Pigots 1840 - Kent
Tonbridge
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Or, (as it is frequently erroneously written) Tunbridge, is a market town and parish in the lowey of its name and lathe of Aylesford – 30 mile SE from London, 14 SW from Maidstone, and 6 SE from Seven Oaks; situated on the declivity of a hill and intersected by five small branches of the river Medway, crossed by as many bridges. It consists principally of one long and spacious street, remarkably clean, in which are a number of elegant and well furnished shops. The only public buildings, besides those for the service of religion, are the town hall and market house; and its manufactures are those of gunpowder and the celebrated Tonbridge ware – neither extensive, the latter particularly being almost wholly removed to the Wells. The river Medway was made navigable to Tonbridge about the middle of the century, and by this conveyance coal and timber are brought hither from Maidstone; and the South Eastern railway on its route from London to Dover will skirt the southern extremity of the town. The county magistrates meet on the second and fourth Wednesday in each month and a high constable and borseholder are appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor; a court of requests for the recovery of debts under £5 (the jurisdiction of which extends over several hundreds) is held on the third Monday monthly. Tonbridge sent representatives to parliament in the 23rd year of Edward I, but it has not since exercised the elective privilege; at the present day it is one of the polling stations at the election of members for West Kent. In former ages this place was famed for its castle; the entrance gateway flanked by two round towers and an artificial mount on which stood the keep, are the only remains now to be seen, but these sufficiently attest its former strength; in the wars of the barons it was considered impregnable, and some of the records and archives of the kingdom were deposited here, as well as at Dover and Pomfret castles. The ruins of a priory of black canons, founded about the end of the reign of Henry I by Richard de Clare, are contiguous to the remaining fragments of the castle.
The church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul is a spacious and elegant structure; it was repaired and enlarged some years since, at great expense, and made a prominent ornament to the town; the benefice is a vicarage in the patronage of John Deacon esq, and present incumbency of the Rev Sir Charles Hardinge, Bart. Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists have their respective chapels. The free grammar school is the chief charitable institution; this liberal scholastic establishment was founded in the 7th year of Edward VI by Sir Andrew Judd an alderman of London, and endowed with numerous exhibitions to the universities; the present school house is a building of considerable beauty with a handsome residence for the master attached; and the rooms, offices and play grounds are very extensive. The rental of the estates appropriated to the support of this munificent foundation amounted, some time back, to £4500 per annum; the present masters are the Rev Dr Thomas Knox and Rev Thomas Brown. There is no weekly market here, but one is held on the first Tuesday in every month for stock and other commodities; and there is an annual fair on 12th October for toys &c. The parish of Tonbridge contained by the returns for 1831, 10,380 inhabitants.
POST OFFICE – opposite the Rose & Crown, High street, William WARE, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive every night at twelve, and are despatched every morning at half past two. Letters from Hastings arrive every morning at half past two and are despatched every night at a quarter past twelve. Letters from Maidstone arrive every night at a quarter past eleven and are despatched every morning at a quarter past three. Letters from Leigh &c. arrive every night at eight and are despatched every morning at half past six.
