Fonthill
As I start to write this I assume you will know this place as Tunbridge Wells Forum, then you
will laugh and say, “that used to be the public toilets!”
There is a image of a building on this site in 1719, in an engraving by Kip, available as a
postcard from Tunbridge Wells Museum. It is thought that the cottage lived in by Mrs
Humphreys, who served chalybeate spring water to Lord North in 1606, was here. By 1719
‘The Wells’ are enclosed with a triangular area and a dipper can be seen serving water to one
of the many visitors. An Act of Parliament passed in 1739 protected the Common against
building encroachment, and at this time a map by Bowra shows a ‘forge, round houfe (sic)
and spring’. An ordnance survey map of 1872 names the site ‘Fonthill’ and by 1909 there is a
Fire Engine Station here as well as the Smithy.
The last reference of the old buildings is in a 1937 Kelly’s Directory: Norman & Goward
coach builders, A. G. May Cabinet Maker, workshop, Arthur P Aubin, Farrier and William J
Curd were all based at Fonthill. In 1940 the Fonthill Rest Shelter, owned by Tunbridge Wells
Corporation, is open, and the three arched doors must have looked out over a much quieter
London Road than we now have, giving people the chance to sit inside and rest, as well as
use the toilets. During World War Two a decontamination centre was set up here, and after
the war some of the space was divided up and used by the council. In the late 1970s local
entrepreneur Martyn Hepworth leased the building from TWBC and set up a brass rubbing
centre.
The building was empty in late 1992 when a group of friends, who had been running live
music events around town under the banner “The Rumble Club”, stood on the London Road
roundabout late at night, and decided Fonthill would make an ideal live music venue. Many
now famous acts have played here on their climb to fame – a reason to always turn up in time
to see the support – Oasis, Dodgy, Biffy Clyro, The Libertines, Adele, Frank Turner, The
Vaccines, Muse… There have also been nights of film, poetry and comedy – including Ross
Noble. Currently an art installation ‘Profound Riches’ can be viewed as you pass by, part of
the Hoodwink project.
In recent years the Forum owners took on the three Pantiles Pubs – The Ragged Trousers, The
Duke of York and The Sussex Arms, and expanded an earlier idea – to show case local acts at
various venues on late May Bank Holiday weekend as ‘unfest’. The Forum will also be the
venue for an All-Dayer on Saturday July 13th as part of Fusion Tunbridge Wells – enter your
act www.fusiontw.com to be in with a chance to play. Marking twenty years since opening,
the name The Forum may stick around longer than Fonthill!
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