Tonbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tonbridge |
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| Market town | |
 Tonbridge Castle |
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 Tonbridge
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| Population | 36,115 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | TQ591468 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TONBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | TN9–TN12 |
| Dialling code | 01732 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Tonbridge (/ˈtʌnbrɪdʒ/ TUN-brij) is a historic market town in Kent, England. It sits by the River Medway, about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Royal Tunbridge Wells. It is also about 29 miles (47 km) southeast of London. In 2019, Tonbridge had an estimated population of 41,293 people.
Contents
History of Tonbridge
What's in a Name?
The town's name, Tonbridge, was first written as Tonebrige in the Domesday Book of 1087. This might mean "bridge belonging to the estate" (from the Old English word tun). Or it could mean "bridge belonging to Tunna," a common Anglo-Saxon man's name. Another idea is that it means "town of bridges." This is because many streams originally crossed the High Street.
Until 1870, the town's name was spelled Tunbridge. This can be seen on old maps. In 1870, the Post Office changed it to Tonbridge. They did this to avoid confusion with nearby Tunbridge Wells. Even though Tonbridge is much older, Tunbridge Wells has always kept its spelling.
Tonbridge Castle and the Normans
Tonbridge is built on higher ground where the River Medway was easier to cross. Old paths met at this spot. There is no record of a bridge before 1191. For a long time, the town stayed north of the river. This was because the land to the south often flooded.
A castle was built here in the 11th century. It was built by Richard fitz Gilbert, whose father was a guardian of William the Conqueror. Richard was in charge of England when William I was away.
The town and castle faced many attacks. William Rufus attacked it soon after becoming king. Later, King John took the castle after the Magna Carta was signed. The castle was also attacked by Prince Edward, son of Henry III. During this attack, the town was burned down to stop it from falling into enemy hands. The town and Tonbridge Castle were rebuilt. In the 13th century, the castle became a home and a place to keep important records for Edward II.
The castle was finally taken by Henry VIII when its owner was removed from power.
Medieval Times
In medieval times, Tonbridge was a very important place for defense. The King wanted it to be a walled town. A special paper was given to allow walls to be built. It also allowed a market, court meetings, and two town members to go to parliament. The walls were never built. Perhaps the castle's large outer area could protect the townspeople. A bank and ditch, called The Fosse, were built around the town. Only small parts of this defense remain today. Many old buildings from the 15th century are still used in the town. The oldest is Port Reeves in East Street.
Tonbridge School, a famous private school, was started in 1552. It was set up by King Edward VI. It was meant to educate the sons of local wealthy families and farmers.
17th and 18th Centuries
During the English Civil War, soldiers from the Parliamentarian side were based in Tonbridge. They made the castle stronger. Supporters of the King tried to take the town but were stopped.
In 1740, a law was passed to make the River Medway easy to travel on for boats. This allowed things like coal and lime to come to Tonbridge. Goods like gunpowder, hops, and timber could be sent downriver to Maidstone and the Thames. This river transport company made a lot of money for 100 years. But when the railway arrived in 1842, the company struggled. All commercial boat traffic stopped in 1911. Some of the old warehouses and wharves can still be seen today.
Later, Tonbridge became known for making beautiful wooden items. These were called Tunbridgeware. They were sold to tourists visiting the nearby springs at Tunbridge Wells. Another special product made in the town was cricket balls. The original cricket ball factory was taken down in 2012 to build houses.
From the 19th Century to Today
In 1896, Tonbridge court gave out the United Kingdom's first speeding fine. A man named Mr. Walter Arnold was fined for driving at 8 mph (13 km/h) in a 2 mph (3.2 km/h) zone. A policeman on a bicycle caught him!
During World War II, a camp for prisoners of war was built near Somerhill. After the war, this camp was used as temporary homes. It housed people who lost their homes during the Blitz bombings. Today, the Weald of Kent Girls' Grammar School is on this site.
