Robertsbridge 800 (in 100 words) by John Shuttleworth

1225: Robert hitched up his cassock as he forded the freezing River Rother that lay between the Abbey and the church in Salehurst. “We are going to need a bridge” said the Abbot “if we are granted a charter and this village is to grow and flourish”. They named the bridge after him – and the village after the bridge.

2025: Robert wandered down the High Street towards the “Robertsbridge 800” celebrations – with every century represented along its length. “That’s some bridge to the past” he mused “and to whoever thought this would be a good place to establish a community”.