Welcome to the website of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society. The Society is an independent organisation
which campaigns for the conservation and improvement of this attractive town with its important heritage and rich cultural life.
- see more about our objectives and background;
- get the latest news on current issues;
- download our latest Newsletter;
- check out our latest Publication (use the Publications tab to buy on-line);
- send us your comments on any of our activities or on current issues in the town.
New book on old breweries now available to order
The long anticipated publication by the Local History Group on the history of old breweries in Tunbridge Wells by Guy Sankey has just been published. With fifty years experience in the licensed trade in the town Guy knows more about brewing in Tunbridge Wells than any other person. Over the years he has amassed a collection of brewery memorabilia that is second to none. His particular interest is Kelsey’s on St Johns Road. He has now used that knowledge to produce this account of the history, not only of Kelsey’s, but of seven other breweries in and around the town.
In A4 landscape format with 72 pages in full colour it costs just £9.95. You can get your copy by clicking on the link above to our Publications page and ordering on-line.
Our next event for 2022:
Thursday 8th September 7.30pm at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
'Some Local Buildings by George Devey'
- an illustrated talk by our past President Dr Philip Whitbourn on local buildings designed by the important and influential Victorian
architect, George Devey. Works will include some for Lord De L’Isle at Penshurst;
some for Samuel Morley, MP at Leigh; some at Benenden for the Earl of
Cranbrook; and Devey’s Calverley Grange, here in Tunbridge Wells, for Neville
Ward, son of John Ward, proprietor of the Calverley Estate. Thought to have
been an influence on the likes of Norman
Shaw and Philip Webb, Devey was
certainly an influence on the Arts and
Crafts architect and designer C.F.A.
Voysey, who worked in his office.
This is the rearranged date for the cancelled talk on 14th April.
