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TONBRIDGE Or, (as it is frequently erroneously written) Tunbridge, is a market town and parish in the lowey of its name and lathe of Aylesford – 30 mile SE from London, 14 SW from Maidstone, and 6 SE from Seven Oaks; situated on the declivity of a hill and intersected by five small branches of the river Medway, crossed by as many bridges. It consists principally of one long and spacious street, remarkably clean, in which are a number of elegant and well furnished shops. The only public buildings, besides those for the service of religion, are the town hall and market house; and its manufactures are those of gunpowder and the celebrated Tonbridge ware – neither extensive, the latter particularly being almost wholly removed to the Wells. The river Medway was made navigable to Tonbridge about the middle of the century, and by this conveyance coal and timber are brought hither from Maidstone; and the South Eastern railway on its route from London to Dover will skirt the southern extremity of the town. The county magistrates meet on the second and fourth Wednesday in each month and a high constable and borseholder are appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor; a court of requests for the recovery of debts under £5 (the jurisdiction of which extends over several hundreds) is held on the third Monday monthly. Tonbridge sent representatives to parliament in the 23rd year of Edward I, but it has not since exercised the elective privilege; at the present day it is one of the polling stations at the election of members for West Kent. In former ages this place was famed for its castle; the entrance gateway flanked by two round towers and an artificial mount on which stood the keep, are the only remains now to be seen, but these sufficiently attest its former strength; in the wars of the barons it was considered impregnable, and some of the records and archives of the kingdom were deposited here, as well as at Dover and Pomfret castles. The ruins of a priory of black canons, founded about the end of the reign of Henry I by Richard de Clare, are contiguous to the remaining fragments of the castle. The church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul is a spacious and elegant structure; it was repaired and enlarged some years since, at great expense, and made a prominent ornament to the town; the benefice is a vicarage in the patronage of John Deacon esq, and present incumbency of the Rev Sir Charles Hardinge, Bart. Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists have their respective chapels. The free grammar school is the chief charitable institution; this liberal scholastic establishment was founded in the 7th year of Edward VI by Sir Andrew Judd an alderman of London, and endowed with numerous exhibitions to the universities; the present school house is a building of considerable beauty with a handsome residence for the master attached; and the rooms, offices and play grounds are very extensive. The rental of the estates appropriated to the support of this munificent foundation amounted, some time back, to £4500 per annum; the present masters are the Rev Dr Thomas Knox and Rev Thomas Brown. There is no weekly market here, but one is held on the first Tuesday in every month for stock and other commodities; and there is an annual fair on 12th October for toys &c. The parish of Tonbridge contained by the returns for 1831, 10,380 inhabitants. POST OFFICE – opposite the Rose & Crown, High street, William WARE, Postmaster. Letters from London arrive every night at twelve, and are despatched every morning at half past two. Letters from Hastings arrive every morning at half past two and are despatched every night at a quarter past twelve. Letters from Maidstone arrive every night at a