Once Upon A Time

While I was walking through The Rose and Crown car park I noticed that there's a new addition to the chicken and egg on The Fire Barn's wall.

Could this be the beginning of a new folktale to rival the Brothers Grimm's, Town Musicians of Bremen?  Does anyone want to start?

Tempt Your Tastebuds

10Dency

The Young Enterprise mission statement is "to inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise' ...  'learning by doing' is the buzz word ... and this is precisely what a group of students from the Weald Of Kent Grammar School have done.

The ten young entrepreneurs have formed the company '10Dency', and they are holding an evening talk on bee keeping when the public will be given the chance to sample. and buy their honey products  There will also be an exciting launch of 10Dency's new cookbook.

It all takes place on Friday February 17 from 6.30 to 7.30pm at St. Philips Church, Salisbury Road in Tonbridge.  Entry is £3 and free refreshments will be available during the evening. If you need any more information call 078762347770 or wealdyoungenterprise@hotmail.co.uk

So put the date in your diary, have fun, enjoy the excitement and support the initiative of 10Dency all at the same time.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The 1880 Parlimentary Election results caused a riot in Tonbridge when several thousand people started to hurl stones and cobbles at each other near the Rose and Crown Hotel.

'Love Chilli' Bag Spotted in St Ives

Tate St Ives

No sooner was Tonbridge Art Group's trip to Cornwall on the blog, a message and the above photo arrived from Steve (The Chilli Man) from Tonbridge Farmers Market.  

'This is a much better picture of the Tate St Ives.
What a surprise, there's someone with a love chilli bag.'

Tonbridge Art Group's Cornish Trip

Tonbridge Art Group are travelling to the beautiful Cornish coast in July, and heading to St Ives with its tiny winding streets, fascinating shops and picturesque cottages which retain all the traditional charm of the historic fishing town, and there are a few spaces left on the trip for non-art members..

St Ives Harbour

This is the perfect trip for the group to make as St Ives is synonymous with art.  Since the end of the nineteenth century it has supported a thriving art community, and artists have been attracted to the town for generations because of the special quality of light that makes it a unique experience for painting.

The Art Group will be travelling in comfort by executive coach to The Tregenna Castle Hotel which overlooks the stunning St Ives Bay coastline, where they will be able to enjoy the swimming pool, tennis courts or simply relax in the sub tropical gardens or wander the woodland walks at their will.

The Tate St Ives

They'll be optional excursions to The Tate Gallery, The Barbara Hepworth Museum and the beautiful Minack Theatre.

Barbara Hepworth

Minack Theatre

The group will leave Tonbridge on Sunday July 1 and return on Friday July 6.  It's £514 per person for 5 nights at half-board ... breakfast and a three course evening dinner.

If you wish to join the trip please contact Mike Insley on 01732 355573

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 Daily Snippet

The UK’s first speeding fine was issued in Tonbridge in 1896 when Walter Arnold was fined 1 shilling for speeding 8mph in a 2mph zone.

Recognising Tonbridge

The Recognising Tonbridge post is becoming extremely popular, and I am now receiving readers photographs of nooks and crannies around the town.  The shot below was sent to me by Steve, of Tonbridge Farmers Market, more notably known as 'Steve The Chilli Man'.  He noticed the stone plaque in the wall whilst delivering flyers around Tonbridge.  Where exactly is this?  And Steve, NO, you can't answer this time.

If you wish to send a photo for inclusion in Recognising Tonbridge email it as an attachment to
tonbridgedaily@gmail.com

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

In 1850 Charles Dickens visited the Telegraph Office which was situated at The Railway Station in Tonbridge.  He wrote about this experience in his weekly magazine named 'Household Words'.

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

The Steve Dilworth sculpture 'Bird Skull' was recognised on Twitter by the E.M. Forster Theatre, and to be honest they had a 'head' start as it sits directly outside the theatre entrance at Tonbridge School.

Dilworth and his work is worth a mention here, and to be honest when it comes to art I can rarely stop myself giving a small personal critique.

Although not a local man, Dilworth did attend the now iconic Maidstone School of Art in the 60's.  A time when David Hockney was an instructor at the school, The Kinks played on campus,  and art and popular culture exploded onto the scene, and maybe this Kentish link is why Tonbridge School commisioned him for this work.

