Robertsbridge
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox UK place
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.
HistoryEdit
The village is thoughtTemplate: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.Template:Citation needed The abbey was dissolved in 1538;Template:Citation needed however, the town flourished, and many of the oldest existing houses in the village date from the 14th and 15th centuries,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> including The Seven Stars Inn in the High Street.Template: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.Template:Citation needed
TransportEdit
Robertsbridge Railway Station is on the main railway line from Hastings to London, and the A21 trunk road. The Robertsbridge bypass opened in 1989.Template:Citation needed
EducationEdit
Robertsbridge Community College, a specialist mathematics and computer college, is the smallest such in the county of East Sussex.<ref>Robertsbridge Community College</ref>Template:Failed verification Salehurst Church of England Primary School is also located in the village.
Community facilitiesEdit
Robertsbridge cultural organizations include Robertsbridge Arts Partnership (RAP], a Jazz Club and Robertsbridge Wine Club (RWC) which is affiliated to the Eureka natural wine societyTemplate:Citation needed Sports clubs include Robertsbridge Cricket Club.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and formerly Robertsbridge Rugby Football Club, which disbanded in the 2008-2009 season. Robertsbridge has a bonfire society.<ref>Bonfire society website</ref>
EconomyEdit
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.
ReligionEdit
Robertsbridge United Reformed Church, a Grade II-listed chapel built in 1881, stands on the High Street.<ref name="NHLE-1221451">Template:NHLE</ref> The former Bethel Strict Baptist Chapel, built in 1842 and also listed Grade II, is nearby.Template:Where <ref name="NHLE-1221399">Template:NHLE</ref> A residential Bruderhof community, known as Darvell, is located on the outskirts of the village.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Notable peopleEdit
People who have lived in Robertsbridge include educationalist and women's rights activist Barbara Bodichon,<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref> journalist Malcolm Muggeridge,Template:Citation needed, model Heather Mills,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and footballer Sam Jennings who died there in 1944.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
DemographyEdit
| 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.<ref name=StatAgeDem>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| 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.<ref name=StatEthDem>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=StatReligDem>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Robertsbridge Abbey f.58 by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm 1783.jpg
Ruins of the Robertsbridge Abbey, 1783
- Robertsbridge station and level crossing - geograph.org.uk - 123753.jpg
Robertsbridge station and level crossing
- High Street - geograph.org.uk - 1285266.jpg
The High Street
- The Ostrich public house, Robertsbridge - geograph.org.uk - 1508830.jpg
The Ostrich public house
- Half timbered cottages, High St - geograph.org.uk - 1731108.jpg
Half timbered cottages in the High Street
- Fair Lane - geograph.org.uk - 1285224.jpg
Cottages in Fair Lane