Tonbridge School - Buildings

Buildings

The main school building was built in the 1800s, on top of the site of the previous main school building. Recent additions include the Vere Hodge Centre, the E.M. Forster Theatre, and the Tonbridge School Sport and Media Centre. All three are of modernist design, incorporating quantities of glass and steel and high levels of technology, while the latter contains a swimming pool, gym, fencing salle and multiple changing rooms, and is to be used as a training facility for the 2012 Olympics. The choice of materials for the Sport and Media Centre has attracted criticism from some as the copper is prone to overheat in the summer, and has hence been deemed a minor risk to health and safety.

The Chapel of St. Augustine was opened in October 1995 after its predecessor was severely damaged by fire in 1988. Legend has it that the chaplain had given a stirring sermon on fire and brimstone earlier in the day concerning God's punishment on the unfaithful. This legend is not completely accurate, and an old boy who was at the school at the time of the fire and in the chapel that morning during the 'last service' recalls with absolute clarity that the bible reading that day was given by a master of the school, Mr Burn, on the Tongues of Fire story. The Marcussen organ is a four-manual tracker-action instrument with 66 speaking stops, including two 32' stops; it is well known throughout Europe by those familiar with such instruments as a fine and impressive example; it is the second largest Marcussen organ in the United Kingdom. There have been numerous successful attempts to climb the outside of the chapel by old boys and old boys of other public schools from the surrounding areas over the years. The most common method is to scale the north face of the building using a drain pipe as an aide, then using lead flashing as a grip initially, to scramble up the roof tiles, then to leopard crawl to the west along the ridge until a good view of The 50 can be had. This is highly dangerous and should not be attempted.

The Smythe Library, built in 1962, was designed by William Holford in 1962. It contains approximately 26,000 volumes, some of which have been in the school's possession since the 17th century. Its collection includes a complete set of Punch.

Now offices, the former Headmaster's House (located next to the High Street) is the oldest part of the school, dating in parts from the 16th century. Its structure contains Roman masonry, most likely quarried from a temple to the god Priapus that is believed to have stood by the Medway near where Tonbridge Castle stands today.

Old Judde, which now houses the Modern Languages Department, was built in the 19th century and is remarkable for the enclosed terrace garden at its rear. The garden is raised several feet above ground level because it was built directly on top of the building that formerly occupied the site.