TUNBRIDGE WELLS DISTRICT
Entertainment Venues
From Theatres & Cinemas to bingo halls, Ghost stories abound in the Entertainment world of England, from shadow figures seen to unexplained noises heard. Kent is not exempt from those stories and witness experiences. Paranormal events are held across the county in some places of entertainment, so don't forget to check out the Events in Kent page. Here is what GofEPS has so far for the Tunbridge Wells District
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​If you hear of any reports of Paranormal Activity at any of the listed places that aren't reported here, or you know of any not mentioned, please get in touch. Thank you
1. ASSEMBLY HALL
Crescent Road Tunbridge Wells TN1
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
It is yet to be confirmed of any paranormal activity within the building, but Actor Mark Collier has worked at many theatres and shared this story from his travels:
"Above the stage in The Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, is a coil of rope. The story goes that one night, during a play, one of the actors had to pretend to hang himself on stage. Tragedy struck when the illusion went wrong, and the actor's neck was broken. Something terrible happened when anyone tried to remove the rope, and the noose was left permanently coiled above the stage.
I have personally spoken to people who have worked in the building in the past. They have heard noises, had strange feelings, and said they don't like staying there at night when it's closed.
Assembly Hall Theatre is a 1,000+seated, multi-purpose venue in central Tunbridge Wells.
Sarah Baker started the town's theatre establishment in 1786. However, due to declining support, the town theatre on the Pantiles closed in 1843, and there wasn't another until 1902 when the Opera House became the centre for theatrical arts. Then, in 1931, it became a Cinema.
The Assembly Hall was built by the Tunbridge Wells Corporation and designed by Percy Thomas and Ernest Prestwich. The Marchioness Camden formally opened it on Empire Day, 24th May 1939, as the town celebrated the 50th anniversary of the granting of its charter in 1889.
Locals hoped the Assembly Hall Theatre would serve as a modern theatre and a community venue. Mayor Alderman Westbrook told guests at the opening that 'today's proceedings mark a definite step forward and a progressive policy.'
The original building cost was £57,000 – and the auditorium was painted green and black.
During the Second World War, the theatre was used as a dancehall for troops, and film shows and events were held to raise money for the war effort.
It was listed in 1995 as a place of special architectural and historical interest and has undergone several renovations over the years. The colours buff green and silver in the Assembly Hall auditorium are the original choices from when it opened in 1939. They were restored during the refurbishment work in 2001-2003.
The building is an impressive example of the Art Deco style. When it opened, it was the only theatre and entertainment centre of its size in the Southeast.
By 2001, the theatre was attracting audiences of over 150,000 each year.
The theatre today hosts a variety of popular music, comedy, family, dance, drama, classical music, various events, and an annual pantomime.
2. TRINITY ART CENTRE
Church Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
Unsurprisingly, the Trinity, having once been a church, is also said to be haunted. When the venue was deconsecrated, the bell ropes were removed, but the bells themselves were left behind.
It has been said that when the building is empty, there is an eerie chill, and the bells can be heard. Lawrence Brown, often the last person to lock up at night, said that locking the doors of Trinity and switching off the lights can be a hair-raising experience. The final switches that need to be turned off lie directly under the spot where the bell ringer's rope would have swung, and he often crossed the stage late at night and heard sounds coming from the bell tower.
Could the former bell ringer, who is said to have fallen to his death there in 1892, still be present?
The Holy Trinity church, strategically located in the heart of Tunbridge Wells, was the first Parish church in the town. Tunbridge Wells, a developing spa town, lacked church capacity and had no parish church, making the establishment of Holy Trinity a significant event in the town's history.
In 1818, the Church Commissioners created a fund to provide new churches in growing towns, and the residents and visitors decided to apply for it. Led by Lord Abergavenny, a subscription fund was started, which raised £10,591 in construction costs. Architect Decimus Burton (1800–1881), who had already been commissioned to design villas in Calverley Park, agreed to design the building to a then-popular Gothic Revival architectural style. Built in locally quarried sandstone from Calverley Quarry, the first stone was laid on 17 August 1827. Constructed by Mr Barrett of Tunbridge Wells, the finished church, which cost just over £12,000 to complete, including fitting out, was consecrated in September 1829.
