Robertsbridge

Robertsbridge
View of High Street
Robertsbridge  Robertsbridge shown within East Sussex
Area	18.15 km^2 (7.01 sq mi) [1]
Population	2,641 (Parish-2010)[1] 2,624 (2001 census)
– density	146/km^2 (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
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Bexhill and Battle
Website	Salehurst and Robertsbridge Parish Council
List of places UK England East Sussex

Coordinates: 50°59′N 0°28′E / 50.99°N 0.47°E

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.

Overview

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,^[2] 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.^[3] 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,^[4] and Robertsbridge Cricket Club.^[5] Robertsbridge also has its own bonfire society.^[6] Robertsbridge United Reformed Church, a Grade II-listed chapel built in 1881, stands on the High Street.^[7] The former Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, built in 1842 and also listed at Grade II, is nearby.^[8]

Notable residents (past & present)

• Harry Andrews
• Heather Mills
• Malcolm Muggeridge

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.^[9]

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.^[10][11]

• 

  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

References

1. East Sussex in Figures, East Sussex County Council Retrieved 2010-10-27
2. "Robertsbridge Medieval Village". aboutrobertsbridge.org.uk.
3. Robertsbridge Community College
4. "Robertsbridge Rugby Football Club". rrfc.org.uk.
5. "Robertsbridge CC". play-cricket.com.
6. Bonfire society website
7. "The United Reformed Church, High Street (east side), Robertsbridge, Salehurst, Rother, East Sussex". The National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
8. "Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, High Street (east side), Robertsbridge, Salehurst, Rother, East Sussex". The National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
9. "Neighbourhood Statistics". Statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
10. "Neighbourhood Statistics". Statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
11. "Neighbourhood Statistics". Statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 2010-06-26.

External links

• Salehurst and Robertsbridge Parish Council (website covering parish matters in an official capacity)
• Unofficial Robertsbridge Village Website - day to day information
• The History of Robertsbridge
• Robertsbridge Children's Services (pre-school nursery) website
• The Official Salehurst CofE (Primary School) Website
• The Official Robertsbridge Community College (Secondary School) Website