The Priory was a large house of probable mid 19th century origin though much altered. An assessment carried out in 2009 suggested that there had previously been a formal garden to the west and south-west, laid out after the Second World War. The south-west garden was subsequently destroyed to build a cottage. No evidence was found to explain the name 'The Priory'. Local stories suggested that there were tunnels at the site but this probably derives from a single passageway accessed from the basement. (1)

A survey was carried out by Canterbury Archaeological Trust of the building prior to demolition in 2012. The house was probably built in the early to mid 1850s as this is when the earliest written records relating to The Priory date from. The building was then used as a house until the 1960s when it was in use as a hotel. It later became a care home. (2-3)

<1> EDP, 2009, The Priory, Pembury, Kent: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE15818.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, The Priory, Romford Road, Pembury, Tunbridge-Wells, Kent: Historic-Buildings Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE17997.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2013, The Priory, Romford Road, Pembury, Tunbridge-Wells: Historic-building record (Unpublished document). SKE25233.