For the Love of the British Isles: ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Edward VII bestowed the title of ‘Royal’ on Tunbridge Wells in 1909, in honour of his mother, Queen Victoria, being patron of the town’s spa, and to celebrate the popularity of the town with the royals over the years. It is one of only 3 towns in the UK to have the 'Royal' status (the others being Royal Leamington Spa, and Royal Wootton Bassett.

Tunbridge Wells is a fashionable Georgian spa town, which was founded in 1606 with the discovery of the Chalybeate Springs (mineral springs). The town was a popular resort for the well-heeled during the 18th and 19th century, but it was not until 1909 that the town was granted the right to call itself "Royal Tunbridge Wells" when Edward VII granted it his patronage.

The elegance of the spa years lives on in the area known as "The Pantiles", a colonnaded walk named after the pavement of clay tiles which once graced the ground here. The tiles were laid in 1698 at the order of Queen Anne, after her son, the Duke of Gloucester, slipped and fell on the slippery surface. The area was repaved in 1793

Boundary Markers. Outside the west wall of the church of King Charles the Martyr, on which is a large sundial, set into the footpath, is a boundary marker to show the former parish boundaries of Tonbridge and Speldhurst.

Located between the High Street and the Pantiles, there’s a faded stone and a course of brick work running across the pavement in this part of Tunbridge Wells. This marks the ancient border between Kent and Sussex, as well as the historic Parish boundaries of Tonbridge and Speldhurst.

The boundary was shifted 2 miles up the road in 1888, so that the whole of Tunbridge Wells could be brought under the administrative control of Kent.

Chalybeate Springs. The historic springs at Tunbridge Wells owe much to a self-indulgent young nobleman. In 1606 Dudley, Lord North was visiting friends at the Abergavenny Estate in Eridge. He was headed back to London after a night of heavy drinking, feeling a little the worse for wear, when he noticed reddish water seeping from the ground.

He was thirsty and drank deeply of the water. After quenching his thirst he declared that he felt much better. In fact, he was so enthused that he told all his friends about this miraculous iron-rich water that possessed health-giving qualities.

Soon visitors from London began appearing to sample the water. A small community grew up around the spring; the community that would grow to become one of the most fashionable towns in 18th-century England.

Visiting the Chalybeate Spring became part of a fashionable round of activities at Tunbridge Wells, and visitors were served their water by a uniformed 'Dipper', a service for which they paid a small charge. The water was said to cure all manner of ills, from obesity and infertility to hangovers.

Today, visitors to Tunbridge Wells can follow in the footsteps of thousands of fashionable visitors of the past and taste the spring water. Just as in the Georgian period the water is doled out by a uniformed Dipper in period costume (usually this service is available from Easter through September). The cool water has a distinct iron taste - not overwhelming, but not what you might call 'tasty', either!

Christ Church. This very modern church stands towards the top of the High Street, not far from the Railway Station. The somewhat plain exterior (looking more like the entrance to a shopping mall) belies the simple, but lovely interior.

The charming volunteers host a coffee morning, complete with a wide choice of delicious cakes. Unfprtinately, today the actual church was locked, but the interior can be viewed from the cafe in the foyer, because the two are only separated by a glass partition and door.

Calverley Grounds. This pretty park lies just off Mount Pleasant Road, near the railway station. There were works going on today, which spoilt it a bit. Two large HGV lorries and various workers disturbed the peace and quiet, but no doubt when they have finished, the park will be all the better for it.

Meanwhile, I took a stroll in the autumn sunshine and admired the incredible colours in the autumn foliage.

By the main entrance, there is a stone marker to Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding, whose statue stands outside St. Clement Danes ahurch on the Strand in London. There is more about him on this page:

The Strand

King Charles the Martyr church.

Named in honour of King Charles I, who was executed, the church is open to visitors every day.

King Charles church was designed by Thomas Neale and opened in 1676. Neale was a renowned entrepreneur and property developer of the Stuart Period who was responsible for Seven Dials in London’s Covent Garden. His legacy is commemorated there in the name of Neal’s Yard.

The church is a rare example of English 17th century church building, most of the finest churches of this era having been destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is typical of a single room auditory church (or preaching box) that was in fashion at the time, a form of church building that was made popular by Sir Christopher Wren’s London churches erected after the fire.

King Charles church is especially noted for its spectacular ornate ceiling, festooned with fruit, cherubs heads and palms, plasterwork of the highest quality executed by craftsmen who had worked for Wren.

Remarkably, the cherub in the picture below, is sporting a moustache!

Queen Victoria, one of history’s most celebrated monarchs, reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for 63 years (1837-1901), Britain’s second longest reigning sovereign. In 1835, then aged 16, Princess Victoria attended worship at King Charles church with her mother. The pair sat together in the north gallery.

'Queen Victoria woz here' - apparently! She worshipped often in the church when she was in the area.

The red brick church stands on a busy junction at the end of the Pantiles whose patrons it was built to serve in 1678. The ceiling bears the date 1678 and is rather domestic in character, based on deep circular domes with putti, palms and swags. 1882, when the shallow chancel was added, the woodwork it contains was brought from one of Wren's City of London churches.

Again unusually, the window above the altar depicts the risen Christ, and not the Crucifixion.

Sir Francis Villeneuve Smith was the third Premier and fourth Chief Justice of the British colony of Tasmania. He was born in Haiti and his mother, Josephine Villeneuve, was of African descent. His skin colour was dark. He migrated to Australia from England, where he had been educated and admitted to the Bar.