Tonbridge was also the place of a very large money theft in 2006. Over £53.1 million was stolen from a cash handling center. About half of the money was found later by the police.
How Tonbridge is Governed
Tonbridge is in the county of Kent. After the Norman Conquest, Richard fitz Gilbert took control of Tonbridge. This area was known as the Lowy of Tunbridge. This area included Tonbridge, Southborough, Hildenborough, and Hadlow.
Since 1974, the town has been part of the local government district of Tonbridge and Malling. It is divided into five local areas called wards. These wards have 12 of the 48 seats on the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. This council runs local services like parks, trash collection, and council housing. Kent County Council is in charge of education and social services. Both councils work together on town planning and road care.
Tonbridge is also part of the parliamentary constituency of Tonbridge. This means people in Tonbridge vote for a representative in the national parliament.
Geography and Environment
The town's shape is influenced by the Medway valley and the railway lines. It looks a bit like an hourglass, with the river and castle in the middle. Residential areas are found north and south of the town center.
In 2014, the Angel Community Garden was created. This garden helps make the area look nicer and encourages bees. Bees are important but their numbers are going down. The garden was made with help from local groups and the council.
Flooding in Tonbridge
Some parts of Tonbridge can flood. Big floods happened in 1968. This led to the building of the Leigh Barrier to help stop floods. In 2013, there was more flooding. So, in 2015, a long flood defense was built along Avebury Avenue. Even with these efforts, some flooding happened again in December 2019. The area to the west of town is kept as a floodplain to help manage water.
Tonbridge Climate
Tonbridge has an oceanic climate, like most of the United Kingdom. This means temperatures are mild all year, and there is not too much rain. Sometimes it snows in winter.
Economy and What Tonbridge Does
Major industries in Tonbridge include light engineering, printing, publishing, and financial services. Tonbridge and its neighbor Tunbridge Wells are important centers in the South East region.
The town still feels like a 'market town'. It has many things for visitors and residents to enjoy. There's an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a leisure center, and a large sports ground. Many of these are supported by the local council.
Most of the shops are on the High Street. It runs for about 1 mile (1.6 km) through the town center. The High Street has many different shops, restaurants, and cafes. There are not many empty shops, which shows the town is doing well. Some larger stores are just outside the High Street. The local council wants to make the town's shopping and leisure facilities even better.
In the early 1900s, Tonbridge became a center for plastic molding and printing. Many well-known companies were here. One company, Crystalate, made records and was one of Britain's oldest record producers. Some manufacturing still happens in Tonbridge today.
In 1999, a group bought an old site in the center of Tonbridge. They built a £4 million building called The River Centre. It can be used as a church, community center, and conference center. It opened in 2003 and hosts many events. In 2016, Hillsong Church bought the building.
The main sorting office for Royal Mail's TN postcode is in Tonbridge.
Tonbridge is also home to Carroty Wood. This is an outdoor activity center run by Rock UK. Young people can try many outdoor activities there.
An old oast house (a building used for drying hops) has been turned into a small theater. It is called the Oast Theatre.
Getting Around Tonbridge
Tonbridge railway station is one of Kent's busiest. About 4.1 million passengers use it each year. It's an important railway hub with lines going to London, Ashford, Hastings, and Redhill. The town is also on the A21 main road between London and Hastings. The A26 road connects Maidstone and Brighton. The M25 motorway is also nearby.
Many bus routes serve Tonbridge. Most are run by Arriva Southern Counties.
The A21 road from Castle Hill to Pembury has been made into a dual carriageway. This project was finished in 2018.
Education in Tonbridge
Tonbridge School, founded in 1553, is a major independent school for boys. It is in the center of town. Many boys live at the school in its boarding houses. The town also has several Grammar Schools. These include The Judd School, Weald of Kent Grammar School, and Tonbridge Grammar School. Many secondary schools in Tonbridge have special focuses. For example, Tonbridge Grammar School focuses on Maths, ICT, and Languages. Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls specializes in languages and science. The Judd School focuses on Music, English, Science, and Maths. Hayesbrook School for boys is a specialist sports college. Hillview School For Girls focuses on Performing Arts. Hugh Christie Technology College has IT expertise.
