonbridge Then and Now

Corner of Bank Street and High Street before road widening demolition

Tonbridge Historical Society Pictorial Collection No. 14C.401

April 2013

Have you ever spotted a baby pigeon

Yesterday I was wandering around the town, and noticed there was a lot of activity going on through a hole in a boarded up window in Bank Street.  Pigeons were going back and forth through the small opening at a rate of about 1 every 10 seconds carrying twigs, and other things suitable for nest building. It was really fascinating to watch.

So, I asked myself why I'd never seen a baby pigeon. Perhaps you are one of the lucky ones who have actually seen one of these rare sights. I certainly haven't, and with so many of them in Tonbridge it seemed a little odd. We see common garden bird fledgings being fed by their parents, so why don't we see baby pigeons?

Apparently our run-of-the-mill town pigeons build their nests in the nooks and crannies of our urban townscape, and seek out quiet places reminiscent to their native cliffside habitats. The babies, or squabs, are well hidden and safe until they can survive on their own and are almost fully grown. Usually by the time they fly the coop they look as large as a fully grown pigeon, so it's difficult to tell if it is a youngster when they are seen out and about by us unsuspecting humans.

I'm going to keep my eyes peeled as I'm determined to spot one, but if anyone does or manages to take a photo of a baby pigeon let me know.

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo # 115 - Bank Street

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #66  -  Bank Street

?? Another Ghost Sign ??

Over the last year, and with the help of another interested party, Tonbridge Daily has managed to locate 8 ghost signs in the town.  Some of them are really good examples, whilst others are so badly faded, or painted over, they can simply only serve as evidence that a sign has existed in the past. Sometimes only a few scattered letters, or part of a name, are still visible to use as research, but nevertheless, it has been interesting to delve into the history of the building, and piece together what the former sign may have advertised.

Bank Street

At one point I became so obsessive, and found myself searching every open surface of the town's red brick buildings I passed by, in the hope of finding another one.  A white painted square on a Tonbridge wall would immediately turn me into Miss Marple, and I would whip out my mini-binoculars to investigate further.  By the way, the binoculars are not a new thing I've acquired for ghost sign hunting -  I have constantly carried them around with me since my early days of studying Art History, when I needed to find close detail in architecture or paintings.

So when I was out and about in the town yesterday, and walking along Bank Street, I noticed one of those white painted squares that gets my heart racing.  It was down a very narrow gap, on the side of an empty building, and just visible due to new building very close to it. I can't believe I haven't noticed it before.  On looking closer the white paint was flaking and revealing blue paint beneath it. I'm pretty sure it was a former advertising sign, and a search through archived old photos of Tonbridge might, at a very long shot, give an idea as to what business it belonged to.
This part of central Tonbridge was formerly a busy and thriving area.  It lays just off the High Street and the building would have stood next to the cattle market. This alone suggests that an advertising sign in this position would be very likely.

If you are interested in seeing photographs of the other Tonbridge Ghost signs go to the search box at the right hand side of this post, and enter 'ghost signs'. 

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #46 - Confidential in Bank Street

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #7 - Bank Street