Editing Tonbridge (section)

===Medieval===
The town was soon afterwards taken again, this time by [[John of England|King John]] only a few months after the signing of the [[Magna Carta]]. Both the Earl and his son were signatories and guardians of the document responsible for its compliance. It was subsequently besieged by [[Edward|Prince Edward]], son of [[Henry III of England|Henry III]]. On this occasion the besieged garrison burnt the town rather than see it fall. The town and [[Tonbridge Castle]] were rebuilt after this and in the 13th century became an official residence and records repository of [[Edward II of England|Edward II]].

In later medieval times, Tonbridge was considered an important strategic settlement. Some evidence shows [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] intended it to be a walled town, and a charter was issued allowing for walls to be built, a market to be held, court sessions to be held and two members from the town to attend parliament. The walls were never built, perhaps because the castle's large outer [[Ward (fortification)|bailey]] could have easily accommodated the townspeople in times of strife.<ref>{{cite web | title = Tonbridge History: Town Defences | url = http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/places/the-town-defences.html | access-date = 15 September 2018 | archive-date = 10 May 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190510202501/http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/places/the-town-defences.html | url-status = live }}</ref> A surrounding bank and ditch known as ''The Fosse'' was erected. Today only traces of this encircling defence now remain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/history/historyhome.htm|title=History of Tonbridge: introduction|access-date=3 September 2009|publisher=Tonbridge Historical Society|archive-date=9 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709040037/http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/history/historyhome.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The historic core of the town still contains a large number of working buildings dating from the 15th century: the oldest is Port Reeves in East Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/places/the-port-reeves-house.htm|title=Tonbridge History – The Port Reeve's House|access-date=22 January 2008|archive-date=16 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116023009/http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/places/the-port-reeves-house.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Tonbridge School]], the famous public school, was established in 1552 under [[letters patent]] of [[Edward VI]], to educate the sons of local gentry and farmers (There was already a nearby school in existence for poorer boys, now Sevenoaks School.)

During Queen Mary's reign Tonbridge was involved in an unsuccessful uprising against the Queen's marriage to the King of Spain, with 500 townspeople involved in the Battle of Hartley in 1554.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hartley-kent.org.uk/history/battle_of_hartley.htm |title=Battle of Hartley 1554 |publisher=Hartley-Kent |access-date=26 March 2014 |archive-date=5 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105142749/http://www.hartley-kent.org.uk/history/battle_of_hartley.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, the town was chosen for a place of execution of a number of Protestants; and in 1555 James Tutty<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.villagenet.co.uk/highweald/villages/brenchley.php |title=Brenchley Kent – (A beautiful Kent village) – an English Village UK |publisher=Villagenet.co.uk |date=18 May 2013 |access-date=26 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126043152/http://www.villagenet.co.uk/highweald/villages/brenchley.php |archive-date=26 January 2012  }}</ref> and Margery Polley were burned at the stake in the town and Joan Beach met the same fate in 1556 at Rochester.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://history.touch2000.org.uk/tonbridge1.php |title=History of Christianity in Tonbridge &#124; The early years |publisher=History.touch2000.org.uk |date=4 March 2012 |access-date=26 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209001731/http://history.touch2000.org.uk/tonbridge1.php |archive-date=9 February 2009  }}</ref> A memorial to Margery Polly is on the green at [[Pembury]].