GENTRY & CLERGY
ACTON Mrs Eliz, Bordyke house
ALEXANDER James esq, Somer hill
ALLEN Mr John, High st
BAKER Mr Felix, Dry hill
BAMFIELD Mrs Editha, Agusta terrace
BARTON Mrs Elizabeth, High st
BARTON Capt, Yardley
BARTRAM Mr William Thomas, Hollanden
BROWN Rev Thomas, London road
BUDGEN Lieut John (RN), Hadlow road
COX Mr Edward Treslove, Cage green
CREASY Mr Joseph, Swan lane
DAVIES Owen esq (MD), Eaton house
DEACON John esq, Mapleton park
GILBERT Mrs Emily, London road
GILBERT Mr John, London road
HARMAN Anthony esq, Barden
HARMAN Rev Thomas, Barden
HARVEY Mrs Anne, Dry hill
HARVEY Miss Charlotte, London road
HUSSEY The Misses, Bordyke
JEWHURST Mr John, Dry hill
JEWHURST Mr William, Werters
KING Mrs Frances, High st
KNOX Rev Dr Thomas, London road
LINGARD Mr George, High st
MILLER Mr John, Walters Farm
MUGRIDGE William esq, Postern
MULLETT Mrs Susan, High st
PERKINS Rev Frederick, Priory place
SANDERS Mrs Percival, High st
SCOONES John esq, Swan lane
SLATTER Miss Jane, High st
STREATFIELD Mrs Julianna, Tan Yard
TURLEY Stephen esq, Mountains
VINALL Rev Edward, Vicarage
WAITE Mr Samuel Andrew, Dry hill
WARDEN Capt (RN), Oak hill
WEST Capt James, Eldridge Castle
WHITTAKER ___ esq, Mountains
WOOD Col W L, Meophams bank
WOODGATE Francis esq, Furrox hall
ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS
BRISENDEN Sarah Elizabeth, (boarding & day), Dry hill house
DAY Elizabeth, (day), High st
FEATHERSTONE Hannah, (day), High st
Grammar School, London road, Rev Dr Thomas KNOX, headmaster; Rev Thomas BROWN, second master
HARRIS Henry, (day), High st
KIPPING Sarah, (boarding & day), Church lane
MERCER Fanny, (boarding & day), High st
MONK Robert, (boarding & day), Bordyke house
National School, Wells road, William Jas EASTLAND, master; Ann Elizabeth WHEELER, mistress
RICHARDSON The Misses, (boarding & day), High st
ARTIST IN FIREWORKS
MERCER John, Swan lane
ATTORNEYS
CARNELL John, Terrace
NEWINGTON & STANNING, High st
SCOONES & ALLEYNE, Swan lane
SCOONES John, Swan lane
AUCTIONEERS
READ William, High st
STIDOLPH Edward, (& superintendent registrar), High st
BAKERS
CHEESMAN William, Swan lane
CLEMENTS Jno, (& confectioner), High st
COLEMAN Hy, (& confectioner), High st
FEATHERSTONE Charles, Dry hill
INGS John, Castle st
LAMBERT George, High st
MITCHELL James, High st
PEARCH James, High st
BANKERS
BEECHING Thos & Sons, High st (draw on Masterman, Peters &Co, London)
Surrey, Kent & Sussex Banking Company, (draw on the London Establishment, 71 Lombard st), Charles PARKER, agent
BASKET MAKERS
CORKE Robert, High st
HILL Thomas, High st
MORRIS Daniel, High st
BLACKSMITHS
COULES & READ, Dry hill
COULES Francis, High st
DULY & STEPP, Swan lane
GASSON Thomas, High st
SMITHER Henry, High st
BOOKSELLERS & STATIONRS
BRIDGER William, (& printer, news vender and binder), High st
HALL Ann, High st
RALFS Charlotte, (& music seller), High st
SPILLETT John, (& binder), High st
BOOT & SHOE MAKERS
BRISTOW William, High st
COLLINS Samuel, High st
DRIVER Peter, High st
GAMMAN George, High st
GODDARD Thomas, High st
HARMAN John, Church st
HEMSLEY Thomas, High st
LAVENDER Thomas, High st
OLIVER William, Dry hill
SHORTER James, High st
BRAZIERS & TINMEN
JEFFERSON Thomas, High st
PUGH John & Robert, High st
BREWERS
BAKER William, Quarry hill
HARMAN Anthony, High st
BRICKLAYERS
BARDEN Samuel, High st
CHALKLIN William, (& plasterer), High st
MERCER John, Swan lane
MERCER Richard, High st
BUTCHERS
GOWER George Wyse, High st
MONTAGUE George, Dry hill
MONTAGUE John, High st
MOYCE Edward, High st
RICHARDSON Edward, High st
RICHARDSON Robert, Swan lane
SUMMERS John Alexander, High st
WARE William, High st
CABINET MAKERS & UPHOLSTERERS
DIPLOCK Thomas, High st
STIDOLPH Edward, High st
CARPENTERS
BARRETT Henry & Co, (& brick makers), Cage green
CARPENTER Jas, (& turner), Hadlow road
DIPLOCK Thomas, High st
MORGAN John, Swan lane
PETERS George, High st
WELLER James, High st
WENHAM James, Hadlow road
WEST Henry, Seven Acres
CHIMNEY & GARDEN POT MAKERS
RICHARDSON Timothy, Wells road
RICHARDSON William, Seven Acres
CHYMISTS & DRUGGISTS
ALLEN Charles, High st
EVENDEN John, (& sub distributer of stamps), High st
GOOD Susannah, High st
GUEST Frederick William, High st
COAL MERCHANTS
BENNETT Robert, New Wharf
Medway Company, ____ HOOF, agent
COOPERS
CORKE Robert, High st
MILLER Charles, Swan lane
CORN DEALERS
CHARLTON John Sills, Town mills
CLEMENTS John, High st
COUSINS Francis, (& maltster), High st
LAMBERT George, High st
URIDGE Edgar, Cage green
CURRIERS, &c.