Or, was the reason that Dilworth is an artist with a difference. He quietly does, and has been doing for many years, what Damien Hirst became famous for.  The material Dilworth often uses for his art contains dead animals and bones, many retrieved after death from the remote Isle of Harris on which Steve has made his home. He works closely with the landscape as he creates beautiful objects using material mostly drawn from the Island such as driftwood, bog oak, iron, shells, stone and even the surrounding sea water.  Information on some sculptures read like a list of ingredients for a recipe: 'guillemot, oak, rope, elm, silver coins'.

"A bird is a bird, but it is also a material. I’m trying to find ways of using materials simply. What you see is what you get, and then you get more than what you see,"

Imagine for one moment that the skull of a normal bird usually weighs about 1% of the birds total bodyweight and is extremely lightweight.  Dilworths beautiful 'Bird Skull' at Tonbridge School is bold and exaggerated in size, and maybe reflects the strength in the delicate skull that has to take the stresses of taking off, flying, and landing.  The highly polished sculpture seems to be in two parts and I have wondered what might lay deep inside.  Does this sculpture have an animal interior, life retreived after death or part of the landscape from the windswept remote Island?

I, for one, will be in the front row when Steve Dilworth comes to the Cawthorne Lecture Theatre at Tonbridge School on Thursday March 8 at 8pm. He'll be talking about his work, influences and working practice, and I hope to find out more about the 'Bird Skull'.  Will he reveal any deep secrets of what lies within the sculpture, if anything does at all.  I hope so!

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Corpus Christi Church in Lyons Crescent was built on 4 plots of land, each at a cost of £400, and chosen by Father Stapley, the Parish Priest, in 1901

Love is in the air at Tonbridge Farmers Market

A Valentine's Special is happening at Tonbridge Farmers' Market on Sunday February 12, 9.30am to 1.30pm, at Sovereign Way, Tonbridge

With over 65 stalls booked it is going to be a bumper market

This will be the 9th Tonbridge Farmers' Market and there will be plenty of ideas for your Valentine's gifts, together with great food and craft items to buy your loved ones.  The choice is immense such as hand made and boxed rose flavoured chocolate truffles, aromatic essentials oils, boxed cup cakes, beeswax candles, handmade cards, jewellery. 

As always the hugely popular cookery demonstrations will take place at The Market Kitchen.  Ian from Scrum Diddly will be first up with a Scrummy porridge.  This is going to be a regular spot to start the morning market.

Jenny from Happy Apple will be doing something wonderful with pancakes.

Steve the Chilliman will be making a chilli pancake ... different ... but this could add some spice to your Valentine Day's breakfast.

And, Neil from the Globe and Rainbow, Kilndown will just be cooking what he finds on the market.  As always a treat to watch.

Tonbridge Town Girlguiding will be there all morning with a tombola together with a small demonstration of girlguiding in the Tonbridge area. They will also be looking for volunteers and new members.  So go along, have a chat and support this local group.

Out and About in Snowy Tonbridge

The Castle Lawn

Strange Snowman

Parish Churchyard

A Sunday lunch will be missing a parsnip and potatoes

Snowman in Church Street

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Tonbridge School's stone boars heads were based on drawings of the Wild Boar at London's Natural History Museum.

Book Early For Christmas

Spotted today in Lyons Crescent

Christmas Menu Now Available

When Beer Was Cheap (1903)

Tonbridge Tales, pub. John Hilton

Childhood Memory of Tonbridge

This comment came in response to a Tonbridge Daily snippet on the town's tanneries.  It conjures up the magic of a childhood memory for something as simple as a duster collected on a school trip. A real piece of nostalgia!!!!!

'I think there was a Tannery or Abattoire in the Botany, (behind Bon Marche) and also, in or near Vale Road was The Baa Baa Co. (not sure of the spelling!)I visited there with my school class (Cage Green about 1954)They made products from sheep's fleece and wool. We were taught how to card, spin, and weave the wool, and even had an afternoon walking round a field of sheep collecting tufts of wool caught on the barbed wire fence, would Health and Safety allow that today!!! After the visit the company gave each of us a multi-coloured fleece duster on a stick. I thought it was really beautiful and couldn't get home fast enough to give it to my mum, at that time it was a luxury item we couldn't afford, or would even think of buying being totally un-necessary, but it had pride of place in our cleaning cupboard for many years.'

Recognising Tonbridge

Where in Tonbridge can this be found?

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Two Tonbridge Tanneries were sited east & downwind from the population to minimise the foul smell of soaking skins in vats of a tannin-rich solution sometimes made from the bark of oak trees.  The process of manufacturing raw animal hides into durable leather had its drawbacks, such as the strong smell.  

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

A brewery run by the Baker Family was sited around upper St Marys Rd and Judd Rd area of Tonbridge from 1839 to 1874.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

In the 1880's No.1 Portman Park was a blacksmith. This moved a few doors away and a shoeing smith remained until WW2

Falling in Love at Tonbridge Farmers Market

Jo's Milk Jug

It's not often a milk jug inspires a blog post or that a simple milk jug is inspirational in any way.  However, I fell in love with the most charming floral jug on Jo's cake stall at the last Tonbridge Farmer's Market.  As always I had stopped at Jo's for my customary cake and coffee, that I tend to savour in the Market Eatery which, might I add, has become a monthly social meeting place for many of us Tonbridge people. 

Month by month I am trying to work my way through Jo's splendid array of mouth-watering cakes, and this time I couldn't resist a massive slice of deep golden moist carrot cake crowned with buttery topping.  My friend plumped for the coffee and walnut cake which was equally as large, and equally as inviting, and graphically topped with a whole boletus-brown walnut.  It looked so good I'll definitely be trying that one next time.

It was when I came to pour milk into my steaming hot coffee that I was first introduced to the beautiful vintage jug.  For a short moment the Englishness of pretty pink roses and rosebuds cast me back to nostalgic tea times of my past, and then followed a flurry of photographs and declarations of  admiration of the splendid fine bone china object.  I think the bemused Jo thought I was quite mad, but she did reveal that since she had been using the pink pattened jug customers had been more than complimentary of her choice of crockery. 

I'll be back for the coffee and walnut cake when the market is back in town on the 12th of February, and I hope Jo returns with this little' piece de resistance'.  I might even ask her if she wishes to part with it.

Boys Wanted For Streetdance Crew

Adversity Street Dance is the new and exciting streetdance class in town.  This time the girls are going to be disappointed as the crew is for boys only, aged 14 to 18 years.  

The crew will be led by streetdancer, and personal trainer, Henry Adekoya from Strictly Funky Street Dance who will guide the class through all the dance moves. It's also a fun way of keeping you fit. So, whether you come alone or with friends you'll have a great time. 

Classes will be at Hillview School for Girls on Thursday evenings 4.15 to 5.15pm and the fee is £15 for 8 weeks.

Contact Gill Chadbon chadbong@hillview.kent.sch.uk or follow Adversity Street Dance on Twitter.

Genty Fine Art. At Home in Tonbridge

Last Friday I was invited by Genty Fine Art. At Home to the opening of Christian Halna du Fretay   exhibition at the Tyger's Head in Tonbridge.

'The artist's work could be defined as the art of suggestion and described as a mixture of vibration and calm, a constant dialogue between the unspoken and the revealed. The absence of details, far from being seen as something missing, sends our senses to all four corners of the picture. Traces of light slip and slide like tectonic plates, preparing the ground for the revelation of many secrets, a moment of radiance, poised, which appears, vibrates, then flies away to another plane, another world.'  (David Genty)

The Genty's beautiful home in Church Lane is a unique way to bring art to the people.  Here there are no white spaces or clinical rooms as this is not a museum or a gallery.  The Tyger's Head offers the opportunity to experience art in the familiar atmosphere of a home.

 The exhibition is open until January 29 and can be viewed by appointment tel 01732 369565

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

This time Recognising Tonbridge was not recognised.  The image was part of the new Castle pub logo etched into their refurbished windows.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

St Stephens Church was built by public subscription & consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1852

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Look up at Weatherspoons Tonbridge as a George V cipher remains above the entrance close to the words 'Post Office'

Recognising Tonbridge

There have been rather a lot of Recognising Tonbridge posts recently, but couldn't resist this one that I spotted last night.

Can you work out where I am?

Tonbridge Daily is Back

Tonbridge Daily has been out of the country more than in Tonbridge recently, but will now be at home for a while.

Although not a local image this is where I have been hiding - high up in to Polar North. (No this is not a Recognising Tonbridge post)

So, keep checking in regularly as there are going to be more posts on our town.

Is Tonbridge about to lose another shop?

Supreme Party Shop Tonbridge High Street

The face of Tonbridge High Street is about to change again.  I noticed the above sign in the Supreme Card Party Shop this evening stating that the business was for sale due to relocation.

Is Tonbridge about to lose another shop or will it be relocated elsewhere on the High Street?

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Owletts Alley by Macdonalds led to the worst slum area in Tonbridge which was abandoned after cholera struck in 1849

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

This Recognising Tonbridge post had the fastest ever answer that came in from Nev in around 10 seconds of posting the photograph of the Enchanted Bakery's window.