quarter past eleven and are despatched every morning at a quarter past three. Letters from Leigh &c. arrive every night at eight and are despatched every morning at half past six. GENTRY & CLERGY ACTON Mrs Eliz, Bordyke house ALEXANDER James esq, Somer hill ALLEN Mr John, High st BAKER Mr Felix, Dry hill BAMFIELD Mrs Editha, Agusta terrace BARTON Mrs Elizabeth, High st BARTON Capt, Yardley BARTRAM Mr William Thomas, Hollanden BROWN Rev Thomas, London road BUDGEN Lieut John (RN), Hadlow road COX Mr Edward Treslove, Cage green CREASY Mr Joseph, Swan lane DAVIES Owen esq (MD), Eaton house DEACON John esq, Mapleton park GILBERT Mrs Emily, London road GILBERT Mr John, London road HARMAN Anthony esq, Barden HARMAN Rev Thomas, Barden HARVEY Mrs Anne, Dry hill HARVEY Miss Charlotte, London road HUSSEY The Misses, Bordyke JEWHURST Mr John, Dry hill JEWHURST Mr William, Werters KING Mrs Frances, High st KNOX Rev Dr Thomas, London road LINGARD Mr George, High st MILLER Mr John, Walters Farm MUGRIDGE William esq, Postern MULLETT Mrs Susan, High st PERKINS Rev Frederick, Priory place SANDERS Mrs Percival, High st SCOONES John esq, Swan lane SLATTER Miss Jane, High st STREATFIELD Mrs Julianna, Tan Yard TURLEY Stephen esq, Mountains VINALL Rev Edward, Vicarage WAITE Mr Samuel Andrew, Dry hill WARDEN Capt (RN), Oak hill WEST Capt James, Eldridge Castle WHITTAKER ___ esq, Mountains WOOD Col W L, Meophams bank WOODGATE Francis esq, Furrox hall ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS BRISENDEN Sarah Elizabeth, (boarding & day), Dry hill house DAY Elizabeth, (day), High st FEATHERSTONE Hannah, (day), High st Grammar School, London road, Rev Dr Thomas KNOX, headmaster; Rev Thomas BROWN, second master HARRIS Henry, (day), High st KIPPING Sarah, (boarding & day), Church lane MERCER Fanny, (boarding & day), High st MONK Robert, (boarding & day), Bordyke house National School, Wells road, William Jas EASTLAND, master; Ann Elizabeth WHEELER, mistress RICHARDSON The Misses, (boarding & day), High st ARTIST IN FIREWORKS MERCER John, Swan lane ATTORNEYS CARNELL John, Terrace NEWINGTON & STANNING, High st SCOONES & ALLEYNE, Swan lane SCOONES John, Swan lane AUCTIONEERS READ William, High st STIDOLPH Edward, (& superintendent registrar), High st BAKERS CHEESMAN William, Swan lane CLEMENTS Jno, (& confectioner), High st COLEMAN Hy, (& confectioner), High st FEATHERSTONE Charles, Dry hill INGS John, Castle st LAMBERT George, High st MITCHELL James, High st PEARCH James, High st BANKERS BEECHING Thos & Sons, High st (draw on Masterman, Peters &Co, London) Surrey, Kent & Sussex Banking Company, (draw on the London Establishment, 71 Lombard st), Charles PARKER, agent BASKET MAKERS CORKE Robert, High st HILL Thomas, High st MORRIS Daniel, High st BLACKSMITHS COULES & READ, Dry hill COULES Francis, High st DULY & STEPP, Swan lane GASSON Thomas, High st SMITHER Henry, High st BOOKSELLERS & STATIONRS BRIDGER William, (& printer, news vender and binder), High st HALL Ann, High st RALFS Charlotte, (& music seller), High st SPILLETT John, (& binder), High st BOOT & SHOE MAKERS BRISTOW William, High st COLLINS Samuel, High st DRIVER Peter, High st GAMMAN George, High st GODDARD Thomas, High st HARMAN John, Church st HEMSLEY Thomas, High st LAVENDER Thomas, High st OLIVER William, Dry hill SHORTER James, High st BRAZIERS & TINMEN JEFFERSON Thomas, High st PUGH John & Robert, High st BREWERS BAKER William, Quarry hill HARMAN Anthony, High st BRICKLAYERS BARDEN Samuel, High st CHALKLIN William, (& plasterer), High st MERCER John, Swan lane MERCER Richard, High st BUTCHERS GOWER George Wyse, High st MONTAGUE George, Dry hill MONTAGUE John, High st MOYCE Edward, High st RICHARDSON Edward, High st RICHARDSON Robert, Swan lane SUMMERS John Alexander, High st WARE William, High st CABINET MAKERS & UPHOLSTERERS DIPLOCK Thomas, High st STIDOLPH Edward, High st CARPENTERS BARRETT Henry & Co, (& brick makers), Cage green CARPENTER Jas, (& turner), Hadlow road DIPLOCK Thomas, High st MORGAN John, Swan lane PETERS George, High st WELLER James, High st WENHAM James, Hadlow road WEST Henry, Seven Acres CHIMNEY & GARDEN POT MAKERS RICHARDSON Timothy, Wells road RICHARDSON William, Seven Acres CHYMISTS & DRUGGISTS ALLEN Charles, High st EVENDEN John, (& sub distributer of stamps), High st GOOD Susannah, High st GUEST Frederick William, High st COAL MERCHANTS BENNETT Robert, New Wharf Medway Company, ____ HOOF, agent COOPERS MILLER Charles, Swan lane CORN DEALERS CHARLTON John Sills, Town mills CLEMENTS John, High st COUSINS Francis, (& maltster), High st LAMBERT George, High st URIDGE Edgar, Cage green CURRIERS, &c. BOAK William, High st HARMAN John, High st PIERCE Joseph & Samuel, Swan lane SWANSBOROUGH William, High st FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS Alliance, Henry PARKER, High st Atlas, John JEWHURST, Dry Hill British, ____ HOOK, High st Kent, Fras John HEADLAND, High st Norwich Union, William SWANSBOROUGH, High st Royal Exchange, Thos JEFFERSON, High st Sun, Thomas TURNER, High st FRUITERERS & GREENGROCERS DAY James, High st JOHNSON John, High st SKINNER Rhoda, High st THOMPSON Elizabeth, High st FURNITURE BROKERS OWEN Henry, High st READ William, High st GARDENERS & SEEDSMEN BUTCHER Sarah, High st HUBBARD Henry, High st GROCERS & CHEESEMONGERS – see also Shopkeepers &c. ALLWORK Henry, High st AUSTEN Richard Martin, High st BARDEN John, High st BENGE john, High st CORKE Richard, High st HARDWICK William Henry, High st HARRIS Thomas, High st KING Edward, High st SUTTON Sarah Ann, High st HAIR DRESSERS & PERFUMERS BENZIE Simpson, High st ROBERTS William, High st INNS Bull, William MONTAGUE, High st Rose & Crown Hotel, (& posting house), William PARKER & Son, High st IRON FOUNDERS CATT John, (& brass), High st GILBERT James, High st PUGH John & Robert, High st LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPERS BARTRAM William, High st LUCKHURST Daniel, High st MILNS Henry, High st LODGING HOUSE KEEPERS ACTON Elizabeth, (& boarding), Bordyke BARTON Mrs, High st BENNETT Mr, Hadlow road BRIGDEN Mr, Sion house DUDGEN Miss, Terrace LUSIGNAN Mrs, Church lane SOPER Mr, Rose cottage THINNING Mrs, High st WILLIAMS Mrs, (& boarding), High st MILLERS CHARLTON John Sills, Town mills URIDGE Edgar, Cage green MILLINERS & DRESSMAKERS DAY Mercy Maria, High st ROBERTS Elizabeth, High st RUSSELL Ann & Sarah, High st SOPER Obedience, Hadlow road WEBB Elizabeth, High st WENHAM Mary Ann, Seven acres PAINTERS, PLUMBERS, &c. DODDRELL Thomas Lane, High st DOVE Thomas, High st FOX Edward Thomas, High st JOY William, High st LOVEJOY Charles Tench, Dry hill PROFESSORS EVERETT T B, (music & organist), High st HEATH W H, (drawing), Priory place SADDLERS CHILDRENS John, High st WAITE Thomas, High st SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES BAKER William, High st BARDEN Samuel, Hadlow road CORKE Jane, Cage Green HARRIS Thomas, High st JEFFERY Sarah, Seven acres LANGRIDGE William, High st OLIVER William, Dry hill STONE & MARBLE MASONS BARRETT Henry & Co, Cage green CHALKLIN William, (& statuary), High st STRAW HAT MAKERS ADAMS Mary, High st GENTRY Henry, High st HARMER Jemima, High st SEALE Ann, High st SURGEONS BROWN Peter, High st DOWTHWAITE William, Terrace PRINCE Leeson, High st WEST William James, High st SURVEYORS BROWN William, (& architect), High st BUDGEN John, Hadlow road RICHARDSON James, (road), Dry hill TARLETON Francis, (of taxes), Terrace, High st TAILORS & DRAPERS BRIGDEN James, Dry hill BULEY William, Castle st BURLEY Thomas, High st CAMFIELD James, High st CLIFTON Charles, High st MERCER Robert, High st MOSE Jonathan, High st PENFOLD