Royal Tunbridge Wells Festival of Motoring History
The town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent is considered the birthplace of the British Motor Show thanks to Sir David Salomons, a prominent scientist and pioneering automotive enthusiast who hosted the first ever public demonstration of a motorised vehicle at the Tunbridge Wells Agricultural Showground on Tuesday 15th October 1895.
The ‘Horseless Carriage Exhibition’ was reported in the inaugural issue of motoring publication ‘The Autocar’ the worlds oldest motoring publication and firmly established the town as a major automotive hub, inspiring the rapid growth of specialist motorcar and motorcycle dealers, motor auctioneers, coachbuilders and motor engineering workshops.
1895
Horseless Carriage Exhibition - Sir David Lionel Salomons, a pioneering motoring enthusiast sits proudly aboard his two-cylinder, 3.5hp Daimler-engined Peugeot at the event on his grounds. Salamons was a highly respected scientist whose passion and research on electrical science led him to chair the company that electrified most of London.
1895
The Honourable Evelyn Ellis parades his 3.5hp Panhard-Levassor at the exhibition, the first foreign built motorcar to be imported to the UK. Ellis had ordered the car to his own specification in left-hand drive, when French cars were right-hand drive and it had been driven from the Paris factory to Le Havre, shipped to Southampton and taken by train to Micheldever, from where he illegally drove it 56 miles to his home in Datchet, at an average speed of a whopping 10mph!!
1895
The Autocar Journal published in the interests of the mechanically propelled road carriage - The first issue of the worlds oldest car magazine focused entirely on Salamons event, causing nationwide interest in the new fangled motorised vehicles observed by awe struck reporters on the day.
1911
Founded in 1911, the TWMC orignally stood for Tunbridge Wells Motorcycle Club is one of the oldest motor clubs in the UK holding competitive events such as Mud Reliability Trials, Night Trials and Treasure Hunt for motorcycle solos and combinations. Among the stars of the early days were Bill Jury, Freddie Philpott and ‘Tunny’ Tunbridge, who all owned local motorcycle businesses
1947
TWMC RESTARTS -Following the disruption of the war the club was restarted in 1947 by Rt. Hon. The Earl Howe CBE, The Earl of Lewes OBE and Lt-Col A.T. Goldie Gardner OBE and the TWMC became the TUNBRIDGE WELLS MOTOR CLUB; cars were also represented by their own committee with motorcycles almost disappearing from the club. Here we can see Earl Howe pressing on in his 1929 Mercedes S- Type on the 1930 Brighton Rally acceleration test.
(Photo Credit: Tom Wilson)
1961
The Tunbridge Wells Motor Club celebrate their 50th anniversary with the ‘Second Horseless Carriage Exhibition’ held on the Pantiles.
1966
June - following the second horseless carriage exhibition held in 1961 on the Pantiles, the Tunbridge Wells Motor Club followed suit with the third event on June 11th 1966, hosted by eight time world speed record breaker Donald Campbell with over 12,000 people in attendance!
2025
August – The 130th Anniversary of the inaugural Horseless Carriage Exhibition will be celebrated on the Pantiles by ‘Royal Tunbridge Wells Festival Of Motoring – Fourth Horseless Carriage Exhibition’
(Photo Credit: Tim Scott)