87-510: Dunorlan Park is a park and grounds in Royal Tunbridge Wells , UK . Totalling approximately 78 acres (32 ha) and containing a 6-acre (2.4 ha) lake, the grounds were landscaped by Robert Marnock for Henry Reed , the merchant and philanthropist who owned the estate and the now-demolished house that once overlooked it. First record of the land is under the name of Burnthouse or Calverly Manor Farm which appears on
174-478: A Tunbridge Wells map produced by John Bowra in 1738. After the death of the owner, a Mr Thomas Panuwell, in 1823, the farm was purchased by a land developer called John Ward, who intended to build a 1,000-acre (400 ha) Calverly Estate to rival the lower village of Tunbridge Wells which was centred around the spring in the Pantiles. However, in the 1850s the farmhouse and lands were purchased by Henry Reed who
261-466: A favourite among visitors and is described as a "valuable part of the park's and the town's heritage", and "precious and historically significant". It depicts a scantily clad young girl draped in a cloth, holding a tambourine. It is reportedly worth £50,000. The Victoria Cross Grove commemorates ten recipients of the Victorian Cross who had connections to the borough of Tunbridge Wells. The area
348-566: A more frequent service and to allow restricted types of London trains starting or terminating at Tunbridge Wells to be operated in 12-car formations. Previously such services were 11-car at most. Average daily passenger flows on trains between Tunbridge Wells and London have increased from about 10,000 in 1999 to over 12,500 in 2008, a compound growth rate of about 2.5% per year. Average daily passenger flows between Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, and between Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, have grown considerably faster, though are still much smaller than
435-443: A plural form, it refers to the principal source, the chalybeate spring in the Pantiles (where the waters were taken). Tunbridge Wells is the administrative centre for both Tunbridge Wells Borough and the parliamentary constituency of Tunbridge Wells . The Borough is governed by 48 Councillors , representing 20 wards (eight wards fall within the town of Tunbridge Wells itself). Elections are held for 16 Council seats each year on
522-477: A population of around 56,500, and is the administrative centre of Tunbridge Wells Borough and in the parliamentary constituency of Tunbridge Wells . Evidence suggests that Iron Age people farmed the fields and mined the iron-rich rocks in the Tunbridge Wells area, and excavations in 1940 and 1957–61 by James Money at High Rocks uncovered the remains of a defensive hill-fort . It is thought that
609-481: A restaurant, and a Sainsbury's supermarket occupies the former goods yard. Part of the line was reopened in 1996 by the Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society, which now—as the Spa Valley Railway —operates a steam heritage railway that runs from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge via High Rocks and Groombridge . The western end of the service was extended from Groombridge to Eridge, on
696-516: A result of his leadership and bravery at Faenza, Italy in 1944, during World War II. A natural play area has been constructed for pre-school and younger children. Dunorlan has a wide range of habitats ranging from meadows and grass land to hedgerows and shrubberies, walls and flower beds. When Marnock first developed the garden, many of the trees and shrubs were new introductions to the British gardening scene. Marnock's "Gardenesque" style emphasised
783-416: A rotational basis, with elections to Kent County Council taking place in the fourth year of the cycle. Each councillor serves a four-year term. Councillors meet regularly at Tunbridge Wells Town Hall . Tunbridge Wells local elections show a pattern since 1973 of Conservative party dominance, apart from a two-year period from 1994 to 1996 of no overall control and a two-year period from 1996 to 1998 when
870-471: A statutory consultee on all aspects of the historic environment and its heritage assets. This includes archaeology on land and underwater, historic buildings sites and areas, designated landscapes and the historic elements of the wider landscape. It monitors and reports on the state of England's heritage and publishes the annual Heritage at Risk survey which is one of the UK government's official statistics . It
957-460: A treatment for diseases of the glands, fashions in leisure changed and sea bathing became more popular than visiting the spas, which resulted in fewer visitors coming to the town. Nevertheless, the advent of turnpike roads gave Tunbridge Wells better communications—on weekdays a public coach made nine return journeys between Tunbridge Wells and London, and postal services operated every morning except Monday and every evening except Saturday. During
