This page is about recent Finds & Donations from local Town Folk.

Painted Pebbles - 1st September 07

Does anyone else have any painted stones from Helen Corser or know any more about this lady - Please mail (Painted Pebbles)

Support your Charity Shop you will never know what you’ll find.

 Oil Painting of the Great Bridge & Medway 1911 - 8th September 07

 A truly wonderful family painted armature oil painting dated 1911, Donated by David & Sandra Norton.

The Norton’s a family of boat builders from the mid 1800 who dominated the River Medway in Tonbridge. Many town folk will remember hiring a boat and paddling from the Racecourse to the Shallows & the weir for a dip in the Medway passing courting couples around Tinkers Island. 

The painting can be seen on display in Tonbridge castle, the scene has not changed much today the building in the picture were built 1888 when the new great bridge was built. 

The Norton’s are researching their family tree, and are hoping that a few people from the town may have additional pictures of the family or even know any stories. If so please mail any reference to the following link. NORTON'S

More information on the Norton’s will follow soon under Robert history adventures called The Changing Face of  the Medway.      

  H T White Bottle Top with the Tonbridge crest - 9th September 07

 HT White wine & Spirit Merchants 148 Tonbridge High Street started business in 1910 & traded in Tonbridge until the late 1990s when they moved the business to Eastbourne and still trade today as a Family business.  

   G Singleton Enamel sign 

Internet find - 4 x 16  Cobalt Blue on White Background  George Singleton Dairyman Cage Green Farm 1915 

  
  Tonbridge Bowls Club at the Angel Cricket Ground - 22nd September 07

A lovely trio of Tonbridge Sporting memorabilia - Tonbridge Bowls Club founded in 1906 an outdoor lawn bowling club

1906- The first meeting of Tonbridge Cricket Club(TBC) members interested in setting up a  bowls club was held in the spring at the Angel Hotel. It was agreed to establish the Tonbridge Bowling Club and that the headquarters be at the Angel Hotel. A suitable area had been allocated for a green which was laid out and prepared by the cricket club groundsman.

The  green was kept in order by the Tonbridge Cricket Club and no person could become a  member of the Bowling Club unless a member of the Cricket Club.  

The annual subscription was set at 2/6d per annum and 59 members joined in the first year. Founder members included F W Franks- shopkeeper the first President who opened the green on the 27th April , A Cornell- Jeweler & watchmaker, who was reputed to have been the first owner of a motor car to drive through the High Street just after the turn of the century.   W Ede- Confectioner, C Payne- Captain a former Sussex Cricketer and George (Gaffer) Stacey- Headmaster of Tonbridge National School later the Slade school and town councilor.   Fixtures in the first season-included Hawkhurst, Pembury, Sevenoaks & Crystal Palace.

http://www.tonbridgebowlingclub.co.uk

Small Trophy - Winner 1953 Tonbridge Hospital Pairs A.SHAW  - Medal T.B.C Novices 1936 A.SHAW  - Tonbridge Bowling Club 1910

These were found at Greta May Antiques - 7 Hadlow Road Tollgate Buildings.  A wonderful Friendly antique shop with something for everyone.

 

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West Kent Drug Company Bottle - 28th October 07

 

 

The west kend Drug Company was only in buiness from 1908 -1915 at 38 high street
CHEMIST one versed in CHEMISTRY

ANALYTICAL CHEMIST one trained in Chemical Analysis, one who has passed the examination of the institute of Chemistry.

CHEMIST & DRUGGIST One who has passed Minor examination of the Pharmaceutical Society.

PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST one who has passed the major examination of the Pharmaceutical Society.   
  
 

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  Smith & Son Imperial pint beer Bottle - 8th November 07

Smith & Son Grocer and Porter Merchant High Street c 1859 - 1910 this bottle is also known in Amber glass, other bottles from Smith & Son are two stoneware Porter bottles inpressed Tunbridge old spelling and two Black Glass beers. Also in the collection is a round face wall clock.     
 

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A Present from Tonbridge - 23rd Febuary 08

This Plate the first picture was found at Greta May Antiques - 7 Hadlow Road Tollgate Buildings. The Heather floral design was the same as a small crew et set already in the collection. i would imagine that there are more items with this design.  

A wonderful Friendly antique shop with something for everyone good parking to the side well worth a visit .

A Sketch of Tonbridge Castle - December 08  

One evening while researching on the internet for information on the Town I came across a painting of a scene I recognized straight away. Further investigation lead me to the truly fantastic art works of Roland Lee.

Roland Lee is a full time artist living in southern Utah near Zion National Park. And each year Roland and his wife travel to various parts of the world where he sketches and paints on location. 

Roland Lee has become internationally recognized for his transparent watercolor paintings of the Southwest, rural America, and European landscapes. His watercolor landscape paintings are now in over 1,000 museum, university, corporate, and private art collections throughout the world.

While looking through Roland’s Traveling sketchbook I came across his Kent England Sketchbook with some truly amazing sketches of Chiddingstone, Hever, Penshurst, Scotney castle, and Tonbridge.

Roland’s artistic talents caught my eye and the sketch of the Castle reminded me of other sketches in the collection of traveling artists who found our castle and inspiration to draw.

I emailed Roland about the sketch asking if he would be willing to sale the sketch to add to the collection.   After exchanging several emails, Roland agreed to donate and allow the drawing to become part of the Castle Collection.

Roland’s sketch now takes pride of place in collection at Tonbridge Castle.
Please look at his work on the below pictures.

