Today, you can see his portrait and that of his children and other family members displayed at the Amelia Scott in the Georgian Spa Room on the 1^st floor. Camden Park and Camden Road in Royal Tunbridge Wells are named after the family, who were involved in the third phase of the development of the town in the 1850s – although it would have been his grandson who was actually responsible. The old Friendly Societies Hall, now a snooker club, in Camden Road has the family’s heraldic elephant emblems beside the entrance.

In addition, Bayham Abbey Estate belonged to his father, Lord Chief Justice Sir John Pratt, and his son John Jeffrey Pratt eventually inherited it and came to live there. You can visit the impressive ruins, built from golden local sandstone, which include much of the 13^th to 15^th Century church, the chapter house, and a picturesque 14^th Century gatehouse. Bayham Abbey is now set in grounds designed by the famous landscape gardener Humphry Repton.

While soaking in the healing waters of Royal Tunbridge Wells, John Locke (1632-1707), a celebrated philosopher, found inspiration. Locke’s ideas on liberty heavily influenced the American colonists, and Thomas Jefferson himself placed him alongside figures like Algernon Sidney as key inspirations for the Declaration of Independence.

He was cited by Charles Pratt in his famous speech as an authority for the principle of ‘no taxation without representation’.  Thomas Jefferson put John Locke and Algernon Sidney of Penshurst alongside Aristotle and Cicero as pioneers of the ideals behind the Declaration of Independence. John Locke was one of the many celebrities who visited Royal Tunbridge Wells in its heyday as a spa resort; while in the town, he subscribed to the fund-raising effort to build the Church of King Charles the Martyr.

Today, the original subscription lists are on display in the King Charles’ Church. You can visit the church which is open most days or attend one of their concerts.

William Penn (1644-1718), founder of Pennsylvania, has a surprising connection to Tunbridge Wells. His wife’s family estate, Penns in the Rocks, lies nearby. This beautiful estate, with its impressive sandstone outcrops (which feature heavily around Tunbridge Wells), offers a glimpse into the life of this influential figure.

William Penn was an associate of Algernon Sidney, who helped frame the constitution for Pennsylvania, which provided a prototype for the later US Constitution. He was an early advocate for a political union of the American colonies and also proposed a political union of the countries of Europe. The house now known as Penns in the Rocks, near Groombridge, was built for him and his wife Gulielma Springett about 1700. The surrounding estate – with the notable sandstone outcrops from which the house gets its name – belonged originally to Gulielma’s family who were involved with the Wealden iron industry. Although it seems they never actually lived there, subsequent generations did – up to William’s grandson William Penn IV.

Penns in the Rocks is in East Sussex just outside Royal Tunbridge Wells, but it was part of the old Georgian tourist trail centred on the town. Today, a public footpath runs through the estate, passing by the rocks and an ornamental lake with a mock classical temple, and the gardens of the house are occasionally open to the public for the National Open Gardens Scheme.

Just a short trip from Royal Tunbridge Wells lies Penshurst Place & Gardens, the historic home of Algernon Sidney (1623-83). This radical thinker and friend of William Penn played a crucial role in shaping Pennsylvania’s constitution, a document that laid the groundwork for the US Constitution. Deemed a martyr for his political beliefs, Sidney’s legacy as a champion of liberty continues to resonate.

Algernon was living abroad during the early years after Charles II’s manor restoration, but he was eventually allowed to return and live at Penshurst. He remained an object of suspicion for his political views and was finally tried and executed for treason. Subsequently, he was regarded as a martyr for political liberty, and was celebrated as such in local guidebooks for Georgian tourists.  Algernon Sidney helped his friend William Penn to frame the constitution of Pennsylvania and was named by Thomas Jefferson as one of the main inspirations for the Declaration of Independence.

Today, you can visit Penshurst Place & Gardens.  Part of the historic home is restored, and you can explore the beautifully manicured gardens as well as the wider estate with tranquil countryside walks. Algernon Sidney is buried in the family chapel at Penshurst Church, adjacent to Penshurst Place.

Tunbridge Wells’ connection to America doesn’t end there. Lt. Col. John By, buried nearby in Frant, is the man who built the Rideau Canal in Canada, a crucial channel that opened up the North American interior, and even founded Bytown, which is now known as Ottawa!