Tonbridge Historical Society

Introduction

The Society was founded in 1960 to provide a focus for local people with historical interests. Unlike some similar societies it is concerned with national history and with archaeology, as well as with the history of Kent and the local area. The annual subscription is a modest £7 per person (£3 for students under 18), and new members are welcome. If you would like to join, please download and print the Application form or apply to the Hon. Sec. via the contact page.

A programme of lectures by invited speakers runs through the winter months. Most of the meetings take place on Thursday evenings in the Riverside Room in the Angel Centre, Tonbridge. In addition there is a Two-session Meeting, with tea, on a Saturday afternoon in November, allowing speakers to explore a topic in greater depth.

A programme of visits is arranged during the summer months, often to places of historical interest which are not normally open to the public.

The society's Research Group explores varied aspects of the history of the town and its inhabitants, and has produced six publications.

The society also maintains extensive collections of archives and pictorial material, and is starting to build a collection of three-dimensional artefacts.

Our secretary is also the local Archaeology Officer and keeps a watching brief on building works in the area which may reveal historic material.

Lecture programme 2009-10

Meetings are held in the Riverside Room in the Angel Centre, Tonbridge, usually on the second Thursday of the month. Non-members are welcome at a fee of £2 (under 18s £1) for the evening meetings, or £4 (under 18s £2) for the Two-Session afternoon meeting, payable at the door.

Thursday, 10th September 2009 at 7.45pm

Darwin: The Scientist in the Garden – Anthony Wilson

Darwin celebrations continue throughout this year, with the 150th anniversary of the publication of his famous book in November, and a major feature film ‘Creation’ launching later this month. The speaker works as a volunteer at Darwin’s home in Kent, Down House. The garden there was Darwin's laboratory as well as a place of solace and a focus for family activities.

Thursday 8th October 2009 at 7.45pm

Edward I – Marc Morris

The speaker is a historian and broadcaster, recently moved to Tonbridge. His book 'A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain' was published recently to great acclaim. He presented the Channel 4 series 'Castle' and wrote the accompanying book. His talk will make reference to Tonbridge and its castle.

Saturday 14th November 2009 at 2.30pm

‘Small but perfectly formed’: paintings of domestic town gardens – Christine Lulumia

Two presentations will be given with a tea interval. Booking is necessary for this meeting. Details of charges and booking forms are available from the Hon. Sec. – see contact page for details.

The speaker is deputy director of the Geffrye Museum in London and conceived, researched and planned the creation of the Museum's period garden rooms, a display of middle-class town gardens ranging in date from 1600 to 1914. The museum is the UK's only museum of the home, concentrating on the domestic spaces of the middle classes in England over the past 400 years. The first talk will cover paintings from the 18^th and 19^th centuries, followed after tea by the 20^th century.

Thursday 10th December 2009 at 7.45pm

The History of Lace and Lace making – Rosina Robinson

The speaker is an enthusiastic member of the Lace Guild with a particular interest in lace from a historic point of view. We hope to have some festive refreshments at this meeting.

Thursday 11th February 2010 at 7.45pm

The Weald Forest Ridge Landscape Partnership Scheme – Lyn Palmer

Tonbridge falls within the area covered by this exciting new £3.2million project which covers the 328km² Weald Forest Ridge running west from here to Horsham. The aim is to involve people with the unique heritage in one of England's finest landscapes. Archaeology and history are involved as well as other disciplines.

Thursday 11th March 2010 at 7.45 pm

Farewell to Kent – Helen Allinson

This is the story of the thousands of poor 19th century emigrants from the county whose passage to Canada, New Zealand or Australia was paid for by their parishes. The talk will highlight the desperate situation in Kentish villages, the difficulties of the long voyage and the new opportunities found in the colonies.

Thursday 15th April 2010 at 7.30pm

Annual General Meeting, preceded by light refreshments from 7.15, and followed by

Sightseeing in the Middle Ages – Vanessa King

The speaker lectures at Birkbeck College, and also for the WEA and other organisations, and has recently moved to the Tonbridge area.

Last year

Our lecture topics in 2008-9 were: 'Rudyard Kipling', 'Mediaeval Sandwich', 'A country house Christmas', 'Plays and Players in Mediaeval and Early Modern Kent', 'Archaeology of the Olympic site', Westenhanger Castle', and 'A closer look at old Tonbridge'.

Visits

Whitechapel Bell Foundry

Society members on a visit to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the oldest manufacturing company in Britain.

Visits to places and buildings of historical interest are arranged during the summer months. Places selected include local buildings as well as some further afield. In 2008 and 2009 visits were made to Bromley College and Sheppard's College, Chevening House, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and Westenhanger Castle. It is usual for visits to be accompanied by a guide with local knowledge.

Visits in 2010 are to the Society of Genealogist's Library on 5th May (morning) and to Down House, the home of Charles Darwin, on 20th May (afternoon).

History of Tonbridge