The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Rusthall
The Toad Rock in 1910
The Toad Rock in 1910
Rusthall is a manor of eminence in this parish, which had anciently possessors who took their surname from it. Elias de Rusthall was proprietor of it in the reign of King Edward I and was a good benefactor to the chapel of Groombridge, in this parish. His descendants afterwards contracted their name to Rust, and continued in the possession of this manor till the reign of king Henry VI about which time it was alienated to Richard Waller, esq. of Groombridge, whose descendant, Richard Waller, esq. in the 26th year of queen Elizabeth, sold it to Mr. George Stacy, who conveyed it, by sale to Robert Byng, esq. of Wrotham, who died possessed of it in the 37th year of that reign …
extract from Hasted's History of Kent published in 1797

Parish & other records Before
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After
2000

309Births43114911771
1Christenings1
5Marriages41
5Deaths14
7Burials3211
 
Books and other documents
Published Title, author and references
#N/A#N/A by #N/A ⇒ #N/A
1766The History of Tunbridge Wells by Thomas Benge Burr ⇒ p. 33
1797The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent - Volume III by Edward Hastedp. 283
1830Guide of Tunbridge Wells ⇒ p. 56
1840New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen ⇒ p. 35; p. 130
1874A History of The Weald of Kent with an outline of the History of the County to the present time, Volume II by Robert Furley, F.S.A.p. 725
1882Kelly's Directory of Kent by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. ⇒ entry
1883Pelton's Illustrated Guide to Tunbridge Wells by J. Radford Thomson, M.A. ⇒ p. 125

Picturesmore pictures 

View on Rusthall Common - 1830

Rusthall Church - 25th Aug 1860

Toad Rock, Rusthall Common - 25th Aug 1860

St Pauls, Rusthall - 1880

The Toad Rock - 1880

The Happy Valley from Rusthall Common - 1889

The Toad Rock - 1889
 

Rusthall Church & Schools - 1889

The Toad Rock - c 1890

Rusthall Common - 1896

Toad Rock - 1896

Happy Valley - c 1900

The Common - 1905

Red Lion Hotel, Lower Green - 1907
 

Bishops Down Cottages
Broom Cottages
Broomlannds
Buckfield Cottages
Clare Lodge
Coachhouses
Cold Bath
Cold Bath [a.k.a. Rusthall] Farm
Cottages
Cottages
Cowells Cottages
Cowells Place
Dornden
Emla Villa
Erskine House
High Rocks Farm
High Rocks Lane
High Street [a.k.a. Workhouse Lane]
Lampard Villas
Laurel Cottage
Lower Green Road
Morning Star Public House
Neville Court
Neville Park
Neville Park Lodge
Percy Cottage
Poplar Cottages
Prospect Place
Prospect Street
Providence Place
Rocklands
Rusthall Common
Rusthall House
Rusthall Lodge
Sandy Lane
Second Street
Shops
Southfield Terrace
Spring Gardens
St James Street
St. Paul's Church, Rusthall
St. Paul's Estate
Stoneleigh
Summer Cottages
Tea Garden Lane
The Elms
The Hollies
The Oak Inn
The School House
The White Hart
Third Street
Toad Rock
'
Historical records

1639HistoryRusthallBurr's Tunbridge Wells

The next year they began to build a few houses for the accommodation of the company at Southborough and at Rusthall


1665 to 1670HistoryRusthallBurr's Tunbridge Wells

In this space the assembly room (called Mount-Ephraim-House) was brought home from Rusthall to Mount Ephraim, on which a bowling green was inclosed, a tavern (now [in 1766] a lodging house but still retains its original name of the castle) was opened and many lodging houses were erected for the use of the company; but the triumph of the hill was short, Mount Sion became a formidable rival, and quickly eclipsed its growing splendor; for when the ball-room, the bowling green, and the lodging houses arose so near the spring, a less convenient distance was generally avoided

Thus in the course of a few years we find Tunbridge forsaken; Southborough and Rusthall raised and ruined; Mount Ephraim drooping; and Mount Sion in the full bloom of prosperity; this last indeed not only rivalled, but despoiled her predecessors, and triumphantly transferred their ornaments to herself; for many houses were brought from Southborough, Rusthall, and Mount Ephraim, to be rebuilt on Mount Sion; and some, whole and entire as they were, were wheeled on sledges to be fixed in this new seat of favour.


1708HistoryRusthallBurr's Tunbridge Wells

The cold-bath at Rusthall was built by Mr. James Long at a very considerable expense. This bath is esteemed equal to any in the kingdom, being most plentifully supplied with the finest rock water from the neighbouring hills. The bath was at first adorned with amusing waterworks, and had a handsome and convenient house over it, in every room of which was something curious, calculated to divert and surprise the company. The ground and gardens belonging to the bath were elegantly laid out, and embellished with fountains, and other ornaments suitable to the place; in short, the whole was most completely disposed for a scene of amusement. But all this is now [1766] far gone in decay through the want of management.


