Salomons Family

The Salomons Family was a Victorian family renowned for scientific endeavour and for campaigning for the political rights of Jews and other religious minorities. The two main family members were Sir David Salomons (1797-1873) who became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London and his nephew, Sir David Lionel Salomons (1851-1925) who was a scientist and engineer, particularly interested in photography and mechanical devices including the motor car and electricity.

The family residence from 1829 was Broomhill near Tunbridge Wells in Kent. The enlarging of the house and landscaping of the grounds continued for most of Sir David's life. Sir David Lionel continued to develop the house by adding the water tower, workshops, stables and motor-carriage houses (garages). He also added a science theatre with photographic studio and chemical laboratory attached. He also installed a Welte player pipe organ in the science theatre. This is now the only one of its type left in the world. Finally Sir David Lionel added a top storey to the house, which was made from local stone and bricks made on the estate.

Broomhill was the first building in England to use electricity for cooking and other domestic work. The first light was installed in the workshops in 1874 and in 1896 a dynamo was installed.

The house was presented to Kent County Council by a deed dated 1937 with the proviso that it be used in an educational, scientific, medical or museum capacity. From 1948 to 1971 the house was used as a convalescent home by the NHS. It then became a conference and training centre for the South East Thames Regional Health Authority until Salomons Centre was created as a trading agency of the Authority in 1993. In 1996 Salomons Centre was divested to Canterbury Christ Church College, later Canterbury Christ Church University College.

For a more detailed history of the family and the estate see www.salomonscentre.org.uk/history

From the guide to the Salomons Family, 1825-1941, (Salomons Centre)