In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Tunbridge Wells like this:
Tunbridge Wells, market town and watering-place, Tunbridge and Speldhurst pars., Kent, and Frant par., Sussex, 5 miles S. of Tunbridge and 34½ miles SE. of London by rail, 3351 ac., pop. 24,308; 3 Banks, 6 newspapers. Market-day, Friday. Tunbridge Wells is an old inland watering-place, situated amid picturesque scenery. ...
The chief parade, called the Pantiles, finely planted on one side, and occupied by assembly-rooms, libraries, and elegant shops on the other, has interesting associations with Dr Johnson, Beau Nash, and other celebrities. In the Pantiles and in High Street are the chief shops and bazaars for the sale of Tunbridge ware, much of which, however, is made at Tunbridge. At the bottom of the Pantiles are the Wells, chalybeate springs, discovered by Lord North in 1606. They were visited by Charles I.'s queen, Henrietta, and immediately became fashionable. It is observed of the old church of King Charles the Martyr that it is built in 2 counties and 3 parishes - the pulpit being in Speldhurst, the altar in Tunbridge, and the vestry in Frant.
Tunbridge Wells through time
Click here for graphs and data of how Tunbridge Wells has changed over two centuries. For statistics for historical units named after Tunbridge Wells go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Tunbridge Wells in Kent | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/837
Date accessed: 30th October 2024
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