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 12th May 7.30pm at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT
'Lost Naval Dockyards of Kent'
- an illustrated talk by Richard Holme. This is just one aspect of a huge
subject in which he has exceptional expertise. Lavishly illustrated, this will cover
Chatham, Sheerness, Woolwich and Deptford dockyards, all closed now but
possessing numerous attractive historic buildings, many Grade I listed. Conserving
them for future viable use is a challenge in many cases. In the 18th and early 19th
centuries, naval dockyards like these were the largest industrial complexes in the
UK, possibly the world. The talk will also reveal some curious episodes in each
dockyard’s history. Who would guess, for example, Donald Trump’s connection
to Chatham dockyard! Richard is newsletter editor of the Naval Dockyards Society
and a visiting researcher in maritime history at Newcastle University.

