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
**HISTORY**
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 no other theatre opened until 1902, when the Opera House became the centre for theatrical arts. Then, in 1931, it became a Cinema.
The Tunbridge Wells Corporation built the Assembly Hall, 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 receiving 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 £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.
Today, the theatre hosts a variety of popular music, comedy, family, dance, drama, classical music, various events, and an annual pantomime
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
It is yet to be confirmed whether there is 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, an actor 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 spoken to people who have worked in the building in the past. They have heard noises, felt strange, and said they don't like staying there at night when it's closed
2. TRINITY ART CENTRE
Church Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1
**HISTORY**
The Holy Trinity Church was the first Parish church in the town. As a developing spa town, Tunbridge Wells lacked church capacity and had no parish church. In 1818, the Church Commissioners created a fund to provide new churches in growing towns, and residents and visitors decided to apply for it. Led by Lord Abergavenny, a subscription fund was started, which raised the £10,591 needed for construction. Architect Decimus Burton (1800–1881), who had already been commissioned to design villas in Calverley Park, agreed to design the building in the then-popular Gothic Revival style. Built in locally quarried sandstone from Calverley Quarry, the first stone was laid on 17 August 1827. Mr Barrett of Tunbridge Wells built the church, which cost just over £12,000 to complete, including fitting out, and it was consecrated in September 1829. After congregation numbers fell following World War II, the town had several churches in great need of major maintenance. As the town's largest church, with congregations of 1,600 people, it 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 local people who campaigned against its destruction, they set about turning it into the Trinity Theatre.
After approving in principle a plan to turn the building into a community theatre and arts centre in 1976, the Diocese raised £ 50,000 in six months to secure a long-term lease from January 1977 with the Diocese of Rochester. 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 arts classes.
Lawrence Brown, Trinity's Youth Theatre Coordinator, 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"'
Much of the original building remains, and one stained-glass window is thought to be one of only two remaining works by the 19th-century glass painter Joseph Hale Miller.
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
It is no surprise that the Trinity, having once been a church, is also said to be haunted. When the venue was deconsecrated, they removed the bell ropes, but left the bells behind.
It has been said that when the building is empty, there is an eerie chill and the bells can be heard. Lawrence Brown is often the last person to lock up at night. He has said 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 I have often crossed the stage, late at night and heard sounds coming from the bell tower.
Could the former bell ringer who fell to his death there in 1892 still be present?
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 6th 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 on the erection of the new Opera House on Mount Pleasant when the scaffolding they were standing on 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.
**HISTORY**
A small group of determined actors, undeterred 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. Its Baroque dome made the exterior a sight to behold. It originally featured a nude statue of Mercury on top, which sparked both awe and controversy. Still, it 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.
Union Cinemas purchased it, and it 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.
JD Wetherspoons has owned it since 1996. It operates as a pub and restaurant.