BOAK William, High st
HARMAN John, High st
PIERCE Joseph & Samuel, Swan lane
SWANSBOROUGH William, High st
FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS
Alliance, Henry PARKER, High st
Atlas, John JEWHURST, Dry Hill
British, ____ HOOK, High st
Kent, Fras John HEADLAND, High st
Norwich Union, William SWANSBOROUGH, High st
Royal Exchange, Thos JEFFERSON, High st
Sun, Thomas TURNER, High st
FRUITERERS & GREENGROCERS
DAY James, High st
JOHNSON John, High st
SKINNER Rhoda, High st
THOMPSON Elizabeth, High st
FURNITURE BROKERS
OWEN Henry, High st
READ William, High st
GARDENERS & SEEDSMEN
BUTCHER Sarah, High st
HUBBARD Henry, High st
GROCERS & CHEESEMONGERS – see also Shopkeepers &c.
ALLWORK Henry, High st
AUSTEN Richard Martin, High st
BARDEN John, High st
BENGE john, High st
CORKE Richard, High st
HARDWICK William Henry, High st
HARRIS Thomas, High st
KING Edward, High st
SUTTON Sarah Ann, High st
HAIR DRESSERS & PERFUMERS
BENZIE Simpson, High st
ROBERTS William, High st
INNS
Bull, William MONTAGUE, High st
Rose & Crown Hotel, (& posting house), William PARKER & Son, High st
IRON FOUNDERS
CATT John, (& brass), High st
GILBERT James, High st
PUGH John & Robert, High st
LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS
BARTRAM William, High st
LUCKHURST Daniel, High st
MILNS Henry, High st
LODGING HOUSE KEEPERS
ACTON Elizabeth, (& boarding), Bordyke
BARTON Mrs, High st
BENNETT Mr, Hadlow road
BRIGDEN Mr, Sion house
DUDGEN Miss, Terrace
LUSIGNAN Mrs, Church lane
SOPER Mr, Rose cottage
THINNING Mrs, High st
WILLIAMS Mrs, (& boarding), High st
MILLERS
CHARLTON John Sills, Town mills
URIDGE Edgar, Cage green
MILLINERS & DRESSMAKERS
DAY Mercy Maria, High st
ROBERTS Elizabeth, High st
RUSSELL Ann & Sarah, High st
SOPER Obedience, Hadlow road
WEBB Elizabeth, High st
WENHAM Mary Ann, Seven acres
PAINTERS, PLUMBERS, &c.
