Tunbridge Wells (borough)
Tunbridge Wells is a
local government district and
borough in
Kent,
England. It takes its name from its main town,
Royal Tunbridge Wells.
The district was formed on
April 1,
1974, by the merger of the
municipal borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells along with
Southborough urban district,
Cranbrook Rural District and most of
Tonbridge Rural District.
Location
The borough of Tunbridge Wells lies along the south eastern border of Kent, partly on the northern edge of the
Weald, the remainder on the Weald
Clay plain in the upper reaches of the rivers
Teise and Beult.
The North Weald area
The restricted area immediately to the north and west of Tunbridge Wells lies within the Weald. The presence of sandstone outcrops here, and the
chalybeate springs, together with old workings, point to ancient
iron manufacturing.
Weald Clay plain
This plain is part of the so-called
Garden of England, named for its extensive orchards and former
hop farms, sheep and cattle. A string of villages lies across this plain, from Brenchley and Horsmonden to Benenden and Headcorn.
Communications
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Roads The main roads through the borough are the A21 London to Hastings road and in the east, the A229, which runs from the A21 at Hurst Green through
Cranbrook to
Maidstone.
*
Railways The line of the former
South Eastern Railway (SER) main line crosses the clay plain in an almost unbroken straight line between
Redhill and
Ashford, Kent. The SER line to
Hastings passes through Tunbridge Wells; here there was once a further branch connection south-eastwards to
Groombridge, and at Paddock Wood is the southern terminus of the
Medway Valley Line to
Maidstone.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is composed of 48 councillors repesenting 20
wards across the borough. Eight wards are within Royal Tunbridge Wells itself including Culverden; Pantiles & St Marks; Rusthall; Sherwood and St John's. The remainder are rural wards covering the other main towns and villages.
Each of the latter also have their own form of local government in the form of a
civil parish. They are as follows, paired where two villages are served by one councillor:
*
Benenden &
Cranbrook*
Brenchley &
Horsmonden*
Capel*
Frittenden &
Bidborough*
Goudhurst &
Lamberhurst*
Hawkhurst &
Sandhurst*
Paddock Wood: two wards, East and West
*
Pembury*
Southborough: two wards, Southborough & High Brooms; and Southborough North
*
Speldhurst &
BidboroughApart from Tunbridge Wells itself, places of interest in the Borough include:
*
Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst for leisure water pursuits and outdoor conferences
*
Sissinghurst Castle gardens: the home of
Vita Sackville-West- and there are facilities for rock-climbing at the 'High Rocks', 2 miles west of Tunbridge Wells
*
The Borough website
