What are the highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in Tonbridge?
The “HIGHEST” temperature recorded was the famous former UK record 100.5 ºF / 38.1 ºC measurement in a Glaisher screen on the 22nd July, 1868 by Dr Hunsley Fielding. Dr Fielding was a fellow of the Royal Society and a meticulous recorder of the weather who obtained certificates of accuracy for his instruments. However, the thermometer was situated over gravel rather than grass and the base of the screen open to heat radiation from the ground, not meeting modern Met Office requirements. It is now accepted that this value, when compared with the standard Stevenson screen required for official meteorological purposes, was between 35 – 36ºC. It is almost certain that the highest temperature on the 10th August 2003 equalled or exceeded this reading but there are no longer any officially accepted recording instruments in the town. The nearest official station at East Malling Research reached 37.4 ºC / 99.3 ºF. I have not been able to find any records of the COLDEST ever temperature in Tonbri
