Overview of Robertsbridge

Robertsbridge is a village in East Sussex, England within the civil parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge. It is approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Hastings and 13 miles (21 km) south-east of Tunbridge Wells. The River Rother passes through the village. The village is thought 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. The abbey was dissolved in 1538; however, the town flourished, and many of the oldest existing houses in the village date from the 14th and 15th centuries, including The Seven Stars Inn on the historic High Street. Robertsbridge is also home to the Robertsbridge Codex (1360), a music manuscript of the 14th century. It contains the earliest surviving music written specifically for keyboard. Robertsbridge is well served by transport links — with the Robertsbridge railway station on the main railway line from Hastings to London and the A21 trunk road, although the latter has problems with transport delays. The opening of the Robertsbridge bypass, in 1989, relieved the village of constant traffic through it. Robertsbridge Community College, a specialist mathematics and computer college, is the smallest such in the county of East Sussex. Also, as well as the secondary school in the village, there is a primary school (Salehurst Church of England Primary), a school with an exceedingly good reputation throughout the area. Among sports clubs is the Robertsbridge RUFC, and Robertsbridge Cricket Club. Robertsbridge also has its own bonfire society. Robertsbridge United Reformed Church, a Grade II-listed chapel built in 1881, stands on the High Street. The former Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, built in 1842 and also listed at Grade II, is nearby.