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Rusthall

The Toad Rock in 1910

Rusthall is a manor of eminence in this parish, which had anciently possessors who took their surname from it. Elias de Rusthall was proprietor of it in the reign of King Edward I and was a good benefactor to the chapel of Groombridge, in this parish. His descendants afterwards contracted their name to Rust, and continued in the possession of this manor till the reign of king Henry VI about which time it was alienated to Richard Waller, esq. of Groombridge, whose descendant, Richard Waller, esq. in the 26th year of queen Elizabeth, sold it to Mr. George Stacy, who conveyed it, by sale to Robert Byng, esq. of Wrotham, who died possessed of it in the 37th year of that reign …
extract from Hasted's History of Kent published in 1797

Parish & other records		Before 1500	1500 to 1550	1550 to 1600	1600 to 1650	1650 to 1700	1700 to 1725	1725 to 1750	1750 to 1775	1775 to 1800	1800 to 1825	1825 to 1850	1850 to 1875	1875 to 1900	1900 to 1925	1925 to 1950	1950 to 1975	1975 to 2000	After 2000

287	Births										4	31	145	105	1	1
1	Christenings														1
14	Marriages														8		2	4
6	Deaths												1			4		1
6	Burials												3	2	1

Books and other documents
Published	Title, author and references
	#N/A by #N/A ⇒ #N/A
1766	The History of Tunbridge Wells by Thomas Benge Burr ⇒ p. 33
1797	The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent - Volume III by Edward Hasted ⇒ p. 283
1830	Guide of Tunbridge Wells ⇒ p. 56
1840	New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen ⇒ p. 35; p. 130
1874	A History of The Weald of Kent with an outline of the History of the County to the present time, Volume II by Robert Furley, F.S.A. ⇒ p. 725
1882	Kelly's Directory of Kent by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. ⇒ entry
1883	Pelton's Illustrated Guide to Tunbridge Wells by J. Radford Thomson, M.A. ⇒ p. 125

Pictures						more pictures
View on Rusthall Common - 1830	Rusthall Church - 25th Aug 1860	Toad Rock, Rusthall Common - 25th Aug 1860	St Pauls, Rusthall - 1880	The Toad Rock - 1880	The Happy Valley from Rusthall Common - 1889	The Toad Rock - 1889
Rusthall Church & Schools - 1889	The Toad Rock - c 1890	Rusthall Common - 1896	Toad Rock - 1896	Happy Valley - c 1900	The Common - 1905	Red Lion Hotel, Lower Green - 1907

Historical records

1639	History			Rusthall	Burr's Tunbridge Wells
	The next year they began to build a few houses for the accommodation of the company at Southborough and at Rusthall

1665 to 1670	History			Rusthall	Burr's Tunbridge Wells
	In this space the assembly room (called Mount-Ephraim-House) was brought home from Rusthall to Mount Ephraim, on which a bowling green was inclosed, a tavern (now [in 1766] a lodging house but still retains its original name of the castle) was opened and many lodging houses were erected for the use of the company; but the triumph of the hill was short, Mount Sion became a formidable rival, and quickly eclipsed its growing splendor; for when the ball-room, the bowling green, and the lodging houses arose so near the spring, a less convenient distance was generally avoided Thus in the course of a few years we find Tunbridge forsaken; Southborough and Rusthall raised and ruined; Mount Ephraim drooping; and Mount Sion in the full bloom of prosperity; this last indeed not only rivalled, but despoiled her predecessors, and triumphantly transferred their ornaments to herself; for many houses were brought from Southborough, Rusthall, and Mount Ephraim, to be rebuilt on Mount Sion; and some, whole and entire as they were, were wheeled on sledges to be fixed in this new seat of favour.

1708	History			Rusthall	Burr's Tunbridge Wells
	The cold-bath at Rusthall was built by Mr. James Long at a very considerable expense. This bath is esteemed equal to any in the kingdom, being most plentifully supplied with the finest rock water from the neighbouring hills. The bath was at first adorned with amusing waterworks, and had a handsome and convenient house over it, in every room of which was something curious, calculated to divert and surprise the company. The ground and gardens belonging to the bath were elegantly laid out, and embellished with fountains, and other ornaments suitable to the place; in short, the whole was most completely disposed for a scene of amusement. But all this is now [1766] far gone in decay through the want of management.