Following the fall in congregation numbers after World War II, several churches in the town needed significant maintenance. The Holy Trinity, the largest church with a congregation of 1,600 people, was considered no longer fit for purpose, so it was decided to decommission it. The church held its last religious service in 1972, and it was deconsecrated.
Thanks to the unwavering dedication of local people who campaigned against its destruction, the Trinity Theatre was born from the ashes of the Holy Trinity church.
When a plan to transform the building into a community theatre and arts centre was approved in 1976, the community rallied together and raised an impressive £50,000 in just six months. This achievement paved the way for a long-term lease agreement with the Diocese of Rochester in January 1977.
Subsequent grants have allowed the developments to include a cafeteria, public bar, and redevelopment of the side vestibules to allow for art shows and local art classes.
Lawrence Brown, Trinity's Youth Theatre Co-Ordinator, reported,'' We have regular visitors who arrive at our door with an air of shock and disbelief as they remember the building as a well-attended period church!''
Many of the original features of the building have been preserved, allowing visitors to step back in time. Notably, one of the stained glass windows is believed to be one of only two remaining works by the 19th-century glass painter Joseph Hale Miller, adding a touch of historical charm to the Trinity Theatre.
3. THE OPERA HOUSE
88 Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
Several Paranormal Investigations have taken place at the Opera House over recent years, each having said to have had some good results. One of the theatre boxes is reportedly haunted by the ghosts of construction workers. As reported on page 6 of the Kentish Gazette on Saturday 06th September 1902 -A serious accident on Monday (1st September) occurred at Tunbridge Wells, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to four others. The Plasterers were at work in connection with the erection of the new Opera House on Mount Pleasant when the scaffolding on which they were standing suddenly gave way, and they fell a considerable distance to the ground. A stonemason named Murrell died on the spot, and the four others were so badly injured as to necessitate their removal to the hospital, where two of them lie in a precarious condition. Further information found via newspaper reports of the inquest and ancestry: The men were all plasterers working for Jarvis Building Company. Jesse Albert Murrell, age 63, Gabriel Cottage Calverley Rd, died instantly. Arthur Cross, aged 42, from Victoria Rd, was unconscious, had a broken thigh, smashed knee, and broken spinal column, and died in the hospital the next day. Frank Royle, 52, from Stanley Rd, was severely cut about his head but recovered and continued his work as a plasterer. Henry Harmer, 59, from Albert Street, also had injuries to his head and an injury to his back. He survived but was an invalid. The inquest ruled it an accident.
A small group of determined actors, refusing to be deterred by challenges, came together and launched the Tunbridge Wells Dramatic and Musical Society in 1889. They built their stage and scenery, but their true ambition was to have a permanent home, a dream they relentlessly pursued.
The first production was two plays—A Blighted Being and My Preserver—performed at the Gymnasium in Calverley Road. The first musical show, The Pirates of Penzance, was performed in 1890. This was just the beginning of a rich tapestry of performances, including a wide variety of straight plays, Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas, and one or two Grand Operas, each offering a unique and captivating experience.
At this time, the Society had a distinguished President, Sir Henry Irving. The Society played at the Great Hall (now replaced by shops) but was constantly frustrated by its lack of a permanent home, a place where they could truly establish their identity and legacy.
On 16th October 1902, the Tunbridge Wells Opera House, a unique blend of Edwardian Baroque and Neo-Georgian styles, was opened at the top end of Mount Pleasant Road. The exterior, with its Baroque dome, was a sight to behold. It originally had a nude statue of Mercury on the top, a feature that sparked both awe and controversy, but was removed in the 1920s, either because it was unstable or because residents viewed it as sinful.
In 1923, the main staircase was altered to include a significant piece of history, an 18th-century painting of revellers, adding a touch of the past to the Opera House.
It was purchased by Union Cinemas and reopened as a cinema on 03rd August 1931.
The Opera House was bombed in the Second World War. The bomb did not explode but instead got caught in the proscenium arch above the stage and set fire to the inside.
In 1949, the theatre was again redecorated, and unfortunately, due to fire damage, the four paintings in the dome and the one over the proscenium arch were painted over.
Following the Second World War, the Opera House faced the threat of demolition. However, it was saved and repurposed as a bingo hall in the 1960s. This transformation, coupled with its Grade II listing in November 1966, marks a significant chapter in its evolution.
It has been in the hands of JD Wetherspoons since 1996. operating as a pub and restaurant.