For further education, West Kent College is on Brook Street. There is also a small campus of the University of Kent.
Tonbridge has many primary schools and nurseries too.
Sports and Fun in Tonbridge
The 2007 Tour de France bike race passed through Tonbridge on July 8, 2007. It was part of the first stage from London to Canterbury. The riders climbed Quarry Hill, which was the first big climb of the Tour.
The town has two cricket clubs: Cowdrey CC and Tonbridge CC. Cowdrey Cricket Club was started in 1948. Tonbridge Cricket Club is the oldest cricket club in the town. Both clubs have junior sections for young players.
Tonbridge Athletic Club trains at the Tonbridge School track. This was the former club of famous runner Kelly Holmes. The Tonbridge Half Marathon has been held every September since 2011.
Tonbridge has a Rugby union club called Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Football Club, often called TJs. They have many teams for different age groups, including girls' teams.
Tonbridge's football team, the Tonbridge Angels, plays in the National League South. Roy Hodgson, a former manager of the England national football team, once played for them.
The town has a canoe club that has had members go to the Olympics. There is also a dinghy sailing club, the Tonbridge Town Sailing Club. They hold events at Haysden Country Park.
Tonbridge Swimming Club is based at the Tonbridge swimming pool. It has both indoor and outdoor pools.
Tonbridge Baseball Club has an adult team that started in 2000. It grew from a junior team called the Bobcats.
The Angel Centre is a gym and leisure center. It also hosts community events, conferences, and markets. It used to have a cinema and was a concert venue. Famous bands like The Stone Roses and Primal Scream played there.
Tonbridge also has many community events. These include a Christmas festival, a firework display in November, and a dragon boat race. There is also a summer fete in the castle grounds, which hosts music performances.
| Climate data for Tonbridge | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.7 (45.9) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.7 (56.7) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.1 (68.2) |
22.5 (72.5) |
22.4 (72.3) |
19.3 (66.7) |
15.3 (59.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
14.7 (58.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) |
3.9 (39.0) |
6.0 (42.8) |
7.9 (46.2) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.1 (57.4) |
16.5 (61.7) |
16.3 (61.3) |
13.6 (56.5) |
10.1 (50.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
4.7 (40.5) |
9.5 (49.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.0 (33.8) |
0.8 (33.4) |
2.4 (36.3) |
3.5 (38.3) |
6.7 (44.1) |
9.5 (49.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
11.4 (52.5) |
9.0 (48.2) |
6.3 (43.3) |
3.3 (37.9) |
1.5 (34.7) |
5.6 (42.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 73.3 (2.89) |
48.3 (1.90) |
49.3 (1.94) |
49.4 (1.94) |
53.4 (2.10) |
45.3 (1.78) |
46.9 (1.85) |
52.6 (2.07) |
53.9 (2.12) |
85.4 (3.36) |
76.2 (3.00) |
75.5 (2.97) |
709.5 (27.93) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 47.0 | 74.5 | 109.3 | 162.4 | 200.6 | 202.5 | 218.8 | 202.3 | 143.4 | 110.8 | 61.1 | 34.5 | 1,567.2 |
Famous People from Tonbridge
- Harry Andrews (1911–1989), an actor, was born in Tonbridge.
- Michael Farmer, Baron Farmer (born 1944), a businessman and member of the House of Lords, was born in Tonbridge.
- Reginald Punnett (1875–1967), a geneticist (someone who studies genes), was born in Tonbridge.
- Frank Woolley (1887–1978), a famous Kent and England cricketer, was born and grew up in Tonbridge.
Twin Towns
Tonbridge is twinned with these places:
See also
In Spanish: Tonbridge para niños
