Once a local spring was discovered, Royal Tunbridge Wells developed into a spa town. The first people to visit and reside there were thought to be in good health because the spring was believed to have healing properties.
Those who naturally enjoyed sports and formed clubs to play their favorite sport in a social setting were among this group of people. Along with the clubs founded in the 18th and 19th centuries, a large number of new sports clubs were formed in the second half of the 20th century to cater to minority sports like Ju Jitsu and Zumba fitness classes.
Given that it was founded in 1782, the cricket club is essentially the city of Tunbridge Wells’s first sports organization. The club is still going strong with 5 Saturday league teams and a strong youth policy. Their cricket field, the Nevill Ground, was built in 1895 and is currently one of the venues used for Kent County matches. It was taken over during the First World War to graze cavalry horses, and again during the Second World War to house troops.
Tunbridge Wells FC was founded in 1886 and has used eight different grounds and multiple name changes. Even though they were never a league team, they were a force to be reckoned with in the 1920s and 1930s. They frequently had lengthy cup runs and crowds of a few thousand fans. Together with Littlehampton FC, they have the distinction of having participated in the senior cup game with the longest penalty shootout in Europe—40 attempts were required before Tunbridge Wells prevailed! The team that disbanded in 1966 gave rise to the current organization.
A few golf clubs can be found in or close to Tunbridge Wells. The Nevill Golf Club was established in 1914, just before the First World War began. It managed to survive and even thrive despite this. A highly regarded 9-hole course is operated by the Tunbridge Wells Golf Club. Obviously, it can’t compete with 18-hole courses, but players who travel to play there have positive things to say about it.
An effective competitive club that was established in 1901 is the Royal Tunbridge Wells Monson Swimming Club. They have a base at the sports complex, but they also hold frequent training sessions in the pool at the Tonbridge School in nearby Tonbridge. The town’s original swimming pools are where the name Monson came from. The youngest-ever team of swimmers crossing the channel in 1966 was one of the noteworthy accomplishments. They have always been a dynamic force in swimming in the Home Counties, and that dynamism persists today. The club has produced several national champions as well as Olympians and Paralympians.
In the middle of the 1930s, the Squash club was established, but it was quickly shut down for the duration of World War II. Supplies were kept in the courts for later use. In 1947, it reopened, and it has been operational ever since. There are 3 courts with an online scheduling tool.
The rugby club’s beginnings can be roughly dated to the same period as those of the squash club, but it wasn’t until 1970 that it was made open to individuals other than the Skinners School’s “Old Boys.” The club fields multiple teams and plays Rugby Union. England players Colin Smart and Martin Corry are two of the club’s well-known former members.
Numerous smaller sports clubs in the town offer a wide range of other sports, including cycling, martial arts, tennis, badminton, and more. There is almost certainly something for you if you’re a sporty type looking to live in the area!