For those of you who haven't yet been to this little gem of a cafe it's opposite the station exit in Barden Road.  Photos and more info on a previous Tonbridge Daily blog post http://tonbridgedaily.blogspot.com/2011/06/heavenly-bites.html

Recognising Tonbridge

Where in Tonbridge am I

and in whose window am I looking?

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The Horsewash in Tonbridge was part of the Castle moat forming a bay in the river. The Watergate Entrance is now on this site.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Tonbridge Census of 1871 listed 53 people with a university education and 'top scholars' living in the town

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

The Man of Kent Tonbridge

I thought I had outwitted the people of Tonbridge on this one, however after some gentle persuasion to give clues as to where the oasts and roundels could be, they were eventually recognised as being part of The Man of Kent pub sign in East Street.

If you wish to read a previous Tonbridge Daily post on the debate of whether one is a Man of Kent or a Kentish Man take a look on http://tonbridgedaily.blogspot.com/2011/06/man-of-kent-or-kentish-man.html

Recognising Tonbridge

Peeling brush strokes of oasts and roundels 

Where in Tonbridge am I standing?

1909 Account on Tonbridge

This is an interesting excerpt on Tonbridge from the book 'English Homes and Villages (Kent and Sussex) by Lady Hope, published by J. Salmon in 1909.  The book was dedicated to The Princess of Wales and the inscription reads:-

To Her Royal Highness

The Princess of Wales

in Loyal Admiration

of her benevolence, sympathy and untiring goodness

to the people of our country,

by permission

I have the honour to dedicate this book

Breakfast Special at Tonbridge Farmers Market

Tonbridge Farmers' Market is on Sunday January 8 

... And it's a Farmhouse Breakfast Special

This will be the 8th Tonbridge Farmers' Market

in Sovereign Way

Tonbridge TN9 1RG

9.30am - 1.30pm

Have a late breakfast or brunch in the Market Eatery

With over 45 stalls booked in already this month, it is going to be a great start to 2012

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so whether you are just coming to the market for your breakfast or you're stocking up on some wonderful breakfast goodies this is the month to start. 

Try a speciality tea for your breakfast

There will be plenty to try and tickle your fancy and get your mouth watering. There should be plenty of special offers to start the new year.

Honey has many health benefits so spread some sunshine on your breakfast toast

The Farmers’ Market offers the chance to try something a little different such as a new flavour of sausage, great with home cured bacon and free range eggs.

The market also provides a great opportunity for shoppers to get ideas for hearty winter meals.
Chilly winter days are just the time for cooking delicious roasts, stews and casseroles, baked potatoes, hot soups and hot puddings.

Fresh local vegetables for those winter warming dishes

 Producers at the market will be bringing a vast array of quality ingredients which are both fresh and local, including seasonal favourites for January such as carrots, leeks, parsnips and turnips which are perfect for creating warming fare for the colder winter months.

THE MARKET KITCHEN

As always the cookery demonstrations will run with the theme of the market, so mainly breakfast ideas this month including-

Jenny from Happy Apple making a Crunchy Oat Breakfast with Blackberry Curd and then Cinnamon Pancakes with Plum Jam.

Jenny from The Happy Apple with her fabulous preserves

THIS MONTH'S CHARITY 

Leigh Primary School will be raising funds for their new classroom.  For more information about them http://www.leighnewclassroom.com/

You can now follow what the market is up to on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr. Follow the links from Tonbridge Farmer's Market web site.

Customers wishing to get a reminder for the market can do so by emailing steve@tonbridgefarmersmarket.co.uk and just put “reminder” in the subject box or for a text reminder, text “Tonbridge” to 07557739903. 

Steve said “The reminder service is great. It's so easy to let a lot of customers know when the market is on”.

The market is actively looking for charities or local groups to take up the offer of a free pitch which is available at every market.

 

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

In 1847 Tunbridge Ware was described as the 'only manufacture of consequence' established in Tonbridge TonbridgeDailySnippet

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

Recognising Tonbridge needs to be more difficult in the future as there was a flow of correct answers via Twitter.  The picture is of course a close up of the Tonbridge School track.

Tonbridge Student in Concert

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Tonbridge once had a Skating Rink. The Empire, Bradford Street, opened for rolling skating in 1918. #TonbridgeDailySnippet

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Somerhill once had its own private gasworks. Coke from this plant was probably used to heat Somerhill's greenhouses #TonbridgeDailySnippet

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The Loggerheads c1900 now Weatherspoons is described as an old inn painted a dirty cream colour & quaint sign board #TonbridgeDailySnippet