Tonbridge blog became a little obsessed with this idea having read the wonderful old book called Tonbridge Legends, written in about 1890, by an anonymous author. The thought has been hanging around somewhere in the back of my mind, but had pretty much remained lurking there for a year or so. Until I acquired an even older, and very scarce book, The Tunbridge Wells Guide, an Account of the Ancient and Present State of the Place by J. Sprange, 1814. This book talks briefly about each of surrounding towns and villages and the birth of the Wells. In the section on Tonbridge, or Tunbridge as it was correctly named then, it mentions the founding of the Priory at Tonbridge which, if you don't know stood roughly between where the Sainsbury's petrol station is now situated and the railway tracks (nothing like respecting our ancient historic building heritage eh!) I'll quote from Sprange's excellent guide:
"It is said that there was a subterraneous passage carried under the bed of the river, from this priory to the castle, in order to supply the garrison with necessaries in time of distress; but I can find no warrant for this report, except the uncertain voice of tradition."
Now granted that is by no means conclusive evidence of very much; except it confirms that the writer of Tonbridge Legends must have got the story from somewhere, therefore he didn't just make it up because it made good reading. There must somewhere be other written anecdotes, tales or maybe even facts about their existence. We may never know any more hard facts after so much time has passed, but it would be interesting to delve deeper....
1 comment:
The preface to Tonbridge Legends is dated 1866, so your Tunbridge Wells book pre-dates ours by 50-odd years.
Maybe it's time for a fresh search, although maybe at night-time during a storm may not be the best time...!
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