1760 to 1840	History			Rusthall	Colbran's Tunbridge Wells
	... it [Rusthall Manor] was alienated to Mr. O'Connor, whose son John sold it to George Kelly, Esq., who resided at Tunbridge Wells, and served the office of high sheriff of Kent in 1762, in which year he was knighted. He died possessed of this manor in 1772, leaving his three sisters his co-heiresses, viz. Anne Shorey, widow, Hannah Tanner, widow, and Martha, wife of James Spagg, Esq. Mrs. Tanner died in 1780, since whose death and that of her two sisters, this manor has successively devolved on Miss Elizabeth Shorey and Thomas Christopher Gardner, Esq., the present lord.

1877	Birth		George W. Divall	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent

1880		The Happy Valley, Tunbridge Wells			Pelton's Tunbridge Wells

1880		The Toad Rock, Tunbridge Wells			Pelton's Tunbridge Wells

1880		St Paul's, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells		Rusthall	Pelton's Tunbridge Wells

1880		Dornden, Tunbridge Wells		Rusthall	Pelton's Tunbridge Wells
January 1881	Birth		Elizabeth M. Divall

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Rich. L. B. Cowell, M, Head, married, age 42, born Inverness, Scotland; occupation Major of H M Army	Richard L. B. Cowell	Rusthall, Speldhurst	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Harriett E. Cowell, F, Wife, married, age 45, born Speldhurst, Kent	Harriett E. Cowell
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Robt.H. Cowell, M, Son, age 14, born Speldhurst, Kent	Robert H. Cowell
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	John C. Cowell, M, Son, age 11, born Gosport, Hampshire	John C. Cowell
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Wm. Cowell, M, Son, age 9, born Brighton, Sussex	William Cowell
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Arthur Cowell, M, Son, age 7, born Speldhurst, Kent	Arthur Cowell
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Edward Cowell, M, Son, age 4, born Speldhurst, Kent	Edward Cowell
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Mercy Grigsby, F, Servant, single, age 35, born Lamberhurst, Sussex; occupation Domestic Servant	Mercy Grigsby
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Hannah Weller, F, Servant, single, age 14, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Domestic Servant	Hannah Weller

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Wm. Barber, M, Head, widowed, age 79, born Lamberhurst, Sussex; occupation Independent	William Barber	Cottage, Small Brook	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Sarah Jenkins, F, Head, single, age 50, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation Annuitant	Sarah Jenkins	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Louisa Jenkins, F, Sister, single, age 44, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation Annuitant	Louisa Jenkins
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Gertrude Jenkins, F, Sister, single, age 42, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation Annuitant	Gertrude Jenkins
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Sophia Jenkins, F, Sister, single, age 36, born Sedgley, Stafford; occupation Annuitant	Sophia Jenkins
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Francis Bonnyman, M, Nephew, single, age 4, born Kensington, Middlesex	Francis Bonnyman
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Mary Bonnyman, F, Niece, single, age 1, born Kensington, Middlesex	Mary Bonnyman
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Isabella Watt, F, Nurse, single, age 33, born Punjab, India; occupation Nurse	Isabella Watt

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Robert Hollamby, M, Head, married, age 46, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Gardener	Robert Hollamby	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Sarah Hollamby, F, Wife, married, age 47, born Hoath, Kent	Sarah Hollamby
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	George Hollamby, M, Son, single, age 18, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Painter	George Hollamby
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Kate Hollamby, F, Daughter, age 13, born Sandwich, Kent; occupation Scholar	Kate Hollamby
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Walter Hollamby, M, Son, age 11, born Wingham, Kent; occupation Scholar	Walter Hollamby
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Albert Hollamby, M, Son, age 10, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Scholar	Albert Hollamby
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	William Hollamby, M, Son, age 2, born Speldhurst, Kent	William Hollamby

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	John Corke, M, Head, widowed, age 63, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation Labourer	John Corke, farm labourer	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Lucy Corke, F, Daughter, single, age 21, born Groombridge, Kent; occupation Housekeeper	Lucy Corke

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Daniel Budd, M, Head, married, age 79, born Tunb Wells, Kent; occupation Labourer	Daniel Budd	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Martha Budd, F, Servant, married, age 63, born Tunb Wells, Kent	Martha Budd
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Julia Watson, F, Servant, single, age 17, born Chatham, Kent; occupation Servant	Julia Watson

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Elizabeth A. Young, F, Head, married, age 41, born Wateringbury, Kent; occupation Dressmaker	Elizabeth A. Young	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Henry Duley, M, Head, married, age 50, born Alfriston, Sussex; occupation Labourer	Henry Duley	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Hannah Duley, F, Wife, married, age 53, born Godstone, Surrey	Hannah Duley
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Catherine Duley, F, Daughter, age 13, born Ardingley, Sussex; occupation Scholar	Catherine Duley

