Robertsbridge

The village is thought{{by whom|date=February 2019}} to date back to 1176 when a Cistercian abbey was founded there by the Abbot, Robert de St Martin. When a market charter was granted in 1198 by Richard I to Robertsbridge (Pons Roberti in Latin) it was the first recorded use of the name.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} The abbey was dissolved in 1538;{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} however, the town flourished, and many of the oldest existing houses in the village date from the 14th and 15th centuries,{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutrobertsbridge.org.uk|title=Robertsbridge Medieval Village|work=aboutrobertsbridge.org.uk}} including The Seven Stars Inn in the High Street.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} From the village was discovered the Robertsbridge Codex (1360), a music manuscript from the 14th century. It contains the earliest surviving music written specifically for keyboard.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

Robertsbridge Railway Station is on the main railway line from Hastings to London, and the A21 trunk road. The Robertsbridge bypass opened in 1989.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

Robertsbridge Community College, a specialist mathematics and computer college, is the smallest such in the county of East Sussex.[http://www.robertsbridge.org.uk/ Robertsbridge Community College]{{failed verification|date=February 2019}} Salehurst Church of England Primary School is also located in the village.

Robertsbridge cultural organizations include Robertsbridge Arts Partnership (RAP], a Jazz Club and Robertsbridge Wine Club (RWC) which is affiliated to the [http://eurekanaturistclub.co.uk/ Eureka natural wine society]{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} Sports clubs include Robertsbridge Cricket Club.{{cite web|url=http://robertsbridge.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp|title=Robertsbridge CC|work=play-cricket.com}} and formerly Robertsbridge Rugby Football Club, which disbanded in the 2008-2009 season. Robertsbridge has a bonfire society.[http://www.robertsbridgebonfiresociety.com/ Bonfire society website]

Robertsbridge is the home to several notable sporting equipment brands. Parent company Grays International have been based in Robertsbridge since moving from Cambridgeshire in the 1990s. The company makes cricket equipment under the Gray-Nicolls brand, netball and rugby equipment as Gilbert, and hockey equipment as Grays.

Robertsbridge United Reformed Church, a Grade II-listed chapel built in 1881, stands on the High Street.{{NHLE|num=1221451|desc=The former United Reformed Church, High Street (east side), Robertsbridge, Salehurst, Rother, East Sussex|year=2011|access-date=5 July 2011}} The former Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, built in 1842 and also listed Grade II, is nearby.{{where|date=February 2019}} {{NHLE|num=1221399|desc=Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, High Street (east side), Robertsbridge, Salehurst, Rother, East Sussex|year=2011|access-date=11 September 2011}} A residential Bruderhof community, known as Darvell, is located on the outskirts of the village.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/spectrum-an-exclusive-look-inside-the-bruderhof-communes-in-kent-and-east-sussex-3b0db5hts|title=Spectrum: an exclusive look inside the Bruderhof communes in Kent and East Sussex|last=Times|first=The Sunday|date=2019-07-21|access-date=2019-08-20|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/communities/existing/darvell-bruderhof|title=Darvell Bruderhof {{!}} Diggers and Dreamers|website=www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk|access-date=2017-05-23}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.jamesclarke.me/blog/a-day-with-the-bruderhof|title=A Day With The Bruderhof|work=james clarke photography|access-date=2018-06-28|language=en-US}}

People who have lived in Robertsbridge include educationalist and women's rights activist Barbara Bodichon,{{Cite ODNB|id=2755|last = Hirsch|first = Pam|title=Bodichon, Barbara Leigh Smith}} journalist Malcolm Muggeridge,{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}, model Heather Mills,{{Cite web|title=Heather Mills treated all her staff badly, nanny claims|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5546990.heather-mills-treated-all-her-staff-badly-nanny-claims/|access-date=2021-07-26|website=The Argus|language=en}} and footballer Sam Jennings who died there in 1944.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Michael|title=Tribute to Port Vale players who gave their lives in the World Wars|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/tribute-port-vale-players-who-762312|access-date=12 November 2017|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=12 November 2017}}

The demographics above are drawn from the National Statistics Office, 2001 Census. As data is not available for Robertsbridge in isolation, the table includes the entire parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge.{{cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=794368&c=TN32+5DS&d=16&e=15&g=442384&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1277510392031&enc=1&dsFamilyId=781 | access-date = 26 June 2010}}

As data for the table above is not available for Robertsbridge in isolation, it is drawn from the Salehurst Ward which covers a larger area including Salehurst, Robertsbridge and Bodiam.{{cite web|title=Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher=Statistics.gov.uk|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6159955&c=salehurst&d=14&e=15&g=442371&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1277510428750&enc=1&dsFamilyId=47|access-date=26 June 2010}}{{cite web|title=Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher=Statistics.gov.uk|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6159955&c=salehurst&d=14&e=15&g=442371&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1277510428765&enc=1&dsFamilyId=17|access-date=26 June 2010}}

File:Robertsbridge Abbey f.58 by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm 1783.jpg|Ruins of the Robertsbridge Abbey, 1783

File:Robertsbridge station and level crossing - geograph.org.uk - 123753.jpg|Robertsbridge station and level crossing

File:High Street - geograph.org.uk - 1285266.jpg|The High Street

File:The Ostrich public house, Robertsbridge - geograph.org.uk - 1508830.jpg|The Ostrich public house

File:Half timbered cottages, High St - geograph.org.uk - 1731108.jpg|Half timbered cottages in the High Street

File:Fair Lane - geograph.org.uk - 1285224.jpg|Cottages in Fair Lane

{{reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Robertsbridge}}

{{wikivoyage|Robertsbridge}}

• [http://www.salehurst-pc.org.uk/ Salehurst and Robertsbridge Parish Council]
• [http://www.robertsbridge.org.uk/ Robertsbridge Community College]

{{Rother}}

{{East Sussex1}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Villages in East Sussex

Category:Market towns in East Sussex

Category:Rother District