Home About Us Events Current Issues LocalHistoryGroup Publications Newsletters Annual Awards HeritageOpenDays Join Us Contact Us/Links Archive

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.


New book on Trinity now available to order


This book has been produced to coincide with the opening of Trinity tower to the public. Today, the historical significance of this splendid building and the role it plays in the artistic and cultural life of the town are widely recognised. Yet less than sixty years ago it was threatened with demolition. The book explains the campaign fought by the local Civic Society, and others, to save the building and find a new and worthwhile role that would safeguard its future.

Brian Lippard has lived or worked in Tunbridge Wells since 1971. He is a member and past chairman of the RTW Civic Society, and is currently chairman of its Local History Group. He has had access to the archives of the Civic Society, Trinity, TWBC and the Courier newspaper. He also wishes to acknowledge the unfailing support he has received from Dr. Philip Whitbourn OBE. Without his help this book would be a shadow of what it is now.

In A5 portrait format it costs just £4.95. You can get your copy by clicking on the link above to our Publications page and ordering on-line.


Our next event for 2024:

Thursday 14th March 7.30pm at Christ Church, High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT

'A Brief History of Time in the Planning Department' - a talk by Ruth Chambers.
Now one of the Society's invaluable sources of expertise, Ruth worked at Tunbridge Wells Planning Department for 36 years. In that time, she saw many changes in policy, pressures and priorities, and she lived through how the town altered. She will tell us about the day-to-day working of the department; what it was like as seen from the inside; and will recount anecdotes of interesting cases and some details of a few of the bigger developments with which she was involved.


Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter


Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society - Registered Charity No. 276545