Tonbridge

Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 31,600 in 2001. It is located on the River Medway, approximately four miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 25 miles south east of London.

Tonbridge today

The town is home to several remaining Grammar Schools, including The Judd School and Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls. Tonbridge School, founded in 1553, is a well respected private boys' school in the centre of the town. Many primary and secondary schools in the Tonbridge area provide a high quality of education, and this has been an incentive for many when moving to the town.

Related Topics:
The Judd School - Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls - Tonbridge School

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Major industries include light engineering, distribution and services. A monthly farmers' market sells a wide variety of locally produced food and drinks, together with more exotic imports.

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The town has largely retained its 'market town' atmosphere and has many attractions to visitors and residents alike, including the well-maintained Castle Gatehouse, a large country park and activities based around the river. Sports facilities including an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a leisure centre and a large sportsground are all located close to the town centre. Many of the facilities are provided or subsidised by the local authority.

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Most of the town's shopping facilities are clustered around its high street, which runs for about one mile through the town centre. There has been increasing criticism from local residents that there is a relative abundance of restaurants, estate agents, banks and 'cheap' shops, and a lack of major high street retailers. However, there are far fewer empty high street premises than in the mid 1990s, and the town inevitably suffers from its proximity to large shopping centres such as Maidstone and Bluewater. Recent proposals to improve edge-of-town shopping facilities, particularly from supermarket chains, have met with stiff opposition from town centre retailers.

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Tonbridge made national and international headlines in the summer of 2004 when it staged an open-top bus parade for Dame Kelly Holmes to celebrate her double Olympic gold success. Over 40,000 people were estimated to have packed the town centre or lined the route from nearby Hildenborough, roughly equivalent to the entire population of Tonbridge and Hildenborough.

Related Topics:
2004 - Dame Kelly Holmes - Olympic - Hildenborough

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There are future proposals to dual the A21 at Castle Hill and thereby improve the connection to Tunbridge Wells and Pembury where a new regional hospital is to be constructed.

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