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#17327834775831044-541: A tree from a list could be selected and planted in a location agreed upon by the Head Gardener and those who donated. This is currently closed for new trees. [REDACTED] Media related to Dunorlan Park at Wikimedia Commons Royal Tunbridge Wells Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in Kent , England , 30 miles (50 kilometres) southeast of central London . It lies close to the border with East Sussex on
1131-704: A young age. Historic England Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England ) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport . It is tasked with protecting the historic environment of England by preserving and listing historic buildings , scheduling ancient monuments , registering historic parks and gardens , advising central and local government, and promoting
1218-481: Is just by the wells and is furnished with great plenty of all sorts of fish and fowl. The walk which is between high trees on the market side which are shops full of all sorts of toys, silver, china, milliners and all sorts of curious wooden ware besides which there are two large coffee houses for tea, chocolate etc. and two rooms for the lottery and hazard board (i.e. for gambling)."— Celia Fiennes , 1697 Following Richard Russell's 1750 treatise advocating sea water as
1305-659: Is on the Kentish border with East Sussex , about 31 miles (50 kilometres) south of London; the original centre of the settlement lies directly on the Kent/East Sussex border, as recalled by the county boundary flagstone that still lies outside the church of King Charles the Martyr. The town is at the northern edge of the High Weald , a ridge of hard sandstone that runs across southern England from Hampshire along
1392-399: Is predominantly White and British in its ethnic origin and Christian in its religious affiliation: 97.5% of residents of the district described themselves as white in the 2001 census , and 75.0% identified themselves as being Christian. The statistics for crime in Tunbridge Wells show that in 2005/6 there were fewer crimes occurring in the area than the national average. Tunbridge Wells
1479-580: Is supplied by the River Teise a tributary of the River Medway ), which rises in the valley Dunorlan Park is set into. The river was dammed twice to form a pond, and subsequently the lake. The lake then flows over a cascade into the Victorian water garden and pond before reaching the fountain. Various types of boat hire are available in the summer months. Protracted repairs to the main dam required
1566-406: Is tasked to secure the preservation and enhancement of the human-made heritage of England for the benefit of future generations. Its remit involves: It is not responsible for approving alterations to listed buildings . The management of listed buildings is the responsibility of local planning authorities and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities . Historic England also owns
1653-461: Is the home of Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club . Tunbridge Wells came into the cricketing spotlight during the 1983 Cricket World Cup when Kapil Dev of India made a then world record score of 175 not out against Zimbabwe . Dev and Syed Kirmani had an unbroken partnership of 126 that is the second highest partnership for the 9th wicket in a one-day international. Linden Park Cricket Club , which plays in local leagues, hosts its home matches at
1740-640: The A264 , which runs from Five Oaks to Pembury (via Crawley and East Grinstead ); and the A267 , which runs south from Tunbridge Wells to Hailsham . The A21 passes to the east of the town, following the route of its turnpike ancestor, from London to Hastings . Bus services are operated chiefly by Arriva Kent & Sussex , providing local town and rural services to Tonbridge , Paddock Wood and Sevenoaks , as well as express services to locations such as Bromley and Maidstone . Eastbourne and Brighton on
1827-744: The English Heritage Trust , the body that remained was rebranded as Historic England. The body also inherited the Historic England Archive from the former English Heritage, and projects linked to the archive such as Britain from Above, which saw the archive work with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland to digitise, catalogue and put online 96,000 of
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#17327834775831914-769: The Higher Cricket Ground on Tunbridge Wells Common. Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club is a field hockey club that is based at the Nevill Ground, and competes in the Men's England Hockey League and the South East Hockey League . The RTW Monson Swimming Club competes in swimming , diving and water polo and is based at the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre. Former Monson member Joanne Rout , née Round, took part in
