Things To Know About And Places To See In Tunbridge Wells
The town of Tunbridge wells largely owes its existence to a Lord North who luckily stumbled upon a rustic hued spring while out for a ride. Lord North of course knew that springs with this color had healing properties; or so everyone believed then. The spring in fact was only a Chalybeate spring meaning that there is a fair amount of Iron in the water, But the people did not know that. Lord North however was sick with Tuberculosis and decided to drink from the spring and declared later to all of his wealthy friends in London that the spring had cured him.
After Lord North told people of his fortunate encounter upon the spring people began to flock from London to drink and bathe in the water. A well was dug soon after 1608 and some pavement was laid around it. The two first buildings were set up in 1636, one was for ladies and the other for gentlemen. In 1638 a walk was laid out which was called the Pantilies, Shops were then carefully laid out along the 175 yard walk, The shops dealt in fine good that were demanded by their patrons. Soon Tunbridge became a rival to the nearby by bath in brighton. The town was a place of Aristocracy and royalty.
The small town was becoming home to permanent residents as people built houses. The famed King Charles the Martyr chapel was created in 1678. The current street plan that is still in use today was built in the early eighteenth century. Soon everything in the town was falling into place a water company was built in 1826, a police force was established in 1836 and a railway was laid in, in 1846. Soon the population had grown 25,000.
In 1992 Princess Diana built the Royal Victoria Place shopping center which covers over ninety two thousand five hundred feet. It was home to thirty percent of all jobs in Tunbridge in 2002. The town houses many tourist attractions and local treasures, such as Hever castle and gardens and Sissinghurst castle.
If you're a person who prefers wine the town has a pleasant selection of local winerys and vineyards, including but not limited to: The Lamberhurst vineyard, the Chapel Down winery, and the Sandhurst vineyard. And if you've enjoyed the wine tasting and are ready to move onto a visual feast the town has a large number of beautiful gardens and castles, Including the infamous Sissinghurst castle and its surrounding gardens as well as the childhood home of Anne Bolyen, the Hever castle.
People with a love of nature will greatly enjoy Tunbridge and nearby wealdon, Home to the seven wonders of the Weald, including Bedgebury national Pinetum and forest, Bewl water, Merriements, Scotney castle garden, Marle place gardens, Sissinghurst castle and finchcocks. These are all miles east of Royal Tunbridge wells and within a ten minute drive of one another.
The town is host to well known gardens and local well keep secret gardens alike, known to only their admirers. There is of course the Sissinghurt Castle garden created in the twentieth century as well as the grand Italian gardens of Hever castle, a castle that was built in the 13th century and is complete with a moat. If wine is more of your interest Tunbridge wells has done a decent job in making a name for itself. Guests have their choice between tours and tastings at Sandhurt, Lamberhurst vineyard and the chapel down winery.
