Here’s a lovely thing which I am going to take to the Tunbridge Wells PBFA Book Fair on Saturday 3rd February. You can find out more about the fair here.
It’s just one image from an album of 24 sketches of Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area. The original drawings provide a new insight into the town and surroundings in 1844, just before the railway arrived in 1846. They are by an unknown person, almost certainly a woman. One has a reference to ‘Mrs. H. Sykes and myself.’ It is possible they stayed at The Calverley Hotel as it features in several views; the building still stands and opened as a hotel in 1840. Local history experts may be able to trace the artist from lists of visitors which were sometimes published in libraries and local newspapers. Who was she? I’d love to know!
Taken together the sketches record a visit of just over a month, between 19th August and 28th September 1844. The artist also toured the local area including Eridge, Speldhurst, Bayham Abbey, Penshurst, Somerhill, Southborough, Crockhurst, Poundsbridge, and Great Bounds. Some of these locations now form the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells and all are just a short carriage ride from the centre.
You can read more about it and see more photographs here.
And the book fairs have started again! Tunbridge Wells will be my fourth of the year already and I urgently need new stock. If you have any books, manuscripts, albums, ephemera, posters, magazines or anything else on paper please do call me on 07769 31 88 95. It’s worth a phone call!
Manuscript, 1844. Unique.
