Ghostly Remains

After the last post on Ghost Signs I was contacted by a reader with information as to where three further signs were in the town, so this afternoon I took my camera and myself on a walk of discovery around the south of Tonbridge.

Meadow Road Tonbridge

The first painted sign I found clings to a garage wall in Meadow Road which I found incredibly hard to  completely decipher, but it seems to read:-

Dry Tree Farm Dairy

Tonbridge

Deliveries twice daily

in this district

There is a name and it is possibly E Harris, but I am unable to work that out or the inscription at the top of the advertisement.

St Stephens Street Tonbridge

A second bleached and faded sign remains on a property in St Stephens Street adjacent to the Punch & Judy pub.  This was probably painted by Mr. Palmer himself who is advertising the one and only as a Signwriter, Grainer, Painter, Paperhanger and Decorator. I searched through the Kelly's Street Directories with great expectations that a Mr. Palmer would have lived at this address, but his name was not to be found here or in St Stephens Street.  As there has always been a watering hole next door I wondered if Mr. Palmer could have been always found there.

Rear of Priory Street Tonbridge

The final remaining ghost sign I was directed to was really hard to find as a block flats has been built in front of it, and has rendered it almost invisible.  It sits high in the apex of  a side wall near to the corner of Priory Street and Priory Road. The flats that were completed this year were built on the site of the former Railway Bell pub.  The sign reads:-

Est^b 1845
Medway Coal Com^py
And At
Tunbridge Wells, Hastings,
London & Elsewhere

I don't hold out much hope for the preservation of this sign, and believe it will be lost very soon as a number of flues spurt out their vapour directly onto the lettering.  This was so disappointing as it will only be a matter of time before it fades and disappears.

Vapour damaging the sign

Luckily the sign has been documented and photographed many times, and also appears on Google Street Map (see here http://g.co/maps/qkvqy) before the flats that hide it were built.

I am not sure how long the Medway Coal Company was in Priory Street, as the main office was in or close to Tonbridge High Street.  There was a coal merchants listed in Kellys Street directories at this address in 1886, followed by Carter Smith Ltd who were firewood dealers and by 1919 the Medway Coal Company are listed, but as firewood dealers and not coal merchants.  A photograph on http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/photos/shops-and-retailing/slides/29.033.html that depicts Ray Lucas with his horse and Medway Coal Company cart, does have some evidence of a firewood store in the picture, but it is unsure where this was taken.  It could be at the Priory Street address.  It is all rather a mystery.

Tonbridge Historical Society Pictorial Collection No. 29.033

I believe that I have now probably covered all remaining ghost signs in Tonbridge on this blog.  If there are any more that haven't been mentioned please let me know, and in the meantime take a look at those that still cling onto these old walls before they disappear.

Charity Hog Roast

I don't generally include many local events on Tonbridge Daily, but yesterday I received one of the most politely written requests to advertise a charity event that I just had to give it a mention.

Thomas Munns and a friend will be off on their travels to India next month to support Back 2 Back, Asha and Iris ministries, and Christ Church in The High Street (that's the Big Blue Building opposite MacDonalds) will be holding a Hog Roast to raise money for the three charities.

So if you are in the town this Saturday (17 March), between 10am and 2pm, and fancy a delicious freshly roasted pork sandwich and a drink, it will only cost you £2.50, and you will be helping Thomas with the charities he and his friend are supporting on their trip. 

It sounds like a good place to stop for lunch.

All the best Thomas!!

Tonbridge Station Sign

Whilst out and about the town today I spotted what I presume is an old Tonbridge railway sign.

What a Mess!!

I always try to focus on the positive aspects of our town as Tonbridge does actually have a lot going for it.  We have a beautiful stretch of the Medway that is the living spine of the town, and our very own Norman Castle steeped in history.  Behind the scenes there are clubs, societies and individuals who silently work for the community and make Tonbridge a really good place to live. However there are always those cases where some deliberate act of vandalism spoils our surroundings.

