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

Tonbridge Tollgates

Three iron posts, in separate locations in Tonbridge, mark former tollgate sites in the town.
All the commemorative markers are identical, and were put in place by TUDC (Tonbridge Urban District Council). They are undated.

The first is situated outside the Public Library on the corner of The High Street and Avebury Avenue. It's hard to imagine a tollgate in this busy area of the town, but until the coming of the railway the southern part of Tonbridge, as we know it today, simply did not exist.

Outside the Public Library on The High Street

The second marker is on the corner of Hadlow Road and Mill Lane.  This was one of several tolls along this route and it was there until 1868.  There is an undated photograph of this location on

http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/photos/other-roads-and-streets/slides/15.Had2b.html

 

The final tollgate marker can be found on Shipbourne Road.  This one is very hard to spot as it sits behind railings and is slightly hidden by foliage.  The location is directly opposite the petrol station that is next to The Royal Oak pub.

 

Shipbourne Road tollgate marker