Tonbridge
The Town
Considering pleasant market towns for your next property search? Ask your Recoco property finder about Tonbridge on the River Medway. Your property buying agent can help you locate it, between Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells. Just under 30 miles south east of London, 12 miles south west of Maidstone, and 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, the population is around 40,356. As your property buying agent can reveal, Tonbridge is often confused with Royal Tunbridge Wells. It is, however, as your real estate buyers agent will affirm, an entirely different town.
Transport
Your Recoco buying agent can tell you Tonbridge is one of Kent’s busiest railway stations. Ask your property search company about direct services to London, Redhill, Hastings, and Ashford. The A21 from London to Hastings serves Tonbridge, as does the A26 from Brighton to Maidstone, and buyers agents can confirm the accessibility of the M25. Arriva Southern Counties run several regular local bus services.
History
Your property search company can confirm the 1087 Domesday Book entry listed the town as Tonebridge. Until the Post Office renamed it in 1870 to avoid confusion with Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge was often spelt Tunbridge.
Like a little medieval intrigue with your property search? Ask your Recoco property finder about Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, son of one of William the Conqueror’s murdered guardians. Richard governed England when William was away. (Which was often.)
When William’s son, William Rufus, came to the English throne, he laid siege to Tonbridge. Some years later, Rufus was slain by an arrow when hunting; the archer was allegedly Tonbridge-born Walter Tirel, Richard’s son-in-law. Rufus had many enemies, however, and Walter, a skilled and experienced archer, may not have been responsible.
Compared to the medieval mayhem, you might think modern Tonbridge is a haven of calm; but ask your real estate buyers agent about the 2006 Heist. Your Recoco property finder will confirm a total of £53 million was stolen.
Education
Founded by Sir Andrew Judde in the 16th century, the best-known school independent boys’ Tonbridge School. Your Recoco buying agent can also inform you about Grammar Schools, including Weald of Kent, Tonbridge Grammar School, and the Judd School. Primary prep schools include Hilden Grange.
Several secondary schools have specialist status. Hillview School for Girls has Performing Arts status, for example, while Hugh Christie Technology College is known for its ICT. West Kent College provides further and higher education options, and the University of Kent has a small campus here.
Leisure and Events
Your property search company can outline the town’s amenities, including outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a large sports ground, and leisure centre. Buyers agents can confirm there are two cricket clubs, an Athletic Club, Rugby Union club, football teams, canoe club, swimming club, or baseball club. Motorcycle racing is also popular.
A property buyer will find banks, estate agents, restaurants, and everyday household stores on the High Street, and mega-shopping centre Bluewater is nearby.
Feel like some outdoor activity amidst your property search? Pay Carroty Wood a visit. This outdoor and residential centre is run by Rock UK, and offers over 20 instructor-led activities.
Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the park, and for undercover entertainment, the name of the small theatre, the Oast Theatre, reveals its former purpose. (Ask the real estate buyers agent for more details of oast houses.)
Celebrity Connections
Your Recoco buying agent can also tell you about the links between Tonbridge Athletic Club and the wider town and Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes. Other literary connections include EM Forster, and Jane Austen’s father George taught at Tonbridge school for a while. Many Tonbridge School alumni have become household names in later life, including vintage cricketers Colin Cowdrey and Frank Woolley, Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens, author Frederick Forsyth, and several members of the band Keane.
Foodies’ Corner
In need of sustenance? Ask your property buying agent about Tapas, Thai, and Turkish eateries, and the usual chain restaurants. Ice cream parlour Creams Factory on the High Street and independent café Finch House will delight any property buyer with a sweet tooth. Buyers agents may also suggest The Old Fire Station as a refreshing stop. There’s even a beer café, Fuggles, which also sells gin, bread, and delicatessen.
Fun Fact
In 1896, the Tonbridge Petty Sessions Court dished out the UK’s first speeding fine. Mr Walter Arnold, from East Peckham, had to pay one shilling for exceeding the 2mph speed limit in Paddock Wood. He was caught by a policeman on a bicycle; Mr Arnold was driving at 8mph.