2001-605: The Liberal Democrats held a majority. By 2008, the Conservatives had a large majority with 44 seats compared with the Liberal Democrats' four. The extent of the Conservatives' dominance is further illustrated by the fact that in some wards (e.g. Park) Labour did not even field a candidate in the 2008 council elections. By 2019, the local political situation had changed. In the 2019 local elections,
2088-577: The London-Uckfield line of Southern Railway , on 25 March 2011, serving a platform at Eridge which had been disused for many years. The tunnelled link line between the West and erstwhile Central stations, opened in 1876, remains closed. In 2009 Network Rail installed a 12-car turnback siding just south of Tunbridge Wells station between the Grove Hill and Strawberry Hill tunnels to facilitate
2175-627: The Pulham family , with high quality terracotta and Pulhamite furniture a major aspect of their work. They became renowned for their work winning several medals and exhibiting at the Great Exhibition of 1862. One of the two works exhibited there was the upper section of what is now Dunorlan Fountain. Originally called the Hebe Fountain, due to the image of Hebe - daughter of Zeus, at the top, James Pullham II received recommendation for
2262-460: The River Teise , which originates in Tunbridge Wells, the stream in the valley is one of the many tributaries of the River Medway , which runs through a much larger valley north of the High Weald. The Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation geological unit takes its name from the town. Nearby villages have been subsumed into the built-up area of the town, so that now it incorporates High Brooms to
2349-505: The downs or to find lodgings at Southborough —, but at this time houses and shops were erected on the walks, and every "convenient situation near the springs" was built upon. Also in 1676 a subscription for a " chapel of ease" was opened, and in 1684 the Church of King Charles the Martyr was duly built and the town began to develop around it. In 1787 Edward Hasted described the new town as consisting of four small districts, "named after
2436-825: The 1/5th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The London Rifle Brigade). The first Territorial to receive the Victoria Cross, awarded for his bravery in Belgium in 1915, during World War I . William Robert Fountaine Addison : Chaplain of the Forces, 4th Class (later 2nd Class) in the Army Chaplains’ Department attached to the King’s own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during World War I, at Sanna-i-Yat, Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). Eric Stuart Dougall : Acting Captain in
2523-569: The 1990s, when signs of neglect and underinvestment were shown by many features in the park. After meetings with the Tunbridge Wells Council about restoration initiatives, an initial application for lottery funding, under the Urban Parks Programme was made. This application was turned down, but a subsequent application to the new Heritage Lottery Fund was submitted in 1999. In this time, The Friends of Dunorlan Park
2610-507: The Collins family) shows the house to have operated with 11 servants, a testament to its size. To complement the house the surrounding fields were landscaped and formed into a park under the direction and design of Robert Marnock, one of the leading landscape designers of his day. These grounds were often used by Henry Reed in his evangelical pursuits, and during his last few years there he invited local ministers to hold open air services under
2697-540: The Conservative majority was cut to 8, and the council leader David Jukes lost his seat following months of controversy over the council's plan to borrow £90 million in order to build new council offices, a new 1200-seat theatre, and underground car parking in Calverley Grounds. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tunbridge Wells is Liberal Democrat Mike Martin , whose majority at the 2024 election
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2784-708: The National Heritage Collection of nationally important historic sites, currently in public care. It does not run these sites as this function is instead carried out by the English Heritage Trust under licence until 2023. The Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport appoints members of the Commission, which is the governing board of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England and oversees
2871-689: The Royal Regiment of artillery. Captain Dixon gained his Victoria Cross soon after the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1855. William Temple : Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Honoured for his courage at the assault at Rangiriri, New Zealand in 1863. John Duncan Grant : Lieutenant (later rising to Colonel) in the 8th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army. Awarded for action whilst storming Gyantse Jong fort, Tibet in 1904. Douglas Walter Belcher : Lance Sergeant (later rising to Captain) in
2958-749: The Royal Sussex Regiment attached to the 10th Parachute Battalion. Captain Queripel was awarded the Victoria Cross for his action in 1944, during fighting in the Netherlands in World War II John Henry Cound Brunt : Temporary Captain in the Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), attached to the 6th Battalion The Lincolnshire Regiment. He gained his Victoria Cross as
3045-621: The Special Reserve attached to A Battery, 88th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. He gained his Victoria Cross for his action at Messines (near Ypres), Belgium in 1918, during World War I. William Hew Clark-Kennedy : Lieutenant Colonel of the 24th Battalion, Quebec Regiment (Victoria Rifles), Canadian Expeditionary Force. For bravery displayed in France in 1918, during World War I. Lionel Ernest Queripel : Captain in
3132-492: The architectural decoration in terracotta. The fountain is shown clearly in the image from the Dunorlan Sales Brochure, with Hebe atop the central column and four kneeling Triton figures around the base. These details were long absent from the fountain, believed to have been used as target practice by the service men occupying the house during World War II, succumbing to the same fate as the statues that lined
3219-399: The avenue. However, the restoration project has completely renovated the fountain to return it to its former glory. The fountain was a major focus of the restoration project and a new statue of Hebe was built in terracotta by specialist sculptors. While dismantling the fountain for repair other sections and figures were found in need of replacement. The four Triton figures on the outer edge of
3306-658: The average annual coldest night minimum of −8.3 °C (17.1 °F). In total 52.8 nights should report an air frost. Annual rainfall averages in Goudhurst 823.3 mm (32.41 in), with over 1 mm (0 in) falling on 120.7 days. As of 2002 there were around 50,000 people employed in the borough of Tunbridge Wells. The largest sector of the local economy consists of hotels, restaurants, and retail (the centrally located Royal Victoria Place shopping centre , opened in 1992, covers 29,414 square metres (316,610 sq ft), which accounts for around 30% of all jobs;
3393-490: The beauty of individual trees, making features out of distinctive trees and contrasting tones of various greens against light stonework. The large deodar cedars Marnock planted by the original drive to the house (now the Pembury Road entrance) still exist today and the restoration work has followed in the spirit of his style. As part of the restoration, the park ran a Tree Donation Scheme, in which, for between £450-550,
3480-508: The borders of Surrey , West Sussex , East Sussex and Kent —the town's geology is illustrated by the exposed sandstone outcrops at the Wellington Rocks and High Rocks (a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its exposed gulls ), and the quarries at nearby Langton Green from which sandstone was taken to build houses in Tunbridge Wells. The town is sited at the head of a valley that runs south-east to Groombridge ; like
3567-464: The building was usable, but when the Commission surrendered the property back to the Council on 31 July 1957, the Council could find no use for it. In September 1957 it was sold for development and was demolished in the following year. Eight new houses were constructed on the site. The tea pavilion was built in 1966 and the park continued to operate unchanged until 1996 when meadows on the south side of
Dunorlan Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-463: The centre of a circular excavation, about ten feet in diameter and six or eight feet deep, which is bricked round, and with the remains of stone steps leading down to the basin at the bottom". The only surviving part of Dunorlan House is the terrace which leads to its entrance. Once gravelled, it is now paved with York stone and affords dramatic views across the park and of the surrounding farmland. The Lake totals approximately 6 acres (2.4 ha) and
3741-462: The comfort and enjoyment of a nobleman or gentleman of fortune". However, Mr Reed was "not at all satisfied with the house" on its completion and during its construction "he was not at all satisfied with the plan. The architect, however, said that his reputation was at stake and he would not have anything altered". As his family grew, he decided to pull down part of the building and erect a new wing. The 1881 Census (the house at this point now belonging to
3828-543: The company usually residing at Tunbridge town, when they came into these parts for the benefit of drinking the waters —Edward Hasted, 1797 The prefix " Royal " dates to 1909, when King Edward VII granted the town its official "Royal" title to celebrate its popularity over the years among members of the royal family . Tunbridge Wells is one of only three towns in England to have been granted this (the others being Leamington Spa and Wootton Bassett ). Although "Wells" has
3915-483: The discovery of the chalybeate spring in the area now known as The Pantiles in 1606, many local landowners attempted to establish rival springs on their own land. One such spring was situated at the then Burnthouse farm and can still be seen in Dunorlan Park today. It was described in 1832 (before Marnock came to design the landscape) by John Britton as a spring which "rises rapidly into a stone basin, placed in
4002-481: The eighteenth century the growth of the town continued, as did its patronage by the wealthy leisured classes—it received celebrity cachet from visits by figures such as Cibber , Johnson , Garrick , Richardson and the successful bookseller Andrew Millar and his wife —and in 1735 Beau Nash appointed himself as master of ceremonies for all the entertainments that Tunbridge Wells had to offer. He remained in this position until his death in 1762, and under his patronage
4089-584: The estate, previously leased out for grazing and thus not open to the public, were incorporated into the park and are now managed for their wildlife interest. Other areas of these meadows are occasionally leased out for events and shows including both the Chinese and Moscow State Circus, and previously the Hawkenbury Allotment Holders' Association (HAHA) annual show. The Friends of Dunorlan Park started as an informal conservation group in
4176-420: The favorable depictions of the property in the sales brochure (as quoted above), others viewed the mansion far less favourably, with a servant of the house describing it as "an architectural monstrosity (which) represented everything one might expect from a man with too much money and too little taste". Eventually it was sold to Brenton Halliburton Collins, a banker from Halifax , Nova Scotia and on his death, it
4263-469: The finance and business sector makes up just under a quarter of jobs, as does the public administration, education and health sector. Tunbridge Wells is arguably the most important retail centre between London and Hastings. The largest single employer in the town used to be the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust , at the Kent and Sussex and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals, employing around 2500 people;
4350-402: The fine beech trees on the lawn, with over 500 invitations to attend sent to the local gentry. In designing the grounds of Dunorlan, Marnock adhered to his guiding principle of "harmony with nature". The lake was adapted to form a "fine ornamental sheet of water" and a "luxuriant avenue of deodoras and douglas picea, leading from a Grecian temple to a handsome stone basin and fountain". Despite
4437-460: The first time. The three previous MPs were Sir Patrick Mayhew (1974–1997), the former Asda chairman Archie Norman (1997–2005) and the former Levelling Up Secretary, Greg Clark (2005-2024) In 2006 the town of Tunbridge Wells was estimated to have a population of approximately 56,500. The wider borough of Tunbridge Wells is home to considerably more people—some 104,000 in 2001, up from around 99,500 in 1991. The population of Tunbridge Wells
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#17327834775834524-528: The flows between Tunbridge Wells and London. Kent County Council is one of fifteen local authorities in the UK that still provides selective education through the eleven plus exam . Tunbridge Wells does not have a university of its own, but the Salomons Campus of Canterbury Christ Church University is located just outside the town (near Southborough ) and provides postgraduate programmes. Tunbridge Wells' football team, Tunbridge Wells F.C. ,
4611-475: The focus of the restoration project, partly to reveal the detailed and colourful painting inside that had been covered by sections of modern paint. It is a Grade II listed building. The Dancing Girl is a statue that stood in the Grecian temple. It was gifted to the town by Alderman RD Burslem in 1951 for the enjoyment of the park and was sculpted by William Theed a renowned Victorian sculptor. It has always been
4698-407: The fountain; spraying water back into the bottom pond, were not replaced for fear they would be easily damaged. The restoration won a Civic Trust Award for the restoration. The Grecian Temple was built by the renowned Pulham family. Made from Portland stone and some Pulhamite, the temple stands at the top of the avenue leading down to the fountain at the base of the hill. The temple has been part of
4785-570: The hills on which they stand, Mount Ephraim, Mount Pleasant and Mount Sion; the other is called the Wells..." The 1680s saw a building boom in the town: carefully planned shops were built beside the 175-yard-long (160-metre) Pantiles promenade (then known as the Walks), and the Mount Sion road, on which lodging house keepers were to build, was laid out in small plots. Tradesmen in the town dealt in
4872-516: The huge expense and time invested in Dunorlan, Henry Reed moved to Harrogate in 1870 and Dunorlan was put up for sale, with an original sales brochure remaining in the Tunbridge Wells museum today. The cause of this move is attributed by his widow (Mrs Margaret S.E Reed) to the fault some Christian people in England found with him because of the house. However, it proved difficult to find a buyer with two auctions being aborted in 1871 and 1872. Despite
4959-470: The lake to be lowered, drawing attention to the heavy silting and the failure of the stream feeding the water system. The cascade has changed little since it was built in the 19th century. It operates between the main lake and the water garden adjacent to the fountain. The deterioration of the Cascade was one of the main motivators behind seeking restoration of the park and the repairs were designed to ensure
5046-537: The largest single commercial employer was AXA PPP healthcare , employing around 1,700 in four offices (PPP House, Union House, Phillips House and International House). Tunbridge Wells had a relatively low unemployment rate of around 1.0% in August 2008, compared to a UK national rate of around 5.4%. Tunbridge Wells is at the hub of a series of roads, the primary ones being the A26 , which runs from Maidstone to Newhaven ;
5133-399: The luxury goods demanded by their patrons, which would certainly have included Tunbridge ware , a kind of decoratively inlaid woodwork. "They have made the wells very commodious by the many good building all about it and two or three miles [three or five kilometres] around which are lodgings for the company that drink the waters. All the people buy their own provisions at the market, which
5220-433: The mansion for 14 years. Shortly after the family of Carteret Collins entered into negotiations with the Council regarding selling Dunorlan and the grounds for the public benefit. Eventually the estate and other surrounding lands owned by the family were sold to the Council for £42,000. Initially only intended to be temporary, 30 acres (12 ha) of land were opened to the public. This soon became permanent and Dunorlan Park
5307-465: The north, Hawkenbury to the south, and Rusthall (whose name resonates with the iron content of the rocks) to the west. Tunbridge Wells is twinned with Wiesbaden , Germany. In 1960, through an advertisement in the national press, contact was made between former paratroopers in Wiesbaden and four English ex-servicemen in Tunbridge Wells. Through this contact the friendship that now exists between
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#17327834775835394-578: The northern edge of the High Weald , whose sandstone geology is exemplified by the rock formation High Rocks . The town was a spa in the Restoration and a fashionable resort in the mid-1700s under Beau Nash when the Pantiles , and its chalybeate spring, attracted visitors who wished to take the waters. Though its popularity as a spa town waned with the advent of sea bathing, the town still derives much of its income from tourism. The town has
5481-474: The oldest Aerofilms images. The archive also houses various national collections, including the results of older projects, such as the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England and Images of England (providing online access to images of listed buildings in England as of 2002). Historic England inherited English Heritage's position as the UK government's statutory adviser and
5568-418: The operation of the cascade throughout the year. This is one of the stand-out features of the park and has been a major focus for the restoration efforts. The splendid fountain is adorned with dolphins, water nymphs and classical figures and is constructed out of Pulhamite (an artificial stone invented by the family) and terracotta . It is a Grade II listed building . The fountain was designed and built by
5655-473: The public's enjoyment of, and advancing their knowledge of, ancient monuments and historic buildings. The body was created by the National Heritage Act 1983 , and operated from April 1984 to April 2015 under the name of English Heritage . In 2015, following the changes to English Heritage's structure that moved the protection of the National Heritage Collection into the voluntary sector in
5742-594: The sculpture, which resides in the Grove. The ten Victoria Cross recipients remembered are: Charles Davis Lucas : Mate (later rising to Rear Admiral) in the Royal Navy. He was the first recipient of the Victoria Cross, receiving the medal from Queen Victoria on 26 June 1857 for action on board HMS Hecla in 1854, during the Crimean War . Matthew Charles Dixon : Captain (later rising to Major General) in
5829-514: The seventeenth century. In 1606 Dudley North, 3rd Baron North , a courtier to James I who was staying at a hunting lodge in Eridge in the hope that the country air might improve his ailing constitution, discovered a chalybeate spring. He drank from the spring and, when his health improved, he became convinced that it had healing properties. He persuaded his rich friends in London to try it, and by
5916-466: The site was occupied into the era of Roman Britain , and the area continued to be part of the Wealden iron industry until its demise in the late eighteenth century. An iron forge remains in the grounds of Bayham Abbey , in use until 1575 and documented until 1714. The area which is now Tunbridge Wells was part of the parish of Speldhurst for hundreds of years. The origin of the town today came in
6003-463: The south coast are accessible on services run by Stagecoach in Eastbourne and Brighton & Hove respectively, and Metrobus operates hourly services to Crawley . Tunbridge Wells town historically had three railway stations: two of these are still in use by National Rail services. Tunbridge Wells station is, as its former name of Tunbridge Wells Central suggests, centrally located within
6090-529: The swimming events at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, aged just 12, winning two relay gold medals (also setting two new world records) and three individual silver medals; and as of 2012 remains the youngest-ever British Paralympian. A plaque can be found located in the club's trophy display. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council honoured Joanne Rout with the award of their Civic Medallion after her return from Seoul in recognition of her efforts and achievements at such
6177-564: The time Queen Henrietta Maria , wife of King Charles I , visited in 1630 it had established itself as a spa retreat. By 1636 it had become so popular that two houses were built next to the spring to cater for the visitors, one for the ladies and one for the gentlemen, and in 1664 Lord Muskerry , Lord of the Manor, enclosed it with a triangular stone wall, and built a hall "to shelter the dippers in wet weather." Until 1676 little permanent building took place—visitors were obliged either to camp on
6264-444: The town also received 150 Belgian refugees. The Second World War affected Tunbridge Wells in a different way—it became so swollen with refugees from London that accommodation was severely strained. Over 3,800 buildings were damaged by bombing, but only 15 people lost their lives. Following the war, large-scale housing estates were built at Sherwood and Ramslye to accommodate population growth. Edward Hasted asserted that although
6351-526: The town and the provision of facilities such as gas lighting and a police service meant that by 1837 the town population had swelled to 9,100. In 1842 an omnibus service was set up that ran from Tonbridge to Tunbridge Wells, enabling visitors to arrive from London within two hours, and in 1845 the town was linked to the railway network via a branch from South Eastern Railway's London-Hastings Hastings Line at Tonbridge . During this time Decimus Burton developed John Ward's Calverley Park estate. In 1889
6438-763: The town at the end of the High Street, whilst High Brooms station is situated in High Brooms, to the north of the town. Both stations are located on the double-tracked electrified Hastings Line ; services are operated by the Southeastern train operating company . Tunbridge Wells West station was opened by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1866 as the terminus of its competing line to Tunbridge Wells, but closed in 1985 along with that line. The station building—a Grade II listed building —is now
6525-426: The town centre. The absolute maximum temperature in Goudhurst stands at 34.7 °C (94.5 °F), recorded in August 1990, compared to the average annual warmest day maximum of 28.7 °C (83.7 °F). In total, 11.8 days should attain a temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above. The absolute minimum temperature recorded in Goudhurst was −19.2 °C (−2.6 °F) during January 1940, compared to
6612-558: The town reached the height of its popularity as a fashionable resort. By the early nineteenth century Tunbridge Wells experienced growth as a place for the well-to-do to visit and make their homes. It became a fashionable resort town again following visits by the Duchess of Kent , Queen Victoria and Prince Albert , and benefited from a new estate on Mount Pleasant and the building of the Trinity church in 1827, and improvements made to