Click Picture Above Link	Click Picture Above Link	Click Picture Above Link	Click Picture Above Link

See more of Rolands work at WWW.ROLANDLEE.COM    
 

The "B" Mineral Water Company Codd Bottle - Sevenoaks oct 08 

Donated By Glenn Wood builder who found while doing ground work in Hildenborough.


Niagra patent Reg. No. 65433 codd bottle dated around 1891 the time the "B" Mineral Company took over the mineral waters Firm of John William Woods of Sevenoaks.

The 'B' Mineral Water Company began trading the Masonic Buildings, High Street Tonbridge, Kent in 1887 under the proprietorship of John Salkeld", Horsley and Co

This Patent can also be found in Lime Green and light and dark Amber Glass from Tonbridge & Sevenoaks unfortunately i only have a have a broken one from Sevenoaks in the collection in Amber Glass so if anyone out there has one please let me know even if broken  .

A Truly nice addition to the collection at Tonbridge Castle many thanks


More information on  The "B"  Mineral Water Company can be found on the Link
click on the bottle. 

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Tunbridge Sketch finds it way back home 

Donated by a Mr Dennis Kim from Torrance, California

The Sketch dated 1861 was found among a bunch of other sketches of the English Country including maps of the world some not being finished by 
the Artist Master W. Lewis,

The sketch unlike many other painting drawings of Tonbridge / Tunbridge Castle being from the front , this is from the side below the mote. 
The nice thing about it is the added figure the man with the gun, Was this a sight W.Lewis visualised artistic rights or was the man shooting game birds we will never know.

Also was it ever turned into a completed art work and is now hanging on a wall somewhere, These sketches are like early photos drawn through the eyes of a travailing artists.

Master W. Lewis who was he if you know or have a sketch of the castle let me know , Thank you for such a great picture Dennis and give me a call if you come .

 

 

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Tonbridge Clay Pipe 

Thomas Spencer, occupation Confectioner 1881 Tonbridge 52 High Street

 

 

    

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Paper Prints for boxes by George Wise Tunbridge Ware maker 1703 -79

Lovely small box Depicting the top right print of the Wise Manufactory next to the Great Bridge

Henry Smith Tunbridge 1762

A Lovely dated early earthenware Drinking tankard pulled from the muddy bed of the river Medway Tonbridge near the Castle Pub.  Note old spelling TUNBRIDGE  .  

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Horseshoe Ink Well " SNAPDRAGON " Tonbridge

SNAPDRAGON troop Leader Charger Western Troop 1903 -1911. Prize for best man Tonbridge 1912. Presented to Trooper S.D.STEVENSON by his troop leader.   

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Tonbridge Bank note  £1.00 The towns first Bank

The Tonbridge Bank was founded by three local men of the highest integrity and financial standing around 1792. They were messrs, Children, Woodgate, and Scones, but after a short life it closed its doors in 1812. Another attempt to offer banking facilities followed almost immediately and was sponsored by Messrs. Mercer and Barlow, with reputed backing from Mr Children. They failed within three years, but all their creditors were paid 20s. In the£, plus accrued interest, although they had to wait twelve years for their money.  

Having noticed the pitfalls of his predecessors, Mr. Thomas Beeching, who came to the town as a draper in 1789, decided to open his own bank around 1814, and he was the only banker in the town until the London and County Bank opened its doors in 1836.

These two carried on the only banking facilities in the town until 1906, when there was an amalgamation between Beeching, s Bank and Lloyds Bank Ltd  .

 

Thomas Hooker the Castle Owner sketches his Castle 1785

Thomas Hooker sketches his own castle a lovely pen and ink on old paper that reads -Tunbridge Castle from the Seat in front 1785.  The seat being the owner and at this time the owner was Thomas Hooker I have had the writing compared with other documents of hookers and the writing would appear to be the same.
 

A very unique item from a man that changed the face of our town.  

 

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H.R .BECKETTS -MSP CHEMIST TONBRIDGE

Donated by an anonymous person handed in at the castle for me with a note found in my garden – whoever you are thank you very much indeed. H.R Beckett ran his business at 5 Quarry Hill 1894 -1915. In the picture you can see H.R.Beckett outside his shop. This is where Lidl is today

       

Unfortunately olny half a pot lid 
 

but hey half is better than nothing it’s a reference and a now hunt for a complete one.

Ok we have two possibilities at 124 high street there were two chemists the vital information the name is missing but we know the contents being Cold Cream. These pot lids were mass produced does anyone in Tonbridge have a whole one if so please mail me.  

Ok the possibilities are as follows:

FRANK G ABEL 1894 – 1905 then he passed away and his wife carried on the business from 1906 -1910

The other was T. E .MILLIDGE 1860-1891- you can just see the T. so i think its this one.     

 

 

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TUNBRIDGE CASTLE contents up for sale 1857  
What a document a 39 page full very detailed listing of the sale of the contents of Tunbridge Castle. 

The sale to take place at the premises on Monday the 26^th OCTOBER 1857 at eleven for twelve precisely. The document goes into a second day sale even selling the green house plants, the brew house, coach-house, lawn gardens and barn. I wonder if any items are left in the town.
In 1831 William Bailey, the owner devises the castle in his will to Frances, Lady Stafford

It was Frances Lady Stafford, who at the end, sold Tonbridge Castle to Tonbridge Urban District Council

There are too many pages to scan I might try and PDF it at a later date

 

 

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