His brilliance soon won him high public offices. However, his skin colour led to social isolation for his mother and denigration and insults intended to wound him. But his talents overcame the racial taunts and the outrage that 'a coloured person is sitting in judgment upon the Anglican (sic) race'. His experience was accompanied by racist laws and policies in Australia.

Just reading his obituary in the local paper was a task. I have only transcribed the chapter relative to his work with the fire brigade, but there was a whole lot more about this man, who seems to have worked tirelessly for the good of the town.

"He also was a huge supporter of establishing a fire brigade; became it's captain; and had the pleasure of bringing the first steamer into Kent. Captain Wilmot was indeed, always to the fore in making for fire brigade efficiency, and his example acted as a great incentive to numbers of others, who, but for his enthusiasm, might never have become associated with such a good work. In connection with fire brigade matters, it may be noted in passing that Major Lutwidge, who had been largely instrumental in founding the brigade, preceded Mr. Wilmot as captain, Mr. Wilmot, it should be added, was also the chief promoter of the present Salvage Corps, and, in connection with fire brigade matters, he was a recognized authority outside the radius of Kent and Sussex."

If you would like to read the rest, here is the link: Obituary

Hatchment bearing the arms of King Charles I. He was a firm believer that he was king by Divine Providence.

Two very well worn documents, barely legible, each stands at the top of the stairs leading to the galleries.

The Pantiles. a colonnaded walk named after the pavement of clay tiles which once graced the ground here. The tiles were laid in 1698 at the order of Queen Anne, after her son, the Duke of Gloucester, slipped and fell on the slippery surface. The area was repaved in 1793 with stone flags. By 1936, these had become worn and dangerously uneven, and were subsequently removed and relaid.

Originally the walk was known as The Parade, then the Royal Parade. Then in 1887, it became the Pantiles, and the name has remained.

The Pantiles are also renowned for having a role in Tommy Steele's musical film 'Half A Sixpence' , (1967). which was based on the novel 'Kipps' by H.G. Wells.

Plaque celebrating the founding of a branch of the Suffragette Union in the town.

This refers to a coat of arms as a trade mark, but unsure of the details at the moment

The music gallery in the Pantiles, where musicians would entertain the promenaders.

An elevated, canopied structure featuring characteristic wrought-iron balustrading.

Dating back to the 1700s, it has long been associated with the historic promenade's musical and social life. The Musick Gallery overlooks the area where modern events take place, closely tied to Live on the Pantiles (formerly Jazz on the Pantiles), which brings open-air jazz, swing, and live performances to the bandstand on Thursday evenings during the spring and summer months.

The Corn Exchange was built as a theatre originally. Later it became a shopping mall, and is now residential. Before the boundary was moved, the stage was located in Sussex, but the audience was in Kent!

Edmund Kean (born March 17?, 1789, London, England—died May 15, 1833, London) was one of the greatest of English tragic actors, a turbulent genius noted as much for his megalomania and ungovernable behaviour as for his portrayals of villains in Shakespearean plays.

Though no official record of his birth exists, it has been well established that he was born out of wedlock to Ann Carey, who described herself as an itinerant actress and street hawker, and Edmund Kean, a mentally unbalanced youth who committed suicide at the age of 22.

Kean’s long apprenticeship left scars, particularly an addiction to alcohol, which he had come to rely on as a substitute for recognition. But the experience of adversity may well have been essential to his artistic achievement. By the standards of the time, he was unsuited to the great tragic roles.

Though Kean had handsome features, notably unusually expressive eyes, he was small, with a voice that was harsh, forceful, and commanding rather than melodious.

In his portrayal of Shylock, Kean played the Jewish moneylender as a frenzied and embittered monster of evil armed with a butcher knife. His performance created a sensation, and Kean quickly brought forward a succession of Shakespearean villains, most notably Richard III, Iago, and Macbeth. He also excelled at playing Othello and Hamlet.

Though Kean remained a passionately admired actor, as a public figure he became increasingly unpopular. Haunted by his fear of losing his position as head of the British stage, he was betrayed into displays of jealousy against potential rivals. In 1825, he was successfully sued for adultery with a woman whose husband was a city alderman and a Drury Lane administrator. This provided the pretext for a virulent press campaign, in which he was subjected to hostile demonstrations in England and during his second, and last, tour of the United States. The last eight years of his life were a story of slow suicide by drink and other excesses.

The Royal Victoria Hotel, now the Royal Victoria House. Royal Victoria House is a prominent Grade II listed building situated on The Pantiles.Now offices.

The Bandstand.

The Forum. The Forum is now an independent music venue, which opened in 1993. The building was originally public baths, and later, a public toilet. In 2012 the New Musical Express voted it Britain's Best Small Venue.

Despite the small size, it has played host to performers such as Adele, Coldplay and Oasis.

The railway station.

The town in general.

This is Bedford Terrace, a row of beautiful Georgian houses which are Grade II listed. The Georgian period covers the four consecutive King Georges who reigned from 1714 to 1830.

The Great Hall, now a shopping mall, was built in the 1870s. It was designed by a local architect in a French style with a large hall.

It was built to cope with the demand for rooms for cultural activities including lectures, concerts and social events.

Today, part of it is occupied by BBC Radio Kent who moved here in 2001. They have 5 studios to cover news, sport, programmes and a live performance area.

Hoopers department store - sadly, a vanishing breed. I popped on because they have a Christmas shop every year that is really impressive. If I could have carried them home, I would have bought enough Christmas decorations to enliven every house in my street!

Hoopers Tunbridge Wells combines over a century of retail heritage with contemporary shopping.