Tonbridge Friday Market

Scout Hut Lamberts Yard

Did you know that Tonbridge has a regular market every Friday? And, the most important thing here is that all the produce is local. Yes, LOCAL. It takes place in the little scout hut in Lamberts Yard and you can always spot it from a distance by the red, white and blue bunting that's hung up outside, or by a sign on the corner of Lamberts Yard and High Street pointing towards the indoor market.

I popped in last Friday to see what was on offer and spoke to one of the ladies who was selling farm eggs.  She told me that the market was started 57 years ago by the Tonbridge WI in a small building on the former Angel Ground. They then lost this facility, and moved to the the Sea Scouts' Hut on the river behind the Teen and Twenty building, where they remained for many years. Finally, they moved to the hut where they now hold the weekly market. It is apparently no longer WI run although the Institute do have a stall to sell their jams, preserves, marmalades and chutneys.

All the produce is fresh and local. The meat is freshly delivered from a local supplier. All the crafts are local too. There's even a beautiful seasonal plant stall. I arrived towards the end of the morning, and to be honest there had been a blitz of buying, so there wasn't much left. You can order items for the following week if you don't want to miss out on any of the produce. There's even small cafe serving home baked delicious cakes, tea and coffee and very reasonable prices. The cakes are delicious!!!!!! So what are you waiting for???

 

Tomorrow the Mayor will pay a visit to the market, and so I would imagine everyone will have made an effort to bake and bring their very best to the stalls. So it's a good time to go.  If you're in town pop along, have a look at what's on offer and I bet you won't leave without buying something. In fact, you'll probably make it a regular on your Friday 'things-to-do'.

Tonbridge Daily Photo

Tonbridge Daily Photo #277

Every Sunday afternoon throughout August there will be a free concert in the idyllic setting on Tonbridge Castle Lawn. Yesterday the Bells Yew Big Band entertained a large crowd with fabulous smooth swing of times gone by. There was a lot of foot tapping going on, family picnics, while others were stretched out and laying back in the sunshine relaxing to the jazzy sweet and romantic melodies. This is Tonbridge relaxing!!!!!!

Bells Yew Big Band - the umbrella is a sun shade - no rain on this occasion

There will be two further free Sunday concerts this month. Next weekend on Sunday 18 August a Sinatra Tribute Vocalist will be singing 'Strictly Sinatra'. The last concert of the month is on Sunday 25 August and will be performed by The Oxted Brass Band. Both concerts take place on The Castle Lawn  from 3 to 5pm

Bring your own chair if you're not into lounging around on the grass. Members of the Hildenborough WI will be providing refreshments in the Council Chamber. Sadly the cakes were not their own magnificent home baking, but a supermarket brand. I was slightly disappointed by this as there's nothing like a delicious WI cake.