History of Tonbridge
- Introduction
- Tonbridge Timeline
- Events
- People
- Places
- Pictures
- How Tonbridge has grown
- From the archives
- Tonbridge then and now
- Made in Tonbridge
- Miscellany
- Links
Tonbridge Historical Society – 50th anniversary season
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 an afternoon meeting, with tea, on a Saturday in November.
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.
A twice-yearly Newsletter is published with Society news, information, articles and pictures relating to the history of Tonbridge.
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 2010-11
Unless otherwise stated, 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), payable at the door.
Thursday, 9th September 2010 at 7.45pm
Louis XIVth – Luke Ramsden
Louis has been described as 'Stalin without a telephone'. Was he a particular type of ruler, and a type of ruler that is pretty common in history? The talk will explore some wider thoughts rather than a narrow analysis just of this ruler. The speaker is Head of History at Tonbridge School.
50th Anniversary Lecture
Thursday 14th October 2010, 7.45 pm in the Judd School Hall
Inheritance: The Story of Knole and the Sackvilles – Lord Robert Sackville
For this special anniversary lecture, Lord Sackville will base his talk on his recently published book of the same title. One reviewer has described the book as ‘an entertaining read’, pointing out that the author mentions how Vita Sackville-West once described the Sackvilles as ‘a rotten lot, and nearly all stark staring mad’.
Admission to this event is by ticket only. Tickets, free to
members of the Society and to students, and £3.50 to visitors, are available
from the Hon. Sec. – see contacts
page for details.
Saturday 13th November 2010 at 2.30pm
This afternoon meeting is an occasion for our members to meet and celebrate
50 years of Tonbridge Historical Society. It will start with a theatrical
presentation entitled ‘The Magpie’, given by Kate Glassock. This concerns the
wives of Henry VIII, seen through the eyes of a waiting woman, and comes with
many recommendations. This will be followed by tea, which will include
a celebration cake.
Booking is necessary for this meeting, which is open to THS members only, to
whom Booking Forms are being circulated. (New members are welcome to join.
Please download
and print the Application form or apply to the Hon. Sec. via the
contacts page.)
Thursday 9th December 2010 at 7.45pm
Railways in West Kent – John Arkell and Dan Garrett
The speakers are from the South Eastern & Chatham Railway
Society.
Thursday 3rd February 2011 at 7.45pm
The Origins and Early Development of Towns in Kent – Dr John Williams
The speaker has recently retired as the County
Archaeologist based in Kent County Council.
Thursday 10th March 2011 at 7.45 pm
The Salomons of Broomhill: immigrants and English gentlemen – Kathy Chaney
The speaker is site librarian at Salomons, the Tunbridge
Wells campus of Canterbury Christ Church University, where her responsibilities
include the history side of the estate and the Salomons Museum.
Thursday 7th April 2011 at 7.30pm
Annual General Meeting, preceded by light refreshments from 7.15, and followed by
The work of the KCC Heritage Conservation team and recent discoveries in Kent – Paul Cuming
Kent County Council plays an important role in the development control process in Kent, and in particular in conserving the archaeological sites and historic landscapes of the county. They also maintain the Kent Historic Environment Record, a database of archaeological discoveries and historic buildings, help with research projects and produce reports and publications to promote Kent’s remarkable heritage. The speaker will review the role of the team in conserving the heritage of Kent and highlight some recent projects and publications. He will also discuss ways in which people or societies can help us by volunteering and hopefully identify ways in which we can help local researchers, and discuss some of the most significant recent archaeological discoveries.
Our lecture topics in 2009-10 were: 'Darwin, the scientist in the garden', 'Edward 1st',
'Paintings of domestic town gardens', 'The history of lace', 'The Wealden Forest
Ridge project', 'Emigration in the 19th century', and 'Sightseeing in the Middle
Ages'. In 2008-9 they 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
Society members on a visit to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the oldest manufacturing company in Britain.
Back to top