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Historical records |
| 1630 | History | | | Bishops-down-common | Burr's Tunbridge Wells | | Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, who was sent here by her physicians, for the re-establishment of her health, after the birth of Prince Charles The queen continued about six weeks at the Wells, and dwelt in tents the whole time. Her camp was pitched upon Bishops-down-common, and certainly diffused a splendor and magnificence over this wild country, to which it had hitherto been an absolute stranger; … The curiosity of this gay young queen induced her one day to walk from the Well a little way into the county of Sussex, where she wandered about till, at length growing weary, she sat down on a bank beneath the shade of a spreading birch for refreshment; and, when she had sufficiently rested herself, she arose, and ordered a stone to be placed there, as a memorial of her travels in that county. … The Queen's-stone, an alehouse in the road to Frant, is built where this monument was placed, and the sign which hung there till within these few years, was drawn from a view of the stone itself. It is now the sign of the Blue-bell |
| 1840 | History | | | Bishop's Down | Colbran's Tunbridge Wells | | In the neighbourhood of Bishop's Down, a new Park has been commenced, called Nevill Park, the situation of which for building, has been happily chosen. It commands a most charming prospect, and its short distance from the chalybeate springs, renders it a particularly desirable residence for those who wish to derive benefit from the waters. There is a pleasant walk through this park from Bishop's Down to Rusthall Common, and four handsome houses are erected here. One of them, the property of the Rev. Mr. Bramley, is at present the residence of Lord Viscount Nevill. The gardens belonging to it are arranged with most exquisite taste, and form a perfect bijou. The views from all parts of the park are varied and extensive, and at each entrance is a remarkably pretty lodge, the rustic appearance of which harmonises well with the surrounding scenery. |
| 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | Headley Willson, M, Head, married, age 32, born Cherry Hinton, Cambridge; occupation Curate | Headley Willson | Bishops Down Park | 1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent | | | Mary L. Willson, F, Wife, married, age 26, born Cambridge | Mary L. Willson | | | | | Francis H. Willson, M, Son, age 3 m, born T Wells, Kent | Francis H. Willson | | | | | Gwynnedd C. Gordon, M, Boarder, age 12, born India; occupation: scholar | Gwynnedd C. Gordon | | | | | James R.M. Abbott, M, Boarder, age 10, born Guildford, Surrey; occupation: scholar | James R.M. Abbott | | | | | Susannah E. Burr, F, Servant, married, age 32, born E Peckham, Kent; occupation: cook | Susannah E. Burr | | | | | Clara Parenly, F, Servant, single, age 22, born (Nat Brit Subj), France; occupation Housemaid | Clara Parenly | | | | | Mary Langford, F, Servant, single, age 34, born Chesterton, Cambridge; occupation: nurse | Mary Langford | | |
| 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | Thomas Eldridge, M, Head, married, age 60, born Ticehurst, Sussex; occupation: coachman | Thomas Eldridge, coachman | Bishops Down Park | 1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent | | | Catherine Eldridge, F, Wife, married, age 68, born Tisbery, Wiltshire | Catherine Eldridge | | | | | Henry Eldridge, M, Son, single, age 26, born T Wells, Kent; occupation: servant | Henry Eldridge | | |
| 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | Walter M. Bolt, M, Head, married, age 27, born Exminster, occupation: coachman | Walter M. Bolt, coachman | Bishops Down Park | 1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent | | | Selina Bolt, F, Wife, married, age 27, born Aylesbeare, Devon | Selina Bolt | | | | | Reginald Bolt, M, Son, single, age 4, born starcross, Devon | Reginald Bolt | | | | | Ernest Bolt, M, Son, single, age 1, born Teignmouth, Devon | Ernest Bolt | | |
| 3rd Apr 1881 | Census | Edwin Bowman, M, Head, married, age 25, born Eastry, Kent, occupation: gardener | Edwin Bowman, gardener | Bishops Down Park | 1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent | | | Elizabeth Bowman, F, Wife, married, age 24, born Wingham, Kent | Elizabeth Bowman | | |
| 1889 | | Bishops Down Grove Spa Hydropathic Sanatorium, Tunbridge Wells by Charles Reynolds & Co. | | | Private collection |
| 1912 | | The Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells | | Bishops Down | Private collection |
| 1915 | | Junction of Bishops Down, Major Yorks & Langton Roads, Tunbridge Wells photographed by H.H.Camburn | | | Private collection |
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