1760 to 1840HistoryRusthallColbran's Tunbridge Wells

… it [Rusthall Manor] was alienated to Mr. O'Connor, whose son John sold it to George Kelly, Esq., who resided at Tunbridge Wells, and served the office of high sheriff of Kent in 1762, in which year he was knighted. He died possessed of this manor in 1772, leaving his three sisters his co-heiresses, viz. Anne Shorey, widow, Hannah Tanner, widow, and Martha, wife of James Spagg, Esq. Mrs. Tanner died in 1780, since whose death and that of her two sisters, this manor has successively devolved on Miss Elizabeth Shorey and Thomas Christopher Gardner, Esq., the present lord.


1877BirthGeorge W. DivallRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

1880The Happy ValleyThe Happy Valley, Tunbridge WellsPelton's Tunbridge Wells

1880The Toad RockThe Toad Rock, Tunbridge WellsPelton's Tunbridge Wells

1880DorndenDornden, Tunbridge WellsRusthallPelton's Tunbridge Wells

1880St Paul's, RusthallSt Paul's, Rusthall, Tunbridge WellsRusthallPelton's Tunbridge Wells

Jan 1881BirthElizabeth M. Divall

3rd Apr 1881CensusRich. L. B. Cowell, M, Head, married, age 42, born Inverness, Scotland; occupation: major of H.M. armyRichard L. B. Cowell, major of H.M. armyRusthall, Speldhurst1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Harriett E. Cowell, F, Wife, married, age 45, born Speldhurst, KentHarriett E. Cowell
Robt.H. Cowell, M, Son, age 14, born Speldhurst, KentRobert H. Cowell
John C. Cowell, M, Son, age 11, born Gosport, HampshireJohn C. Cowell
Wm. Cowell, M, Son, age 9, born Brighton, SussexWilliam Cowell
Arthur Cowell, M, Son, age 7, born Speldhurst, KentArthur Cowell
Edward Cowell, M, Son, age 4, born Speldhurst, KentEdward Cowell
Mercy Grigsby, F, Servant, single, age 35, born Lamberhurst, Sussex; occupation: domestic servantMercy Grigsby
Hannah Weller, F, Servant, single, age 14, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: domestic servantHannah Weller

3rd Apr 1881CensusWm. Barber, M, Head, widowed, age 79, born Lamberhurst, Sussex, occupation: independentWilliam Barber, farm labourerCottage, Small Brook1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

3rd Apr 1881CensusSarah Jenkins, F, Head, single, age 50, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation: annuitantSarah Jenkins, annuitantRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Louisa Jenkins, F, Sister, single, age 44, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation: annuitantLouisa Jenkins
Gertrude Jenkins, F, Sister, single, age 42, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation: annuitantGertrude Jenkins
Sophia Jenkins, F, Sister, single, age 36, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation: annuitantSophia Jenkins
Francis Bonnyman, M, Nephew, single, age 4, born Kensington, MiddlesexFrancis Bonnyman
Mary Bonnyman, F, Niece, single, age 1, born Kensington, MiddlesexMary Bonnyman
Isabella Watt, F, Nurse, single, age 33, born Punjab, India; occupation NurseIsabella Watt

3rd Apr 1881CensusRobert Hollamby, M, Head, married, age 46, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: gardenerRobert HollambyRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Sarah Hollamby, F, Wife, married, age 47, born Hoath, KentSarah Hollamby [Ireland]
George Hollamby, M, Son, single, age 18, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: painterGeorge Hollamby
Kate Hollamby, F, Daughter, age 13, born Sandwich, Kent; occupation: scholarKate Hollamby
Walter Hollamby, M, Son, age 11, born Wingham, Kent; occupation: scholarWalter Hollamby
Albert Hollamby, M, Son, age 10, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: scholarAlbert Hollamby
William Hollamby, M, Son, age 2, born Speldhurst, KentWilliam Hollamby

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Corke, M, Head, widowed, age 63, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: labourerJohn Corke, farm labourerRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Lucy Corke, F, Daughter, single, age 21, born Groombridge, Kent; occupation: housekeeperLucy Corke

3rd Apr 1881CensusDaniel Budd, M, Head, married, age 79, born Tunb Wells, Kent, occupation: labourerDaniel Budd, labourerRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Martha Budd, F, Servant, married, age 63, born Tunb Wells, KentMartha Budd
Julia Watson, F, Servant, single, age 17, born Chatham, Kent; occupation ServantJulia Watson

