Stephen Groombridge, was born at Goudhurst on 7th January 1755 to Thomas and Mary Groombridge. He married Lavinia Martha Treacher on 24th January 1793 and they bore two children neither of whom outlived them.

In 1802 the couple moved to Blackheath and close to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich where Stephen, now 47, developed his keen passion for astronomy. He persuaded Edward Troughton to design advanced astronomical instruments which he used to make tens of thousands of observations of more than 4000 stars. As a result of this work he was, in 1812, elected a fellow of the Royal Society and in 1820 he was a founder and council member of the Astronomical Society of London (later called the Royal Astronomical Society). He published twelve papers on astronomy between 1808 and 1826. He has the recognition of having "Goombridge's Star" in the constellation of Ursa Major named after him.

In 1827 Stephen Groombridge suffered a stroke and died five years later at Blackheath. He is buried in the churchyard at Goudhurst where there is a plaque with the inscription: "During a long course of honourable exertion and uniform usefulness he combined the pursuits of science with the discharge of the duties of private and social life: he lived abundantly blessed by a gracious providence. He died full of Christian Faith and Hope."

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