Tonbridge
Coordinates: 51 ° 12 ' N , 0 ° 17' E
Tonbridge is a town in the south of Great Britain in the county of Kent . Tonbridge has about 32,000 inhabitants (as of 2004) and is located on the River Medway . Tonbridge is part of the Tonbridge and Malling administrative district and is located approximately 45 km southeast of London . The next larger neighboring town is Tunbridge Wells .
history
Tonbridge Castle was built in the 11th century by the nobleman Richard Fitzgilbert. Wilhelm I (England) had previously given the lands to him as thanks for his loyalty at the Battle of Hastings . With the construction of the castle, both the population of the small settlement of Tonebridge, as its name was in the Book of Winchester in 1086, and its reputation in the country grew. In 1088 the city was burned down when there was a rebellion against William II (England) . Until the late eighteenth century, the city was then listed under the name Tunbridge on the maps.
Economically, Tonbridge stood out from its surroundings because of the ability of its residents to handle wood. The so-called “Tunbridgeware” (wooden inlays and small art objects) is known beyond the city limits to this day. However, Tonbridge achieved nationwide fame through the manufacture of cricket balls. Tonbridge went down in criminal history for the theft of 53.1 million pounds from a money deposit of the company "Securitas" in 2006.
Infrastructure
Tonbridge has a nationally significant train station and is not far from the M25 motorway. However, the A21 road between London in the north and Hastings in the south is the most important connection to the English road network. The A26 road also runs through the city .
Historic buildings in the area
- Tonbridge Castle , Tonbridge: a well-preserved ruined castle;
- Bodiam Castle , Bodiam: A well-preserved ruined castle from the 14th century;
- Bateman’s , Burwash. 17th century ironworks owner's house; was the residence of the poet / writer Rudyard Kipling (Jungle Book)for 30 years.
- Chartwell near Westerham / Sevenoaks: Former residence of the Engl. Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill .
- Hever Castle , Hever / Tonbridge: mansion, residence of Anne Boleyn before she became the second wife of Henry VIII .
- Knole House , Sevenoaks: One of the largest mansions in England,owned by the Sackvillessince Elizabeth I , (see Vita Sackville-West ), furniture collection, state rooms and picture gallery.
- Penshurst Place , Penshurst / Tonbridge: One of the best preserved stately homes in England from the 14th century.
- Scotney Castle , Lamberhurst / Tunbridge Wells: A “country house” from the 19th century with a picturesque view of the castle ruins from the 14th century.
- Chiddingstone Castle , Chiddingstone / Tonbridge: A castle from the 16th to 19th centuries. Century with a collection of Japanese armor as well as Egyptian and Buddhist artifacts - large Japanese garden.
schools
- Judd School (boys' high school with mixed upper school)
- Tonbridge Grammar School (mixed senior girls' high school)
- Weald of Kent Grammar School (mixed senior girls' high school)
- Tonbridge School (Private School for Boys)
- Hillview School (girls' secondary school)
- K College
- Hugh Christie Technology College (comprehensive school)
- Hayesbrook School (boys' secondary school)
Town twinning
Tonbridge has twinned cities
- Le Puy-en-Velay in France (since 1968)
- Heusenstamm in Germany (since 1984)
sons and daughters of the town
- John George Children (1777-1852), chemist, mineralogist and zoologist
- Henry Watson Fowler (1858–1933), lexicographer, philologist and English scholar
- Pauline Gower (1910–1941), pilot and writer
- Harry Andrews (1911–1989), film and stage actor