Woodlands Walk Stream

Today I received a photograph sent by a resident, who had this morning, spotted the contents of all the dog litter bins emptied into the Woodlands Walk stream.  He wrote ' Not only is it messy and polluting, but some poor guy from the council has now got to clean it up!!!!'

Does it make you as mad as it does me?

Captions Please

Slightly alien-esque characters on the path outside the Angel Centre Tonbridge

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The storage area behind Leigh Barrier is equivalent to 255 football pitches & holds 1230 million gallons when flooded.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

In 1259 The Earl of Gloucester was granted the right to hold a weekly market in Tonbridge

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

In 1885 a Salvation Army march through Tonbridge High Street was halted by rowdy heckling onlookers hurling fruit & vegetables.

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

Nestles Milk ... Richest In Cream

The Nestles Milk Ghost Sign sits high on the side wall of New Jimmys Restaurant in Avebury Avenue.
Only one person knew where the sign was positioned, although there were many vague guesses, and it's probably because it is in a narrow alleyway and very difficult to spot.

I have searched through Kellys Street Directories, thinking I would find a dairy or grocer in or around this building. but I came to a dead end.  A confectioner occupied the spot for many years and there were a number of 'dining halls' in the street, but nothing that explains the advertising of Nestles Milk. 

This type of advertising had its heydey in England from the 1920s to the 1950's, although ghost signs were in place during the end of the 19th century.  Their decline was the coming of mass produced posters, which were cheaper than individual traders having to pay for costly commisioning of hand painted wall advertising.

I have now found three Ghost signs in Tonbridge.  There is the very well preserved Hovis sign on the wall between the Honeymoon Restaurant and the town library, the faded hairdressing advertisement on the corner of Bank Street and The High Street, and now The Nestles painted sign in Avebury Avenue.

On a final personal note, I believe these haunting and faded hand painted advertisements should be preserved for their important historical and cultural significance to the community, but they are fading and fast disappearing often due to weathering, but also as a result of property development and demolition.  It is their faded appearance that has led them to be known as ghostsigns.    So go out and take a look before they vanish from Tonbridge.

If anyone can shed light on the reason Nestles milk was advertised in Avebury Avenue, or if there are any more hidden ghost signs in Tonbridge please contact Tonbridge Daily.

Bank Street/High Street

Hovis Sign in Barden Road

PANTO RAISES £1000 FOR LOCAL CHARITIES

Tonbridge Lions Club`s hugely successful production of Cinderella, at the Angel Centre, has raised £1000 for local charities, after entertaining packed houses at every performance.

Performed by the local Drama Group, The CLIPS Theatre Company, the production was family orientated, with all the usual pantomime humour and featuring many favourite songs.

“We had the awful weather in December 2010, so we were pleased that so many people came to be entertained at our second pantomime." said Lions President Allan Mort,  "Lions are dedicated to providing a community service in Tonbridge, and the Pantomime features strongly alongside the Tonbridge Carnival, The Triathlon and the Horse Show."
 
The next Lions production will be Jack and the Beanstalk with five performances in December one of which will again be a charity performance to which disadvantaged children and their families will be invited.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Paul Watson documentary film maker and Tonbridge resident won a BAFTA in 2008 http://www.bafta.org/television/paul-watson-speaking-loud-and-clear,391,BA.html

Recognising Tonbridge

When you are next out and about in Tonbridge look up and you might find where I am today !!

Nestles Milk - Richest in Cream

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Tonbridge Castle and Castle Lawn

Tonbridge Castle was built in the 11th century by Richard Fitz Gilbert who was a half brother of William the Conqueror.  Richard was responsible for governing England during the many absences of the King William I.

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

There were a few correct answers on this Recognising Tonbridge post. Welcome back to Shaun who is a man who knows the Tonbridge spots well, and who I have rarely been able to outwit.

There were also a number of correct sitings via Twitter including Peter @greenhares who also tends to regularly recognise where I am, and a few vague guesses came through that it had to be one of the churches in the town.

