Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Up to the early 19th century Tonbridge Market took place between Church Lane and  East Street.  The cattle and sheep pens were set up in the centre of the High Street with a narrow space either side for passing carriages.  In 1856 the market moved from the High Street to open land between Bank Street and The Slade.

Following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1971 the cattle market closed and became a general Saturday market until 2003.

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #39  - Tygers Head, Church Lane

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

These interesting feature windows are in a renovated property opposite The Parish Church graveyard, and next to the walkway that leads from The Church Lane surgery to The Ivy House.

The decorative archway above the top window is reminiscent of church architecture.  I have no idea of the orginal use of the building. If anyone has any information on this please let me know.

Tonbridge Daily Recognised

Here is the full shot of the tiger who looks out onto Church Lane from a side window of Tygers Head.
The present owner told me that the tiger was found in a junk shop and was appropriately given a new home.
Only one person was able to name the spot.

Forever Vacant?

Church Lane & High Street

It really doesn't paint a pretty picture.  This was the building on the corner of Church Lane and The High Street in Tonbridge when I last passed by.  Looking forlorn, miserable and empty. It seems that Alishan may not be moving into the corner building afterall, and this is a great shame as it is a really a good restaurant.  It would have certainly given long awaited life to this vacant and sad corner of Church Lane. But, it isn't all bad news as I have heard, through the grapevine, that a new and already established business selling original and unique t shirts could be occupying the space in the future.

The last time I remember going into this corner building was when it was an enormous Oxfam, and I've spent many a time sifting through the racks and shelves trying to find something vintage, or even unearth a valuable. I believe at some point the site was occupied by a supermarket (does anyone remember this?????), and going back as far as 1789, Beeching's the linen draper traded here, and later the family opened Beeching's Bank on the premises.

Whatever business moves into the corner of Church Lane it will be welcomed, as this prime site has been boarded up and disused for far too long.  Here's hoping for some new life in this part of the town in the not too distant future.

Tonbridge Vandals

A vandal with a spray can has daubed the weatherboarded side of the surgery on Church Lane with green lettering, and also the brick walls along the footpath leading towards the Ivy House.  If the word on the building reads RAGE, it doesn't reflect the enormity of rage I felt when I was confronted with the vandalism. The wooden walls can be cleaned and repainted, but it's not going to be so easy to clean the mess from the brick surface.  I suppose we can be thankful that the headstones in the graveyard were spared.

Tiger Who Came To Tea

Look Out - Look Out !!!

There's a Tiger About.

He was spotted in a window in Church Lane.

Is it the tiger who came to tea?

Church Lane Tonbridge