History

Mount Edgcumbe

Off Mount Ephraim

The Common

Tunbridge Wells

Kent TN4 8BX

Tel 01892 526823

Fax 01892 536607

Email: info@mountedgcumbe.com

Fine Bar. Brasserie & Hotel

Tunbridge Wells 01892 526823

Tunbridge Wells History

The Mount Edgcumbe Hotel gets its name from the Mount Edgcumbe family, who have resided in Plymouth since the early 15th Century. Emma Gilbert, who married George, the first Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, in 1761, gave our hotel its name. She came to Royal Tunbridge Wells after she was widowed in 1795. She had heard that the weather and spring water in the Spa town would help her through her mourning. The Mount Edgcumbe was a lodging house where the gentry came to live with their servants.

Emma came here for three summers running, with her son Richard and his wife Sophia Hobart. In later years the lodging house became the home of Admiral William. E. Parry.

The Admiral Parry started life in the Navy at 13 and slowly climbed the ranks to Admiralty at the age of 29. Parry became an explorer and made his last voyage in 1827 when he tried to reach the North Pole. Although he was stopped by ice flows at, his effort became a record that would not be broken until 1876.He came to Royal Tunbridge Wells to live with his wife in 1839 and they are said to be buried in the parish of Holy Trinity here in the town.

Subsequently, several different families have lived at the Mount Edgcumbe, most having very affluent titles. Our earliest records of the building becoming a hotel date back to 1923. Then, with 12 bedrooms, “electric lights”, the hotel was extremely popular and regularly busy. Tourism suffered during the second world war and trade tailed off until the 1950's. Since this date the hotel has thrived and now, with five bedrooms, a Bar, Brasserie and restaurant the Mount Edgcumbe is still regularly visited by people from all over the world. The Family Run Mount Edgecombe in Tonbridge Wells, is a popular choice.