Tonbridge / Tunbridge

[suttontrust]

As a Northerner, I need help.  I have relatives in the 19th century in "Tunbridge".  1871 census shows them in Taylor St., Tunbridge.  But the registration district is "Tonbridge", according to FreeBMD and "Tunbridge" according to the GRO.  I can only find a Taylor St. in Royal Tunbridge Wells.  I know this is a different place entirely from Tonbridge.  So did these people live in modern Tonbridge or in Tunbridge Wells?

[Adi1962]

Suttontrust

I will have a look for you and see what I can find out. Would they be on the 1841 Census

Also note you have a Godden interest. My maternal line is Godden, but at my current stage of research are in Kent. Would be interested to see if they is any connection. Have a look on my web site, all I know of my Godden line is there

Adrian

[Hackstaple]

Good question that. Quite certainly, in 1841 the spelling Tunbridge was not used. There was Tonbridge and Tonbridge Wells, where the spa was. Search through Genuki UK and you may easily find the answer to your question. They may have been in one registration district at the time you refer to.

[Adi1962]

Suttontrust

Hackstaple is right Tonbridge was the accepted spelling then and fell into the registration district of Tonbridge Wells.

Will let you know what the 1841 Census has to say

Adrian

[suttontrust]

Thanks.  If you have the 1841 census it would be great if you could find John Reed aged about 4.  Probably Tonbridge but not certainly.

[atth2o]

Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells are two Parishes within the Tunbridge Registration district.  Tunbridge Wells is best described as a "city within Tonbridge" as it is located in the lower middle area of the Parish of Tonbridge.  Tonbridge is sometimes referred to as Tunbridge which later became the accepted spelling of the Registration District.

From what you have described, your ancestors lived in  the Parish of Tunbridge Wells which was part of Tonbridge/Tunbridge Registration district.

[joycroucher]

I live in Tonbridge.

Tunbridge Wells is approximately 6/7 miles from Tonbridge.  The registration district for both towns now is Tunbridge Wells but Tonbridge did once have its own register office.

There is no Taylor Street in Tonbridge - it must therefore be in Tunbridge Wells.  In the 1800s Tonbridge was actually spelt with a U - so its a little confusing

Hope this helps. 

Joy

[Peter Shearan]

A bit late but I've only just seen your message. If you had gone to www.streetmap.co.uk in the first place you would have seen where Taylor Street was - although the often confusing Tonbridge/Tunbridge nomenclature could have fooled you! It was all the railway's fault - it was them who originated the change of Tunbridge (the much older place) to Tonbridge. Tunbridge Wells only came into being because there was a chalybeate spring (iron water) there and the Georgians turned it into a spa.

Regards Peter Shearan

[smudwhisk]

To add to the confusion, they're both pronounced the same with the "u", unless of course it's changed in the last 30 years since we moved from Tonbridge to the Midlands!

Smudwhisk
southerner gone north!