DODDRELL Thomas Lane, High st
DOVE Thomas, High st
FOX Edward Thomas, High st
JOY William, High st
LOVEJOY Charles Tench, Dry hill
PROFESSORS
EVERETT T B, (music & organist), High st
HEATH W H, (drawing), Priory place
SADDLERS
CHILDRENS John, High st
WAITE Thomas, High st
SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES
BAKER William, High st
BARDEN Samuel, Hadlow road
CORKE Jane, Cage Green
HARRIS Thomas, High st
JEFFERY Sarah, Seven acres
LANGRIDGE William, High st
OLIVER William, Dry hill
STONE & MARBLE MASONS
BARRETT Henry & Co, Cage green
CHALKLIN William, (& statuary), High st
STRAW HAT MAKERS
ADAMS Mary, High st
GENTRY Henry, High st
HARMER Jemima, High st
SEALE Ann, High st
SURGEONS
BROWN Peter, High st
DOWTHWAITE William, Terrace
PRINCE Leeson, High st
WEST William James, High st
SURVEYORS
BROWN William, (& architect), High st
BUDGEN John, Hadlow road
RICHARDSON James, (road), Dry hill
TARLETON Francis, (of taxes), Terrace, High st
TAILORS & DRAPERS
BRIGDEN James, Dry hill
BULEY William, Castle st
BURLEY Thomas, High st
CAMFIELD James, High st
CLIFTON Charles, High st
MERCER Robert, High st
MOSE Jonathan, High st
PENFOLD John, Dry hill
SNELLING Levi, High st
STEERS Samuel, High st
TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES
Angel, William BATCHELOR, High st
Castle, Robert MERCER, High st
Chequers, Edward SLATTER, High st
Dorset Arms, Thomas POWELL, High st
George & Dragon, John SMITH, Dry hill
Red Lion, George LANGRIDGE, High st
Three Loggerheads, Sarah JEFFERY, High st
TEA DEALER
PATTERSON John, High st
TONBRIDGE WARE MANUFACTURERS
WISE George & Co, High st
VETERINARY SURGEONS
STEVENS William, Swan lane
WIGHTWICK William, High st
WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS
BARCHAM Asher, (& silversmith & jeweller), High st
CRUNDWELL Stephen, High st
HOW Silas Samuel, High st
SMYTH Charles, Swan lane
WHEELWRIGHTS
ARROW James, Dry Hill
ELLYATT William, Castle st
WINE & BRANDY MERCHANTS
PARKER William & Son, High st
WATTERMAN Thomas, High st
MISCELLANEOUS
BURTON William Ford, gunpowder manufacturer, Ramhurst mills
CLAPHAM Joseph, hat manufacturer, High st
CLARK Jos, china, glass &c dealer, High st
Court of Requests Office, Swan lane, John ASHDOWN, clerk
CROFT____, sheriff’s officer, High st
DAY James, fishmonger, High st
Excise Office, Angel Inn, Daniel SMITH, officer
FISHENDEN Richard, gun maker, High st
Gas Works, Riverbank, William BROWN, secretary
ISARD James, tallow chandler & oil & colourman, High st
LARKING Henry, timber merchant, High st
OSBORNE George, fellmonger & glover, High st
OWEN Henry, wood turner, Hadlow road
STIDOLPH Edward, parish clerk, High st
Union Poorhouse, Sandhills, William BLYTH, governor
COACHES
The following Coaches call at the Bull and the Rose & Crown Inns when not otherwise expressed; and none run on Sunday, except the Mail, the Regulator and the Sussex.
To London, the Royal Mail, (from Hastings), every morning at half past one – the Morning Star (from Tonbridge Wells), at half past eight – Mole’s coach at half past nine – the Telegraph at half past ten – the Royal Express and Regulator afternoon at half past one – the Paragon at half past two – the Despatch (from St Leonard’s), at half past three – the Sussex at a quarter past four – and the Flower of Kent (from Tenterden) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at ten; all go through Seven Oaks, Riverhead, Farnborough, Bromley &c.
To Brighton, the Royal Blue, (from Maidstone), every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday noon at twelve; goes through Tonbridge Wells, Uckfield and Lewes.
To Hastings, The Royal Mail, (from London), every night at twelve – the Royal Express every day at twelve – the Paragon afternoon at one – and the Regulator at two; all go through Lamberhurst and Battle.
To Maidstone, the Royal Blue, (from Brighton), every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon at half past two; goes through Hadlow and Wateringbury.
To St Leonard’s, the Despatch, (from London), afternoon at four; goes through Lamberhurst &c.
To Tenterden, the Flower of Kent, (from London), every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon at five; goes through Bletchingley, Horsemonden, Goudhurst and Cranbrooke.
To Tonbridge Wells, the Sussex, (from London), every afternoon at one – the Morning Star evening at seven – Mole’s coach at half past seven – and the Telegraph at eight.
VANS – for passengers and goods
To Maidstone, ____ WALTER, every morning at half past seven; ____ OWEN, at nine; a Van, (from the Wells), calls at the Bull, every afternoon at half past two; and ____ WINCHESTER, from his house, every Monday and Thursday.
CARRIERS
To London, Thomas BARNETT’s Waggon, from his house, every Monday & Thursday.
To Maidstone, William OWEN, from his house, two or three times a week.
CONVEYANCE BY WATER
To London, the Medway Company’s barges every Tuesday and occasionally oftener.
This page was last updated on 06-Mar-2021.
Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason.