Another theory suggests that the name is a contraction of "town of bridges", due to the large number of streams the High Street originally crossed.

Tonbridge stands on a spur of higher land where the marshy River Medway could be more easily forded.

[5] For much of its existence, the town remained to the north of the river, since the land to the south was subject to extensive seasonal flooding.

[8] A motte and bailey castle was built here in the 11th century by Richard Fitz Gilbert,[9] son of the murdered guardian of the infant William the Conqueror.

William Rufus died from an arrow wound a few years later, in an incident generally reported as a hunting accident, when he was shot by Walter Tirel, Richard Fitz Gilbert's son-in-law, & born in Tonbridge himself.

The town and Tonbridge Castle were rebuilt after this and in the 13th century became an official residence and records repository of Edward II.

The walls were never built, perhaps because the castle's large outer bailey could have easily accommodated the townspeople in times of strife.

[11] The historic core of the town still contains a large number of working buildings dating from the 15th century: the oldest is Port Reeves in East Street.

Later, the town and its surroundings became famous for the production of finely inlaid wooden cabinets, boxes and other objects called Tunbridgeware, which were sold to tourists who were taking the waters at the nearby springs at Tunbridge Wells.

[19] On the announcement of the results, several thousand people started to hurl stones and cobbles at each other in the High Street near the Rose and Crown Hotel.

The guilty driver was a Mr Walter Arnold of East Peckham, who was fined one shilling for speeding at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) in a 2 mph (3 km/h) zone in Paddock Wood, in his Karl Benz powered car.

Ruth Ellis, the last woman in the United Kingdom to be hanged, was married[22] at the registry office in Tonbridge on 8 November 1950.

[23] On 22 February 2006, over £53.1 million was stolen from the Securitas cash-handling depot in Vale Road to the east of the High Street.

After the Norman Conquest Richard fitz Gilbert acquired Tonbridge and the surrounding area, this district being known as the Lowy of Tunbridge.

Tonbridge, together with its neighbour Tunbridge Wells, has been designated by the South East Assembly as a Regional Hub.

[citation needed] There are relatively few high street chain stores that have tended to move to large shopping centres such as Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Bluewater, although there are some major retail outlets a short walk from the High Street along Canon Lane, on the outskirts of the town.

[citation needed] The Borough Council has published proposals to improve the town's shopping and leisure facilities.

From the early post-war years, Crystalate was very much involved in producing the 1 mini-disc, which was sold in Marks & Spencers, Woolworths and probably other stores for 6d (2.5p) each between 1930 and 1937, with labels such as Crown, Embassy and Eclipse.

The River Centre was officially opened in January 2003, and hosted a wide variety of events from product launches to awards ceremonies, as well as international church conferences.

Royal Mail's TN postcode main sorting office is located on Vale Road in the town.

Before World War I, aviation pioneers Frank Gooden and Richard Johnson tried to establish an airfield to the north of Tonbridge at Cage Green Fields, at the top of the ridge which The Ridgeway ascends, and east of Shipbourne Road.

The 2007 Tour de France passed through the centre of Tonbridge on 8 July, as part of the first stage (London to Canterbury).

On the club's 50th anniversary in 1998, it was decided to make a name change in honour of Lord Colin Cowdrey of Tonbridge.

Its large secluded ground features a modern pavilion, offering facilities to club members and visitors alike.

The club competes in the Kent Cricket League Division IV on a Saturday and plays friendly matches, under the banner of Tonbridge Exiles CC, on a Sunday.

The 2009/10 season saw the club's first XV win promotion and go unbeaten in the league for the second year running, they played their rugby in 2010/11 in London 1.

Matthew Tingate broke the Tonbridge Amateur Men's Football record for own goals in a single season in 2021.

As well as a gym and exercise class facilities, it hosts community events, conferences and markets.

It housed a cinema until 2017[53] and was also formerly a concert venue – The Stone Roses, The Orb and Primal Scream are among acts who performed there in the 1980s and 1990s.

[54] Tonbridge also hosts numerous community events, including a Christmas festival when the high street is closed to traffic, a firework display in November organised by Tonbridge Round Table,[55] a dragon boat race and a summer fete in the castle grounds (which is also the location of numerous musical performances in the summer months).