| The Corn Exchange | |
|---|---|
| Tonbridge | |
 The Corn Exchange | |
  The Corn Exchange Location within Kent | |
| Coordinates | 51°11′51″N0°16′29″E / 51.19761°N 0.27466°E |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1791 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1791-Present |
The Corn Exchange is a former chapel, trading facility and military installation at Bank Street (formerly Back Street) in Tonbridge, Kent.
The building was originally commissioned as a chapel for the Independent Congregationalists and was referred to as the "Independent Chapel". [1] [2] It was built in red brick and completed on 19 March 1791. [3] The design involved a main frontage of three bays facing onto Bank Street, which was previously known as Back Street. [4] The central bay featured a small portico formed by four columns supporting an entablature. The outer bays were fenestrated by mullioned and transomed windows with pointed heads and hood moulds. The frontage was surmounted by a pediment with a circular panel containing a trefoil in the tympanum. The building was enlarged in 1847. [5]
The Independent Congregationalists moved out to new premises in the High Street in 1876 and the chapel became used as the local Corn Exchange. [6] However, the use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture in the late 19th century. [7]
The building was then converted to become the headquarters of the 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) in 1910. [8] It also became the headquarters of the Kent Cyclist Battalion at this time. [8] The 4th Battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to India. [9] [10]
The battalion merged with the 5th Battalion to form the 4th/5th Battalion in 1947. [11] Following the cut-backs in 1967, the presence at the drill hall was reduced to a single company, E Company, 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Queen's Regiment. [12] The drill hall was subsequently decommissioned and converted for commercial use. [13]
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