How did Tunbridge Wells become Royal?

Tunbridge Wells received its royal appointment in 1909 from King Edward VII because of his mother Queen Victoria's patronage of the spa in the town - Leamington had previously been conferred the title by Victoria in 1858.

Why did Tunbridge Wells become Royal?

Why is Royal Tunbridge Wells Royal? In 1909 King Edward VII officially recognised the popularity of Tunbridge Wells with its many royal and aristocratic visitors – including his mother, Queen Victoria – over the centuries by granting the town its “Royal” prefix.

When did Tunbridge Wells become Royal Tunbridge Wells?

Tunbridge Wells was designated a borough in 1889 and the town of Tunbridge Wells added “Royal” to its name in 1909. During and after World War II, it grew in importance as a shopping and administrative centre. It has some light industry.

Why is Tunbridge Wells so popular?

Tunbridge Wells is known for its Georgian and Victorian architecture, with history loving tourists flocking to the 'village' area on the south side of town. Here places including the High Street, Chapel Place and The Pantiles are lined with lovely old shops, pubs and townhouses.

Is Royal Tunbridge Wells posh?

Polo, private schools and The Pantiles – all in all, Royal Tunbridge Wells is a pretty posh place. So posh, in fact, it's been voted the second 'poshest' town in the country. Website locallife.co.uk recently surveyed 340 towns in the UK to see which ones had the fanciest and flashiest clubs and shops per head.

Is Kent rough?

Kent is among the top 10 most dangerous counties in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The overall crime rate in Kent in 2021 was 87 crimes per 1,000 people, and the most common crimes were violence and sexual offences, which happened to roughly every 44 out of 1,000 residents.

Is Tunbridge Wells a rich area?

“Living in the large, affluent town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in west Kent isn't cheap, but families get what they pay for with an abundance of quality schools, shops, restaurants and green spaces.”

What's the difference between Tunbridge Wells and Royal Tunbridge Wells?

The designation 'Royal' is a rare and prestigious title, with Tunbridge Wells one of only three towns to be so recognised in England. It shared the honour with Leamington Spa for 100 years, until the third award was granted to Wootton Bassett five years ago.

Was Tunbridge Wells bombed in ww2?

The Second World War affected Tunbridge Wells in a different way—it became so swollen with refugees from London that accommodation was severely strained. Over 3,800 buildings were damaged by bombing, but only 15 people lost their lives.

Where did Queen Victoria stay in Tunbridge Wells?

Visiting Tunbridge Wells

Victoria frequently stayed in Calverley House where her aunt lived, a grade II listed building built in 1762. Victoria last visited the house in 1835, the house is now the Hotel du Vin.

Is Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells the same?

That's right: Tonbridge is not Tunbridge Wells. They're two completely separate towns, located a few miles apart. Take it from someone who was raised in the former; if you confuse the two in front of someone from Tonbridge, they'll be delighted.

Which county is Royal Tunbridge Wells in?

Tunbridge Wells hosts a variety of heritage and areas of outstanding natural beauty within the county of Kent. Bordering the counties of Sussex and Surrey, the borough has direct links into London by train, with close access to the M25 via the A21.

Why do some towns have royal in their name?

It is a similar process for towns that have the Latin suffix "Regis", meaning "of the king" or "belonging to a king", says the Cabinet Office. It is the monarch's decision and in the past it has usually been bestowed on towns frequented by royalty or where they have convalesced.

What is Tunbridge?

Tunbridge was a parliamentary constituency in Kent, centred on the town of Tonbridge. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Is Tunbridge Wells nice to live in?

Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town that has something for everyone, it really is a wonderful place to live. For shopping, The Pantiles and the old High Street offer a collection of galleries, boutique shops and coffee shops.

How big is Tunbridge Wells Common?

Documented from the 13th century, this is a lovely common and woodland area of 75 acres.

What is there to do in Tunbridge Wells?

10 Best Things to Do in Royal Tunbridge Wells

• Dunorlan Park.
• Spa Valley Railway Tours.
• Scotney Castle Garden.
• Calverley Grounds.
• Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery.
• The Raptor Centre.
• The Pantiles.
• Trinity Theatre.

When did Tunbridge become Tonbridge?

According to the Tonbridge Historical Society, the terms Tunbridge-Town and Tunbridge-Wells were widely adopted in order to discern between the two places. But all of this came to an end in 1870, when the Post Office renamed the town to Tonbridge in order to more easily differentiate between the two towns.

Why is it called Tunbridge Wells?

Tunbridge Wells gets its name from wells that sprung up from the ground in the area. In 1870, the spelling of Tonbridge was changed to avoid confusion between the two, though as locals of either will tell you, confusion is still rife among non-locals to this day.

What is the biggest town in Kent?

More interesting facts about Kent

• Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, with a population of 113,137 people (2011)
• The west Kent town of Royal Tunbridge Wells is one of only four 'Royal' towns in Britain.

What is the poshest part of Kent?

The most expensive streets in every Kent district

• Dartford. Farningham Hill Road, Farningham, Dartford DA4. ...
• Sevenoaks. Phillippines Shaw, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks TN14. ...
• Ashford. The Grove, Pluckley, Ashford TN27. ...
• Thanet. Thanet Place Gardens, Broadstairs CT10. ...
• Tunbridge Wells. ...
• Medway. ...
• Gravesham. ...
• Canterbury.

What is the richest town in Kent?

Sevenoaks

Topping off the chart to receive the crown of Kent's most "valuable" town is Sevenoaks, with an average property price of a whopping £599,319, more than £100,000 more expensive than any other town or village on this list.

Are there rough areas in Tunbridge Wells?

Between January 2021 to December 2021 the most frequent crime seen in Tunbridge Wells' was violence and sexual assault. 3,756 cases of violence and sexual assault were recorded across the year, with most of the crimes being committed in Culverden, according to police.uk.

Is Rochester rough?

Rochester is among the top 5 most dangerous major towns in Kent, and is the 33rd most dangerous overall out of Kent's 333 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Rochester in 2021 was 101 crimes per 1,000 people.