John, Dry hill SNELLING Levi, High st STEERS Samuel, High st TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES Angel, William BATCHELOR, High st Castle, Robert MERCER, High st Chequers, Edward SLATTER, High st Dorset Arms, Thomas POWELL, High st George & Dragon, John SMITH, Dry hill Red Lion, George LANGRIDGE, High st Three Loggerheads, Sarah JEFFERY, High st TEA DEALER PATTERSON John, High st TONBRIDGE WARE MANUFACTURERS WISE George & Co, High st VETERINARY SURGEONS STEVENS William, Swan lane WIGHTWICK William, High st WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS BARCHAM Asher, (& silversmith & jeweller), High st CRUNDWELL Stephen, High st HOW Silas Samuel, High st SMYTH Charles, Swan lane WHEELWRIGHTS ARROW James, Dry Hill ELLYATT William, Castle st WINE & BRANDY MERCHANTS PARKER William & Son, High st WATTERMAN Thomas, High st MISCELLANEOUS BURTON William Ford, gunpowder manufacturer, Ramhurst mills CLAPHAM Joseph, hat manufacturer, High st CLARK Jos, china, glass &c dealer, High st Court of Requests Office, Swan lane, John ASHDOWN, clerk CROFT____, sheriff’s officer, High st DAY James, fishmonger, High st Excise Office, Angel Inn, Daniel SMITH, officer FISHENDEN Richard, gun maker, High st Gas Works, Riverbank, William BROWN, secretary ISARD James, tallow chandler & oil & colourman, High st LARKING Henry, timber merchant, High st OSBORNE George, fellmonger & glover, High st OWEN Henry, wood turner, Hadlow road STIDOLPH Edward, parish clerk, High st Union Poorhouse, Sandhills, William BLYTH, governor COACHES The following Coaches call at the Bull and the Rose & Crown Inns when not otherwise expressed; and none run on Sunday, except the Mail, the Regulator and the Sussex. To London, the Royal Mail, (from Hastings), every morning at half past one – the Morning Star (from Tonbridge Wells), at half past eight – Mole’s coach at half past nine – the Telegraph at half past ten – the Royal Express and Regulator afternoon at half past one – the Paragon at half past two – the Despatch (from St Leonard’s), at half past three – the Sussex at a quarter past four – and the Flower of Kent (from Tenterden) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at ten; all go through Seven Oaks, Riverhead, Farnborough, Bromley &c. To Brighton, the Royal Blue, (from Maidstone), every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday noon at twelve; goes through Tonbridge Wells, Uckfield and Lewes. To Hastings, The Royal Mail, (from London), every night at twelve – the Royal Express every day at twelve – the Paragon afternoon at one – and the Regulator at two; all go through Lamberhurst and Battle. To Maidstone, the Royal Blue, (from Brighton), every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon at half past two; goes through Hadlow and Wateringbury. To St Leonard’s, the Despatch, (from London), afternoon at four; goes through Lamberhurst &c. To Tenterden, the Flower of Kent, (from London), every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon at five; goes through Bletchingley, Horsemonden, Goudhurst and Cranbrooke. To Tonbridge Wells, the Sussex, (from London), every afternoon at one – the Morning Star evening at seven – Mole’s coach at half past seven – and the Telegraph at eight. VANS – for passengers and goods To Maidstone, ____ WALTER, every morning at half past seven; ____ OWEN, at nine; a Van, (from the Wells), calls at the Bull, every afternoon at half past two; and ____ WINCHESTER, from his house, every Monday and Thursday. CARRIERS To London, Thomas BARNETT’s Waggon, from his house, every Monday & Thursday. To Maidstone, William OWEN, from his house, two or three times a week. CONVEYANCE BY WATER To London, the Medway Company’s barges every Tuesday and occasionally oftener.
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