6699-568: The town was awarded the status of a Borough, and it entered the 20th century in a prosperous state. 1902 saw the opening of an Opera House , and in 1909 the town received its "Royal" prefix. Due to its position in South East England, during the First World War Tunbridge Wells was made a headquarters for the army, and its hospitals were used to treat soldiers who had been sent home with a " blighty wound ";
6786-479: The two towns sprang up, leading to the signing in 1989 of the official Twinning Charter. Also through this the Tunbridge Wells Twinning and Friendship Association (TWTFA) was formed. Tunbridge Wells, like the rest of Britain, has a temperate maritime climate, lacking in weather extremes. The nearest official weather station is Goudhurst , about 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 mi (14 km) east of
6873-513: The wells were originally named the "Queen's-Wells", they soon took on the name of Tunbridge Wells due to their proximity to the town of Tonbridge (known as "Tunbridge" until 1870): In compliment to [queen Henrietta Maria's] doctor, Lewis Rowzee, in his treatise on them, calls these springs the Queen's-wells; but this name lasted but a small time, and they were soon afterwards universally known by that of Tunbridge-wells, which names they acquired from
6960-553: The year at circuits such as Lydden Hill and Goodwood. Tunbridge Wells RFC plays its home games at St Mark's, and plays London & South East Premier Rugby at RFU level 5. Weald Warriors RLFC are a Rugby League team based in the town, at St Mark's. The Warriors were founded in 2012 and currently compete in the 4th tier of English rugby league in the London & South East Men's League . The Nevill Ground hosts county and international cricket , and Kent County Cricket Club uses it regularly as one of its outgrounds. It
7047-478: Was 8,687. In September 2019, Former MP Greg Clark was one of 21 Conservative MPs to have the whip removed, after failing to back the Government, in keeping the option of a No-deal Brexit on the negotiating table. The constituency has been mostly Conservative since its inception in 1974 for the 1974 General Election ; electing a Conservative every election until 2024 when they elected a Liberal Democrat for
7134-488: Was born, with the next two years seeing the installation of footpaths, fences and seats and in 1950 King George VI awarded two swans to the park. Boating on the lake began April 1949 and has continued to run every year since. In 1946, the same year the park was opened to the public, a fire broke out in the house, while still being used by the War Damage Commission. Restorative works were performed to ensure
7221-666: Was formed in 1886 and plays in the Southern Counties East Football League at the Culverden Stadium , and has a history that stretches back to 1886. The team were runners up in the 2013 FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium , losing 2–1 to Spennymoor Town . Tunbridge Wells Motor Club is one of the oldest motor clubs in the UK, being founded in 1911. It is still active in the Tunbridge Wells area promoting grass roots motorsport organising an autotest series and several sprint races throughout
7308-428: Was inherited by his son, Carteret Fitzgeral Collins who subsequently died in 1941. At this point the house fell vacant before being requisitioned for the war effort on 15 May 1941. Originally the mansion built by Reed was used to house troops, who are accused of using the statues lining the avenue from the Grecian temple to the fountain for target practice. In 1943 the War Damage Commission took up residence and stayed at
7395-620: Was officially launched in October 1996 and became a registered charity (No. 1063715/0) on 31 July 1997. In February 2003, the Heritage Lottery Fund approved a grant of £2.1 Million towards the cost of the extensive restoration of the park, back to the original Robert Marnocks designs. Historic England listed Dunorlan on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens , giving it Grade II listing in 2002. After
7482-481: Was planted with 21 oak trees during the winter of 1994/5 and dedicated on the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day , 8 May 1995. In 2006, to mark the 400th anniversary of Royal Tunbridge Wells and the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross, Andrew Motion (the poet laureate) was commissioned to write a poem, and Charles Gurrey to create a memorial sculpture. Extracts from Motion's poem Remembrance feature on
7569-492: Was the driving force behind the park as it stands today. Mr Reed demolished the house that stood on the grounds and built his own mansion, completed in 1862, which he named Dunorlan. In a sale brochure of 1871/2 the mansion was described as "a most elegant and substantial mansion, erected ... entirely of Normandy stone, in the Italian style of architecture, finished throughout in the most perfect manner, and in every way adapted for
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