I hope you have enjoyed reliving the memories of the Day at the Wells exhibition as much as I have enjoyed researching and writing about it.
The doors have long since closed but what has happened since and what will happen to the space in the future?
The current entrance to the underground exhibition space.
The site has lain dormant since March 2004 after closing due to a lack of visitors and the council citing problems of damp and limited disabled access, even a petition with 1,600 signatures couldn’t keep the place going.
As you can see in the pictures throughout this post there is nothing but an empty shell left, a very large empty shell at that. This vast space hasn’t been used in any capacity since closing. But just look at it, this is a prime piece of real estate in our biggest tourist hotspot. Why isn’t it in use? Granted it is a very complicated space to attempt to utilise but surely it can be done, the question is how though?
First of all let us think about what we need in town, and let’s not be selfish, let’s think what tourists would like in our town too, after all their pounds, pence and euros are very important. We have been entertaining visitors for over 400 years, that is how our town was founded and flourished and this is the tradition we should base our decision on.
One of the three large underground rooms.
So, what would tourists like to do on a day out that would also entertain local people day after day.
“A cinema!” I can hear you cry. Well there is a very fine arts cinema in town already so that isn’t necessary. “But we want a “blockbuster” cinema!” I can now hear you screaming. Yes that would be nice but there is one on the outskirts of town and to be honest do you go for a nice day out in a unfamiliar town and go and sit in the cinema? No, so if it’s no use to tourists then it’s no use to us. Remember, we need something that both parties can enjoy.
Retail? Not really, there is plenty in other parts of town. Let’s be a bit more cultured down this end of town.
I often hear talk of an ice rink being a popular choice, honestly is there that many people who want to pirouette about on ice every day to be able to sustain a permanent rink? No, thought not.
How about a museum, art gallery and cultural centre? A place to be able to see every object that our local museum owns. A place for school-children to sit and learn about all these wonderful items. A place to research. A place to create art, a place to see art, a place to be inspired. A place where tourists can learn how this wonderful town was founded. A place where locals can rediscover hidden treasures and learn about their own surroundings. Yes! This is more like it. Tourists always love visiting museums and galleries, and we all love to be inspired and learn more.
Question is: is there room for it? Let’s look at the photo of the room below which is the biggest in the space. It’s the room which used to house the Pantiles scene. Can you imagine this great space filled with wonderful works of art and ornate cases filled with our rarely-seen artifacts? Imagine this room packed with visitors all enjoying our history whilst a few look up overhead to a huge Tunbridge Ware blue whale hanging from the ceiling rivaling anything the Natural History Museum can manage.
The grand room, or the Anke Room as it might be so called.
The bottom floor could house our entire art collection, as it is all underground the lighting could be controlled as to not damage it. The whole building could be scattered with our entire collection of objects and antiques and amongst it all small pockets of quiet spaces where you can sit, read, explore, create and learn.
How about we open up the floor so we can see and hear the River Grom flowing below? Imagine how wonderful a soundtrack to your visit that would make, as a bonus you could sit on the edge of some wooden decking and dangle your feet into the cool waters.
No need to install a coffee shop or a gift shop as these can be placed into the vastly under-utilised Corn Exchange to help their micro-economy boom. Disable access? No problem, surely the technology in lifts and access has improved in the past seven years that we can cater for any disability.
Another of the three large underground rooms.
There were reports in the local media recently that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council have been looking at what to do with the site over the next year. Head of Economic Development David Candlin said "In response to feedback from the strategic plan consultation, we would want to engage with the landlord to explore future business opportunities for the site." This is the perfect time to get this part of town regenerated and now, Mr Candlin, you have your perfect plan.
We’ve also had some great ideas generated from our Facebook page, here are some of them:
Alun 'Slick' Elder-Brown says “Personally, I would like the a few more antique shops and bookshops on the Pantiles. The Pantiles, to the rest of world speaks eloquence and style: it promises Regency. In reality, it's far from it: too many elitist boutiques and such-like; run by the wives of bankers looking to lose money. The only shops of any note are the kitchen shop, Steve Marshalls bookshop and the Futon shop.
Philip Dhont doesn't really care what we have, he says “Just bring us back a day at the wells!!!!!!!”
Carl Lewis says “Maybe turn the area into a better museum. I know that the one the town has is good, but there is so much in storage that is never shown. A cinema is a good idea, and should be named after one of the old cinemas that used to be in town.”
James Walker says “Cinema would be good - but it has to be part of a redevelopment (again) of the whole Corn Exchange bit of the Pantiles... such a wasted, underutilised space.”
Samuel Marlow says that it would “be good just as space, for exhibitions, photo or video studios.”
Denise Rogers says “I do think the Pantiles needs something for tourists. Why did the exhibition close, did it not have enough customers to be cost effective?”
Karen Gaynard says “Indie cinema! With comfy chairs and Taywells ice-cream. Somewhere local filmmakers can showcase their stuff. And a proper tapas bar with barrels dotted about the place :) *reach for the stars*”
I would imagine that it would be a fair few more than 1,600 people now that would want any of these ideas on their Pantiles and only time will tell if Mr Candlin, the Council and Targetfollow pay attention and give us anything.
Well, that’s it, it’s been a hard but utterly fascinating five weeks of research and writing and I couldn’t have done it without help. Thank you very kindly to all those lovely people who took the time to contribute their memories and thoughts. Thank you to Carolyn Gordon and Catherine Pitt for the generous loan of their guide books to help build this article. Thank you to Ian Beavis, Rachel Heminway-Hurst and all the kind people at Tunbridge Wells Museum for their help. Thank you to Juliana Delaney of CEO Continuum Leading Attractions and Monique White of The Continuum Group Ltd, the people that built the exhibition for their generous loan of materials. Finally thank you to you for reading.
Why not take a look at some of the images from our Tunbridge Wells Project of what the inside of the space looks like now to help you dream up your own uses for the space. Let me know in the comments what you think and any ideas you might have for its future. You never know who might be reading.
Click the photo or here to see all 90 of my photographs (4 pages).