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	John Ashby, M, Head, married, age 43, born Merton, Oxford; occupation Beerhouse Keeper	John Ashby, berhouse keeper	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Mary Ashby, F, Wife, married, age 45, born Eynesbury, Huntingdon	Mary Ashby
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Reginald Ashby, M, Son, age 8, born Thrybergh, York; occupation Scholar	Reginald Ashby

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Richard Allen, M, Head, married, age 49, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Labourer	Richard Allen, labourer	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Sarah Allen, F, Wife, married, age 46, born Speldhurst, Kent	Sarah Allen
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Harry Allen, M, Son, single, age 24, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Labourer	Harry Allen
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	James Allen, M, Son, single, age 21, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Labourer	James Allen
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Elizabeth Allen, F, Daughter, age 15, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Scholar	Elizabeth Allen
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Jane Allen, F, Daughter, age 9, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Scholar	Jane Allen
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Sarah A. Allen, F, Daughter, age 5, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Scholar	Sarah A. Allen

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Thomas Holmes, M, Head, married, age 58, born Heathfield, Sussex; occupation Labourer	Thomas Holmes	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Harriet Holmes, F, Wife, married, age 51, born Mayfield, Sussex	Harriet Holmes
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Thomas Holmes, M, Son, single, age 30, born Mayfield, Sussex; occupation Labourer	Thomas Holmes
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Sarah Holmes, F, Daughter, single, age 21, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation Servant	Sarah Holmes
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Charles Holmes, M, Son, single, age 12, born Wadhurst, Sussex; occupation Errand Boy	Charles Holmes
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	James Fry, M, Lodger, single, age 40, born T Wells, Kent; occupation Labourer	James Fry

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	George Walter, M, Head, married, age 28, born T Wells, Kent; occupation Plasterer	George Walter	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Nancy Walter, F, Wife, married, age 28, born Mayfield, Sussex	Nancy Walter
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	George Walter, M, Son, age 8, born T Wells, Kent; occupation Scholar	George Walter
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Frances Walter, F, Daughter, age 4, born T Wells, Kent; occupation Scholar	Frances Walter

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Henry Lucas, M, Head, married, age 50, born Lealham, Kent; occupation Labourer	Henry Lucas	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Selena Lucas, F, Wife, married, age 40, born Speldhurst, Kent	Selena Lucas
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Ann Lucas, F, Daughter, single, age 21, born Heletiers, Hertford; occupation Stone mason	Ann Lucas
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Mary Lucas, F, Daughter, single, age 19, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Laundress	Mary Lucas
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Harry Lucas, M, Son, single, age 15, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Laundress	Harry Lucas
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	George Lucas, M, Son, single, age 8, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Laundress	George Lucas
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Jennie Lucas, F, Daughter, age 11, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Tailor	Jennie Lucas
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Kate Lucas, F, Daughter, age 5, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Scholar	Kate Lucas
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Annie Lucas, F, Daughter, age 2, born Speldhurst, Kent; occupation Scholar	Annie Lucas

3^rd Apr 1881	Census	John Cornwall, M, Head, married, age 56	John Cornwall	Rusthall	1881 Census Tunbridge Wells, Kent
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Ann Cornwall, F, Wife, married, age 50	Ann Cornwall
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	Albert Cornwall, M, Son, single, age 29	Albert Cornwall
3^rd Apr 1881	Census	John Cornwall, M, Son, single, age 20	John Cornwall

1883	Birth		Edith H. Divall	Rusthall	John Divall's records

1889		The Happy Valley from Rusthall Common, Tunbridge Wells by Charles Reynolds & Co.			Private collection

c 1890		The Toad Rock, Tunbridge Wells painted by Alfred F.W. Burton	Alfred Frederick William Burton, artist		English Homes and Villages

1896		Toad Rock, Tunbridge Wells			Private collection

1908		Rusthall Road, Tunbridge Wells photographed by Valentine's series			Private collection

1909		The Toad Rock, Rusthall photographed by Judges, Hastings			Private collection

1910		Toad Rock, Tunbridge Wells			Private collection

Currently The Weald is at Database version 10.1 - 8th April 2013 and contains information on 336,313 people; 9,000 places; 613 maps; 3,116 pictures, engravings and photographs; and 223 books