3rd Apr 1881CensusElizabeth A. Young, F, Head, married, age 41, born Wateringbury, Kent; occupation DressmakerElizabeth A. YoungRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

3rd Apr 1881CensusHenry Duley, M, Head, married, age 50, born Alfriston, Sussex; occupation: labourerHenry Duley, labourerRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Hannah Duley, F, Wife, married, age 53, born Godstone, SurreyHannah Duley
Catherine Duley, F, Daughter, age 13, born Ardingley, Sussex; occupation: scholarCatherine Duley

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Ashby, M, Head, married, age 43, born Merton, Oxford; occupation: beerhouse keeperJohn Ashby, beerhouse keeperRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Mary Ashby, F, Wife, married, age 45, born Eynesbury, HuntingdonMary Ashby [Dumbleton]
Reginald Ashby, M, Son, age 8, born Thrybergh, York; occupation: scholarReginald Ashby

3rd Apr 1881CensusRichard Allen, M, Head, married, age 49, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: labourerRichard Allen, labourerRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Sarah Allen, F, Wife, married, age 46, born Speldhurst, KentSarah Allen
Harry Allen, M, Son, single, age 24, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: labourerHarry Allen
James Allen, M, Son, single, age 21, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: labourerJames Allen
Elizabeth Allen, F, Daughter, age 15, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: scholarElizabeth Allen
Jane Allen, F, Daughter, age 9, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: scholarJane Allen
Sarah A. Allen, F, Daughter, age 5, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: scholarSarah A. Allen

3rd Apr 1881CensusThomas Holmes, M, Head, married, age 58, born Heathfield, Sussex; occupation: labourerThomas Holmes, labourerRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Harriet Holmes, F, Wife, married, age 51, born Mayfield, SussexHarriet Holmes
Thomas Holmes, M, Son, single, age 30, born Mayfield, Sussex; occupation: labourerThomas Holmes
Sarah Holmes, F, Daughter, single, age 21, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: servantSarah Holmes
Charles Holmes, M, Son, single, age 12, born Wadhurst, Sussex; occupation: errand boyCharles Holmes
James Fry, M, Lodger, single, age 40, born T Wells, Kent; occupation: labourerJames Fry

3rd Apr 1881CensusGeorge Walter, M, Head, married, age 28, born T Wells, Kent; occupation PlastererGeorge WalterRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Nancy Walter, F, Wife, married, age 28, born Mayfield, SussexNancy Walter
George Walter, M, Son, age 8, born T Wells, Kent; occupation ScholarGeorge Walter
Frances Walter, F, Daughter, age 4, born T Wells, Kent; occupation ScholarFrances Walter

3rd Apr 1881CensusHenry Lucas, M, Head, married, age 50, born Lealham, Kent; occupation: labourerHenry Lucas, labourerRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Selena Lucas, F, Wife, married, age 40, born Speldhurst, KentSelena Lucas
Ann Lucas, F, Daughter, single, age 21, born Heletiers, Hertford; occupation: stone masonAnn Lucas
Mary Lucas, F, Daughter, single, age 19, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: laundressMary Lucas
Harry Lucas, M, Son, single, age 15, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: laundressHarry Lucas
George Lucas, M, Son, single, age 8, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: laundressGeorge Lucas
Jennie Lucas, F, Daughter, age 11, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: tailorJennie Lucas
Kate Lucas, F, Daughter, age 5, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: scholarKate Lucas
Annie Lucas, F, Daughter, age 2, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation: scholarAnnie Lucas

3rd Apr 1881CensusJohn Cornwall, M, Head, married, age 56John Cornwell, gardenerRusthall1881 Census
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Ann Cornwall, F, Wife, married, age 50Mary Ann Cornwall [Skinner]
Albert Cornwall, M, Son, single, age 29Albert Cornwall
John Cornwall, M, Son, single, age 20John Cornwall

1883BirthEdith H. DivallRusthallJohn Divall's records

1889The Happy Valley from Rusthall CommonThe Happy Valley from Rusthall Common, Tunbridge Wells by Charles Reynolds & Co.Private collection

c 1890The Toad RockThe Toad Rock, Tunbridge Wells painted by Alfred F.W. BurtonAlfred Frederick William Burton, artistEnglish Homes and Villages

1896Toad RockToad Rock, Tunbridge WellsPrivate collection

1908Rusthall RoadRusthall Road, Tunbridge Wells photographed by Valentine's seriesPrivate collection

1909The Toad RockThe Toad Rock, Rusthall photographed by Judges, HastingsPrivate collection

1910Toad RockToad Rock, Tunbridge WellsPrivate collection

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