The Postcard
A postally unused postcard that was published by the Graphic Studios of the Photochrom Co. Ltd. The card has a divided back.
The Photochrom Co. Ltd.
The Photochrom Co. Ltd. of London and Royal Tunbridge Wells originally produced Christmas cards before becoming a major publisher and printer of tourist albums, guide books, and postcards.
These mainly captured worldwide views as real photos, or were printed in black & white, monochrome, and color.
They also published many advertising, comic, silhouette, novelty, panoramic, and notable artist-signed cards in named series as well. The huge number of titles that Photochrom produced may well exceed 40,000.
In 1896 they took over Fussli’s London office established three years earlier, and began publishing similar photo-chromolithographic postcards after securing the exclusive English licence for the Swiss photochrom process.
This technique was used to produce a great number of view-cards of both England and Europe. While they captured the same fine details as the Swiss prints, their colours were much softer and reduced.
Apart from their better known photochroms, they produced their Celesque series of view-cards printed in tricolor.
One of the largest unnamed series that Photochrom produced was of view-cards printed in brown rotogravure. Many of these cards were simply hand coloured with a dominant red and blue, which gives these cards a distinct appearance. They are similar to cards produced in their Photogravure and Velvet Finish Series.
Photochrom postcard series include:
-- Night Series - Line block halftone over a blue tint depicting London.
-- Carbofoto Series - Black & white real photo cards.
-- Sepiatone Series - Sepia real photo cards.
-- Grano Series - View-cards printed in black & white.
-- Exclusive Photo-Color Series - View-cards printed in colour.
-- Duotype Process Series - View-cards printed in two tones.
The Pantiles
The Pantiles is a Georgian colonnade in the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Formerly known as The Walks and the (Royal) Parade, it leads from the well that gave the town its name. The area was created following the discovery of a chalybeate spring in the early 17th century, and is now a popular tourist attraction.
The Pantiles today includes a variety of specialist shops, art galleries, cafés, restaurants and bars as well as a Farmers market held outside every other Saturday. Throughout the summer jazz bands play outside on the bandstand attracting hundreds of people.
The Chalybeate Spring
The chalybeate spring is situated at the north-eastern end of The Pantiles. The spring is overlooked by the Dipper's Hall. The waters are rich in iron, giving them a unique taste.
Tourists can sample the spring water which is served by costumed 'Dippers' every summer.
The Development of the Wells
Dudley Lord North, a distinguished courtier during the reign of King James I, discovered the waters in 1606. Having lived a fashionably excessive lifestyle, he retired to the countryside (in nearby Eridge) in an unsuccessful attempt to repair his health.
Travelling through woodland on his return to London, he discovered the waters and decided to try them. He found his health completely restored, and lived to the age of 80.
With public interest aroused, Lord Abergavenny cleared the area of brushwood, sank wells and surrounded them with stone paving and railings. The waters subsequently attracted other visitors, who also claimed their health to be restored.
Although few in number, due to the lack of accommodation nearby (at this time, the nearest being in Tunbridge (now Tonbridge), some 5 miles to the north), the visitors were of high social standing. They included Henrietta Maria of France, wife of King Charles I, six weeks after the birth of her son (later to become King Charles II) whose party camped in opulent tents erected at Bishops Down, due to the lack of nearby lodgings.
Originally referred to as Frant Wells, they were later renamed Queen Mary’s Wells, in honour of Queen Mary II, and were only later given the present name of Tunbridge Wells.
The Upper and Lower Walks were created in 1638, when an existing bank of earth stretching south-west from the wells was levelled and planted with a double row of trees. Wooden buildings were constructed on both sides of the Walks.
Post-Restoration Development
The wells were neglected and almost forgotten during the English civil wars. Following the Restoration, several improvements were made to the immediate area, including construction of an assembly room and bowling green.
In 1664, following a dangerous illness, the queen (Catherine of Braganza) was ordered to drink the waters, increasing their popularity.
In 1687, a fire destroyed the wooden buildings located on either side of the Walks. The buildings were later rebuilt with the colonnades which give the Pantiles its distinctive character today. By 1697, coffee houses had been developed in the area.
Background to the name 'Pantiles'
In 1700 the Upper Walks were paved with pantiles.
The pantiles used to pave the Upper Walks should not be confused with roofing pantiles. The paving installed there comprised one-inch thick square tiles made from heavy wealden clay, so named because they were shaped in a wooden pan before firing.
In 1793 the pantiles were mostly removed and substituted with stone flagging – the region was then called The Parade.
In 1887 the old name was revived.
Events
The Pantiles hosts various festivals during the year, including a food festival, a music festival featuring local bands, a fashion market and an open air art exhibition.
During the summer, the Pantiles hosts a jazz season, featuring free outdoor jazz concerts on Thursday evenings where musicians play on the historic bandstand.
Cultural References to the Pantiles
The Pantiles was used as a filming location for the 1967 musical 'Half a Sixpence' starring Tommy Steele and Julia Foster.
In 1991 it was used as a backdrop for the band World Of Twist, on the cover of their debut album, 'Quality Street', with the group dressed in period costume.
In 2007 it was used in a Christmas television advert for the Morrisons supermarket chain starring the singer Lulu. This caused some local grumbling because Morrisons had only recently closed their Tunbridge Wells store.
Undaunted, Morrisons returned to the Pantiles for their 2009 Christmas advert starring Richard Hammond and Denise van Outen.
