Our
Heritage
Private memorial rooms celebrating three generations of pioneers — from Jewish emancipation to the world's first motor show.
A Place with Its Own Story
Not many venues have a story quite like this. Within Salomons Estate, two private memorial rooms tell the remarkable tale of the family who built this place: a Lord Mayor who broke down barriers, an inventor who brought electricity to the English countryside, and a son lost at Gallipoli whose memory lives on in every room.
Donated by Vera, Lady Salomons, the estate preserves original photographs, scientific instruments, personal letters, and motor car artefacts spanning nearly a century of innovation. It is a story of ambition, ingenuity, and service — and it belongs exclusively to this house.
Sir David Salomons (1797–1873)
David Salomons was born in London’s financial district into an Ashkenazi Jewish banking family. He became one of the most significant figures in the fight for Jewish civil rights in 19th-century Britain — the first Jewish person to be called to the bar, the first to serve as a magistrate, and the first to become Sheriff of the City of London.
In 1855, he was elected the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London, breaking centuries of religious exclusion. His political career also saw him become one of the first Jewish members of parliament, having famously taken his seat in defiance of the Christian oath requirement.
Around 1829, David and his wife Jeannette leased Broomhill Cottage near Tunbridge Wells. In 1851, he began developing the site into the country estate we know today — a place of retreat, culture, and family life that would endure for generations.
Sir David Lionel Salomons (1851–1925)
David Lionel, the nephew who inherited the estate in 1873, was a pioneering scientist, inventor, and electrical engineer who transformed Salomons into a centre of technological innovation far ahead of its time.
He constructed the distinctive observatory tower, built a photographic studio and darkroom, and established extensive workshops. He was among the earliest adopters of on-site electricity generation, making Salomons one of the first private residences in England to have electric lighting — decades before the national grid.
He significantly expanded the house, adding the East Wing in the 1880s and a second floor to the main block in the 1890s. The striking stable block, built in red brick and Portland stone, also dates from this remarkable period of development.
The World’s First Motor Show (1895)
A passionate early motorist, David Lionel organised what is widely recognised as the world’s first motor show in Tunbridge Wells in 1895, whilst serving as the town’s mayor. The event helped to challenge the restrictive Red Flag Act and advance the cause of motoring in Britain.
His personal collection of early motor vehicles is preserved in the estate’s private memorial rooms — a fascinating record of the very earliest days of the automobile, available exclusively to guests of the estate.
The Salomons family’s connection to automotive history makes the estate a genuinely unique venue. Not many couples can say they married in a place that hosted the world’s first motor show.
Theatre & Observatory
David Lionel built the theatre originally for scientific lectures and experiments, but he soon recognised that theatre itself offered great scope for technological innovation in lighting, projection, and the electrical operation of curtains, blinds, and stage machinery.
The theatre became a showcase for cutting-edge Victorian technology, featuring advanced electrical lighting systems and innovative stage equipment far ahead of its time. In 1914, a magnificent Welte organ was installed — one of only a handful surviving worldwide — adding musical capabilities to this already extraordinary space.
The observatory tower, with its revolving dome, housed telescopes and scientific instruments that reflected David Lionel’s insatiable curiosity. Today, the beautifully preserved Victorian Theatre hosts up to 350 guests for wedding ceremonies and celebrations.
A Living Memorial
David Lionel’s son, David Reginald Salomons, was killed at Gallipoli in 1915 whilst serving with the Royal Engineers during the First World War. This tragic loss deeply affected the family and shaped the estate’s future.
David Lionel’s wife, Vera, Lady Salomons, donated the estate to Kent County Council in 1938 as a memorial to the family. Her wish was that this remarkable piece of Victorian heritage would be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Today, the two memorial rooms house original photographs, documents, scientific instruments, and personal artefacts that tell the story of three generations of pioneers. It is a living archive — intimate, moving, and utterly unique.
Marry in a Place with History
Your guests can discover original artefacts from the world's first motor show, learn the story of London's first Jewish Lord Mayor, and wander through 36 acres of private grounds shaped by 170 years of heritage. No other venue in Kent can offer anything quite like it.
