TUNBRIDGE is a market town and extensive parish, 41 miles from London by rail,
30 by road; 15 W.S.W. from Maidstone, five north from Tunbndge Wells, and six
S.E. from Sevenoaks. The population of the whole parish in 1851 was 16,548. The
town is pleasantly situated on the river Medway, which is navigable for barges.
Here is a railway station of the South Eastern Railway, and a branch line to
Tunbridge Wells and Hastings. Here are breweries, maltings, corn mills, iron
foundries and tanneries.
The market, which is large, is held on the first and third Tuesday in each
month. A fair is held on the 11th October.
The town is well paved, lighted with gas, and has a good water supply. The
church is very ancient, and is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul; it is a very
large edifice, and will accommodate 1,500 persons; it has a very good organ, and
apeal of eight bells.
In the interior are several monuments; one to the memory of James Alexander,
Esq., of Somerhill, who died in 1848, is on the south side of the chancel.
The living is a vicarage, in the gift of John Deacon, Esq. Somerhill is the seat
of Baron de Goldsmid, the celebrated financier.
BANKERS.
Beeching and Co., High street. Draw on Masterman and Co.
London and County Branch Bank. Draw on 21, Lombard street.- Mr. Octavius
Andrews, Manager, High street.
PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS.
Post-Office, High street. - William Ware, Postmaster. Day Mail, box closes 10-40
A.M. ; Night Mail, at 10 P.M.
Six Almshouses and Chapel, High street.
Six Almshouses, erected by John Brightling, blacksmith, of the town, 1648;
rebuilt by voluntary contributions, 1847, Church street.
Cemetery (now in course of formation) at Cage Green. A chapel for the
Established
Church, a chapel for the dissenters, and a house for the Sexton.
PLACES OF WORSHIP AND SCHOOLS.
St. Peter's and St. Paul's, parish church. - Rev. Sir C. Hardinge, Bart.,
Incumbent.
St. Stephen's, (new church), Quarry hill. - Rev. W. Owen, M.A., Incumbent.
Ebenezer, Wesleyan Chapel, Priory street.
Wesleyan Chapel, Swan lane. - Rev. R. Ford, minister.
Baptist Chapel, High, street.
National School, supported principally by voluntary contributions, Bank street.