Robertsbridge

Robertsbridge is a village in the civil parish of Salehurst and Robertsbridge, and the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Hastings and 13 miles (21 km) south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells. The River Rother passes through the village.

Robertsbridge
View of High Street
Robertsbridge Location within East Sussex
Area	18.15 km2 (7.01 sq mi) [1]
Population	2,641 (Parish-2010)[1] 2,624 (2001 census)
• Density	146/km2 (380/sq mi)
OS grid reference	TQ737235
• London	44 miles (71 km) NW
Civil parish	Salehurst and Robertsbridge
District	Rother
Shire county	East Sussex
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ROBERTSBRIDGE
Postcode district	TN32
Dialling code	01580
Police	Sussex
Fire	East Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Bexhill and Battle
Website	Salehurst and Robertsbridge Parish Council
List of places UK England East Sussex 50.99°N 0.47°E / 50.99; 0.47

History

The village is thought^{[by whom?]} 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]} The abbey was dissolved in 1538;^{[citation needed]} however, the town flourished, and many of the oldest existing houses in the village date from the 14th and 15th centuries,^[2] including The Seven Stars Inn in the High Street.^{[citation needed]} 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]}

Transport

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]}

Education

Robertsbridge Community College, a specialist mathematics and computer college, is the smallest such in the county of East Sussex.^{[3][failed verification]} Salehurst Church of England Primary School is also located in the village.

Community facilities

Robertsbridge cultural organizations include Robertsbridge Arts Partnership (RAP], a Jazz Club and Robertsbridge Wine Club (RWC) which is affiliated to the Eureka natural wine society^{[citation needed]} Sports clubs include Robertsbridge Cricket Club.^[4] and formerly Robertsbridge Rugby Football Club, which disbanded in the 2008-2009 season. Robertsbridge has a bonfire society.^[5]

Economy

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.

Religion

Robertsbridge United Reformed Church, a Grade II-listed chapel built in 1881, stands on the High Street.^[6] The former Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, built in 1842 and also listed Grade II, is nearby.^{[where?] [7]} A residential Bruderhof community, known as Darvell, is located on the outskirts of the village.^[8][9][10]

Notable people

People who have lived in Robertsbridge include educationalist and women's rights activist Barbara Bodichon,^[11] journalist Malcolm Muggeridge,^{[citation needed]}, model Heather Mills,^[12] and footballer Sam Jennings who died there in 1944.^[13]

Demography

Population Salehurst and Robertsbridge Parish CP
2001 UK Census	Count
All people	2624
All males	1271
All females	1353
People aged 0–4	169
People aged 5–15	415
People aged 16–24	229
People aged 25–44	684
People aged 45–64	675
People aged 65–74	251
People aged 75 and over	201

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.^[14]

Ethnic and Religious Breakdown for Salehurst Ward, compared by percentage
2001 UK Census	Salehurst Ward	Rother District	South East England	England
White	98.48	98.11	95.1	90.92
Mixed	0.75	0.62	1.07	1.31
Asian	0.11	0.44	2.33	4.57
Black	0.25	0.19	0.71	2.3
Chinese	0.41	1.73	0.78	0.89
Christian	77.55	76.5	72.78	71.74
Buddhist	0.18	0.18	0.28	0.28
Hindu	0.07	0.14	0.56	1.11
Jewish	0.11	0.15	0.24	0.52
Muslim	0.11	0.64	1.36	3.1
Sikh	0.09	0.03	0.47	0.67
Other religions	0.33	0.35	0.36	0.29
No religion	13.89	13.91	16.5	14.59
Religion not stated	7.67	8.1	7.46	7.69

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.^[15][16]

• 
  Ruins of the Robertsbridge Abbey, 1783
• 
  Robertsbridge station and level crossing
• 
  The High Street
• 
  The Ostrich public house
• 
  Half timbered cottages in the High Street
• 
  Cottages in Fair Lane