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Since the Eighteenth Century
Very slowly was the popularity of the inland watering-places undermined, so slowly, indeed, that Burr, the historian of Tunbridge Wells, writing in 1766, enthusiastically supported the project of a turnpike road from Tunbridge Wells to Lewes, because it could not fail, he thought, of establishing a more open and constant communication between "The Wells" and all that part of Sussex. " One advantage most obviously arising from it will be an inducement to the company going to and returning from Brighthelmstone to pass two or three days or a week by the way at Tunbridge, and this will be making that place as serviceable to ' The Wells' in some respects, as it may be esteemed detrimental in others," he wrote. " If, indeed, Brighthelmstone was the superior place, where pleasures abounded in greater perfection than at' The Wells,' it might be bad policy to open an easier communication between them; but, as Tunbridge has confessedly greatly the advantage of her rival in every respect, she cannot suffer, but must, on the whole, be an infinite gainer by such a close comparison as will, while it sets off her perfections to the greatest advantage, make her adversary's deficiencies but the more s 273 |
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