Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #282 - Lunch by the river

Tonbridge sadly doesn't make the best use of it's river frontage. I personally would like to see more cafes and facilities along the Tonbridge Medway. Maybe in summer a number of decent pop-up cafes would be well received. I've always thought that River Walk where it backs onto the Weatherspoon garden is an underused spot with a great view of Big Bridge and The Castle. What do you think?

The whole High Street next time please!!!!!!!

The town did itself proud on Tonbridge Taster Day. I loved seeing the community stalls along River Walk and under the Castle walls, and there was a real coming together on that day. I throughly enjoyed the whole day - the dragon boat racing, entertainment, the dog show, art display and Mr Chatfield's fabulous sausages in a roll, and have to commend the Town Team for all their hard work and effort in getting it off the ground, but in the end it was the spirit of Tonbridge that made it a successful

After the event there was a lot of talk about why the whole High Street was not closed off, and to be honest I agree with those who think that doing this would have been a positive move.  I remember when The Tour de France came through the High Street some years ago, and the whole town turned out to witness a little bit of history being made as the competitors sped through the Tonbridge.  For this event to take place the whole stretch of The High Street had to be closed, and it enabled the shops and businesses, and community groups to benefit from the crowds in the town.  But, not only did they benefit - we did too. The Rose & Crown organised an incredibly popular BBQ on the pavement outside the hotel, various shops opened their doors, tables were outside charity shops, even The Parish Church took the opportunity to invite in visitors by offering cream teas outside the church, and walking through the crowds with drinks and cakes for sale.  I do hope that if a Tonbridge Taster event happens again, and hopefully it will, the upper and rather more attractive and interesting section of the High Street will not be forgotten either, as the High Street really does not start at the Big Bridge. It would give all the independent shops and restaurants (and let's face it there are certainly more at this end) a chance to take place as well, and greatly enhance the experience of what Tonbridge has to offer. By their inclusion it would really be a Taste of Tonbridge and this would  showcase the not only the whole town, but also the far more interesting historical section. That has to be positive doesn't it?

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #229 - Boer War Memorial, River Walk

Sunset over the River Medway

Sunset over the river tonight taken from River Walk

Town Lock Cormorant

Last week Carl Lewis photographed a cormorant close to River Walk. Today I spotted one at Town Lock. I wonder if it's the same bird, and could all the twigs surrounding it suggest nesting on this site, or have they simply been washed up onto this spot. I don't know much about birds and their habitats. Perhaps someone has the answers?

Mysterious Tribute

A tiny button shape caught my eye as I walked past the Boer War Memorial on River Walk this morning.  I took a closer look at this little circle propped up on the stone beneath the inscriptions, only to find it was a badge from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. I wondered who had placed it there. Could it have been a relative? A grandchild or great grandchild?

Amongst the flowers surounding the memorial was a solitary cross of remembrance bearing a poppy, but the rain had smudged the handwritten words leaving it indecipherable. If the name had been legible it might have given me a clue as to who had left the badge, and if the two were connected.

Whoever left this little circular tribute at the base of the obelisk obviously wanted to keep the memory of someone alive. I love the romantic mystery of it all, and if there is someone who could shed some light on this please get in contact.

Could this be the start of a novel????

If You Haven't Walked-the-Walk You Never Will

East Curtain Wall - Tonbridge Castle

If you haven't already walked the steep path from the foot of Watergate to the Castle Grounds entrance you never will.  Works to remove the upper path, and reinstate it as an earth structure have already commenced. In future, entrance to the Castle will be via River Walk or Cannon Lawn.  Apparently the path has contributed to severe slippage of the embankment supporting the curtain wall, so the works are necessary to safeguard the structural safety.  An archaeological team are on site just in case anything interesting is unearthed. How exciting!!!! I really hope something is.

So there'll be no more iconic path moments in Tonbridge such as we saw during the summer when Dame Kelly Holmes brought the Olympic flame to the town.  Event advertising banners will have to find an alternative spot, and for all those of us who use it as a test of our fitness levels, including myself, we will be looking for another steep path. I've been walking the pathway since I was a child and I for one will miss it.

Dame Kelly Holmes with the Olympic Flame

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The Boer Memorial on River Walk was dismantled and stored safely to prevent damage during the second world war, as it was necessary to clear a line of fire for anti-tank guns to cover the Big Bridge in case of invasion.

The memorial was restored to its original place after the war, but only after plans to erect it in the Garden of Remembrance were defeated.

The Boer Memorial - River Walk

Tonbridge Attractions 1924

Views of Tonbridge in Poetry

Perspectives - Views of Tonbridge in Poetry

If you're out and about in Tonbridge today take a stroll along River Walk, where an installation of bunting is still in place from the recent Tonbridge Arts Festival. Amongst the personalised and painted triangles are a number of customised flags displaying poetry about our town.  All the verses relate to Tonbridge, and have been written by members of the U3A poetry group. There are some wonderfully creative poems among them. I particularly liked the one below written by Marguerita Day as it reflects Spring in the nature and wildlife along the river.

Away from the poetry a number of the flags on the railings have a Tonbridge theme. This could be the last weekend to see the installation so take it in before it disappears.

Tonbridge Castle - be happy at Tonbridge

Who says happy isn't best ... After all we are in Tonbridge

I love Tonbridge by the river

Tonbridge Tea Lounge and Gardens

I recently came across two ads for George Dean's boating business in a 1924 Tonbridge tourist guide.  It seems there was a 'Tea Lounge and Gardens' on River Walk, that not only served refreshments on the banks of the river, but also provided picnic baskets for those customers hiring boats in the town.

We are extremely lucky in Tonbridge to have a river running through the centre of our town.  However, unfortunately there are now very few opportunities to eat and drink along the water, and the river frontage is not used to its best advantage.

Over the years, as the waterside businesses have been lost, they have not been replaced, and Tonbridge is now crying out for cafes along the river. There are many ideal spaces for new cafes to be built or for pop-up cafes to be sited, the kind that place fold-away tables, chairs and umbrellas and serve a decent coffee and snack. This could only enhance the town and bring a sense of well being, and pleasure for residents and visitors alike, to socialise and enjoy the open spaces along the Medway.

I believe it needs serious consideration, and would be interested in readers' thoughts on the idea.

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #4 - Bunting on the Railings

Bunting on the Railings was an art project coordinated by the group 'Thursdays' for Tonbridge Arts Festival.  The railings along River Walk were decorated by bunting made by local residents.

It's still in place, so if you haven't yet seen it there's still a chance before it is taken down.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The Boer War Memorial situated on River Walk commemorates twenty-four 'Townsmen of Tonbridge or Old Boys of Tonbridge School'