Methodist Church - East Street

It is in fact the large arched window on the former Methodist Church in East Street. The stunning window can easily be missed when walking down the narrow pavements and street.  The upper part is a rose window with five trefoil arches and is flashed below by lancets with trefoil heads either side.  Trefoil is a graphic form composed in outline of three overlapping rings, and this pattern is visible on the sides of the window. This ornate feature was often used in Victorian architecture and Christian symbolism referring to The Trinity.

Rose detail in window and trefoil design

 The sculpted images of two male heads that sit on either side of the window and are of Charles and John Wesley who are known to be the founders of Methodism. I am not sure who is who, but if anyone has that information please let me know.

The first Methodist meetings started in Tonbridge in 1802 and took place in 5 various buidlings and locations until the New Wesleyan Chapel was opened is Swan Lane (now East Street) in 1872. In this year the church was reconstructed in East Street at a cost of £2,000. This was the sixth place of worship that Methodists had in Tonbridge.

Memorial Stone laid on June 4 1872

This is a Grade II listed building. So stop next time you pass through East Street, it is certainly worth standing on the opposite pavement to the church and taking a look up at this generally unnoticed spot. I am sure you will be surprised at the beauty of the architecture that is above you.

A Statue Of Our Enry

I read this week that Henry Cooper, will be immortalised in bronze by a Staffordshire sculptor and the finished work will eventually stand in London.  Maybe it would have been fitting for a statue of 'Our Enry' to have had pride of place somewhere in Tonbridge, as he did live in the far northern reaches of the town for a while, and had strong links with Nizels Golf Club in Hildenborough where he was Chairman. Many Tonbridge members of the club have played a round of golf with Henry, and enjoyed a drink with him at the bar. Locals say that he regularly 'splashed it all over' (the vinegar that is) when he ordered an occasional fish and chip supper from the Rainbow Fish Bar at York Parade. So Henry was really 'Our Enry' for a time in Tonbridge.

Henry's funeral took place last May at Corpus Christi Church in Lyons Crescent, and many sporting celebrities and friends attended the private service.  Among them was the late Frank Carson who died recently. The selection of photographs are a few of the many I took that day.

The late Frank Carson talks to Barry McGuigan

Russ Abbot (Comedian)

Terry Wogan, Jimmy Tarbuck and his wife

Dancing (Brucie) Bruce Forsyth & Tonbridge golfer Paul Way former Ryder Cup player

Boxer Barry McGuigan

Three Legends - Kevin Keegan, Cliff Morgan & Bobby Charlton

Pat Jennings (Goal Keeper) & Kenny Lynch (Singer)

Kevin Keegan

Lyons Crescent Postie & Kevin Keegan
 all photographs copyright TonbridgeDaily

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

A iron post sits outside the main library in Avebury Avenue marking the location of a former tollgate.

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

In 1724 Daniel Defoe writes of Tonbridge ... 'the Houses in the Town are mostly ill-built, and the Streets sorrily paved'

Recognising Tonbridge

Where in Tonbridge am I and who is this man?

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

New Wharf Road

Tonbridge Water Works Company

Many of you recognised the Tonbridge Water Works Company mark on the wall opposite the Canoe Club in New Wharf Road.  It commemorates the beginning of  the piped public water supply that started to flow in 1852. Apparantly this was to only 176 houses in Tonbridge.  It probably included  the Brewery alongside the river as the initiative was instigated by a small group of local business men who could have been looking after their own concerns. (Nothing changes)

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

Two public burnings of accused women took place outside and close to The Chequers Inn Tonbridge in 1555 and 1576

Tonbridge Daily Snippet

The Port Reeves House in East Street is believed to be the oldest building in Tonbridge with its cellar dating around the 12th/13th century.

Genty Fine Art. At Home

David and Helen Genty's latest exhibition at The Tygers Head, Church Lane, Tonbridge

25th February to 4th March

Open Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm

Monday to Friday 

by appointment

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