TONBRIDGE, or TUNBRIDGE-WELLS, a chapelry
partly in the parish and lowey of TONBRIDGE; and
partly in that part of the parish of SPELDHURST which
is in the hundred of WASHLINGSTONE, lathe of AYLESFORD,
county of KENT; and partly in that part ofthe
parish of FRANT which is in the hundred of ROTHERFIELD,
rape of PEVENSEY, county of SUSSEX; 20 miles
(S. "W.) from Maidstone, and 36 (S. E. by S.) from London
containing about 10,000 inhabitants. This attractive
and fashionable watering-place owes its importance
to its medicinal springs, which were firsfrdiscovered, in
1606, by Dudley, Lord North, then sojourning at Bridge
House, for the benefit of his health; and he being cured
by the use of them, Lord Abergavenny, who resided at
Bridge, was induced to fit up the wells, and make such
improvements as might lead to their becoming a place of
public resort. The springs soon acquired celebrity, as
Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I., retired hither to
enjoy the benefit of the waters, after the birth of her
eldest son, Prince Charles; and there being no suitable
residence, she and her suite were lodged in tents upon
Bishop's down. Their increasing reputation continuing
to attract many visitors, various retail dealers constructed
standings, on which they exhibited their wares,
under a row of trees in the road by which the company
usually passed to the Wells, and finally lodging-houses
were erected. Soon after the Restoration, in 1664, the
place was visited by Catherine, queen of Charles II.,
who, residing here for some time, with the gay court of
that monarch, gave it additional attraction. It was also
a very favourite residence,of Queen Anne, prior to her
accession to the throne, and has continued, ever since,
to attract a great concourse of company during the
season, which is from May to November. The waters,
which are chalybeate, are of nearly equal strength with
those of the German Spa, and are considered very
efficacious in cases of weak digestion, or where tonics
are necessary. The town is irregularly but beautifully
built, consisting of clusters of houses, in different si,
tuations. The Well is situated in a sort of dingle, on a
sandy bottom, surrounded by hills; and the water, which
rises into a stone basin, is served by a woman who
lives at an adjoining cottage, and who receives a certain
sum for the season from each person drinking it. About
forty years since, a marble basin was substituted for
that of stone, and, in consequence of the dirt which had
accumulated in the latter, a fixed cover was added, and
the water drawn off by a spout; but some of the visitors,
not experiencing the usual benefit in the succeeding season,
fancifully imagined that the marble cover had neutralized
the effects of the water, and it was consequently
removed, and a stone basin replaced. Near the Well,
which is three hundred feet above the level of the sea,
are the principal shops and places of amusement. A
spacious handsome building, called the Bath House, has
been erected, and contains both hot and cold mineral
baths.. The Parade, which is broad and handsome,
is bounded on one side by the assembly-rooms, libraries,
and by shops in which Tonbridge ware and fancy
articles of every kind are sold, and in front of which is
a piazza extending nearly the whole length; and on the
opposite side is a row of trees, with an orchestra in
the midst, where a band usually plays during ar portion
of each day in the season: with the Parade is
connected what are called the Upper and Lower walk,
divided by palisades of iron. The other parts of the
town are situated on detached eminences, at short distances
from the Wells, called Mount Ephraim, Mount Sion,
Mount Pleasant, and Bishop's Down; which, being interspersed
with shrubberies and pleasure grounds, and
connected with the Wells by beautiful walks regularly
disposed, present a combination of interesting scenery.
The inns and boarding and lodging houses are generally
of a superior description. Some rocks of considerable
height, surrounded with wood, about a mile and a
half south-west from the town, are much visited and
admired. There is a small neat theatre near the Wells;
and races are held, annually in August, on the common.
The manufacture of wooden toys and articles for domestic
use, commonly denominated "Tonbridge ware,"
is carried on to a considerable extent. The government
is vested in the county magistrates, who meet once a
week; and constables are appointed at the court leet
for the fe hundred of Southborough and manor of Rusthall.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Rochester, and in the patronage of
certain Trustees. The chapel, dedicated to King Charles
the Martyr, was built about one hundred and fifty
years since, by subscription amongst the visitors, on
ground given by the lady of the manor, and is supported
by an annual collection after a sermon and by subscriptions;
it is a plain Grecian building, fitted up and
wainscoted with fine old oak, which, with its ornamented
ceiling, is much admired. A new church has also
been recently erected by subscription, aided by a grant
of £6000 from His Majesty's Commissioners for building
new churches, in that part of the town which is in the
parish of Tonbridge; it is a handsome structure in the
later style of English architecture. There are places of
worship for those in the Connexion of the late Countess
of Huntingdon, Independents, and WesleyanMethodists.
A charity school adjoins the chapel, in which about
eighty boys are instructed; and one has been established
for about one hundred girls: both are on the National
system, and supported by voluntary contributions. The
late Richard Cumberland, Esq.,the celebrated dramatist,
was for many years a resident on-Mount Sion, frequently
attracting hither some of the most eminent literary
characters of the day.